text:
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 5, 2003
For retailers who are looking for some insights to take out of the recent abysmal Christmas shopping season, here is a hint from someone who is growing increasingly impatient with the faux familiarity of the shopping experience. There is one thing I want more than anything these days from sales help: a respectful distance.
I know I sound like an old-school-marm-party-pooping prude but just because I've handed my credit card with my named embossed on it to a cashier doesn't mean we are on a first-name basis. I don't want to hear "have a nice day, Robyn" at the end of the transaction. This does not endear me to the store. The false intimacy only makes me feel doubly uncomfortable. First by making me feel oddly disrespected, and then, by making me embarrassed by my priggishness.
And retailers, don't think this can be cured by using my surname along with the proper title. Your staff doesn't know if I'm Mrs., Ms. or Miss Blumner, since none of those designations is on the credit card. Moreover -- and this is experience talking -- your employee is going to butcher my name's pronunciation, and while fumbling, look to me for guidance -- not a positive shopping moment for either of us.
Really, all I want from that interaction is efficiency and as much anonymity as possible under the circumstances. Intellectually, I know I probably tried the garment on in a dressing room being "monitored" by someone watching me through a hidden camera; I know that additional cameras around the store probably caught me picking up items and lingering over others in order to both prevent theft and evaluate the kinds of displays and merchandise attractive to consumers of my gender and age; and I know that by using my credit card, this purchase has now been tagged to me for time immemorial and I will appear in databases around the world as someone who prefers deeply discounted Dana Buchanan jackets in winter white. But I want to maintain the illusion of an arms-length deal and to do that the retail associate ringing up the sale shouldn't approach me as though we go way back and how great it is that we bumped into each other here of all places.
And another thing, from what I've been able to tell, paying a commission to sales staff has racheted up the ersatz friendliness factor without commensurately bettering the quality of assistance. Days before Christmas, at the chain men's clothing store, Structure, I was pounced on by two clerks as soon as I passed the threshold. But when I asked for a certain color sweater, they offered nothing beyond: "Sorry, if it's not on the display we must be out." (News alert: a pained expression of sympathy for my predicament does not constitute "help.") Instead of offering to call other Structure stores to see about availability, one clerk tried to engage me in conversation about who the sweater was going to be a gift for -- as if getting to know me in a vapid, nosey five minute exchange would give her the edge over the other clerk competing for my sales.
Supermarkets, too, have started to cross that line between being professionally polite and intrusively chatty. Please don't comment about my purchases or ask me "when's the party" if I'm buying more than two bottles of wine. More likely than not, the wine is for the personal consumption of me and my husband and is not associated with any blowout or shindig we are planning. The question always provokes an instant calculation in my brain. Do I explain that there is no party and let "Tiffany" be left with the impression that I'm a wine-guzzling drunk or do I simply lie? My head wants to tell her indignantly that she's asked a meddlesome question, but my mouth typically takes the path of least resistance and says "next weekend," along with a forced smile.
Radio Shack has finally gotten the message and stopped giving customers the third degree as they check out. But there are still plenty of stores that want your phone number or ZIP code before ringing up your purchases. Corporate managers don't seem to understand that those questions, no matter how benign, make some of us uneasy. In providing the information, we feel we've given away something private about ourselves, and if we refuse to cooperate, a negativity washes over the entire transaction. Either way we walk away feeling bad.
The only retail bright spot this holiday season was in online sales. Shopping by computer may be, in fact, the least private way to go, but it has precisely the opposite feel. So retailers, how about promoting this promise for the next holiday season: Shop with us, we won't make it personal.


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EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR'S Tottenham future is in the balance.
The striker, 28, increasingly believes he has no future under manager Andre
Adebayor has not started a Premier game this season — and has managed just 82
minutes on the pitch.
He was on the bench again yesterday for the clash with Chelsea despite Gareth
Bale missing the game as his partner went into labour.
The former Gunner was signed for £5million just two months ago.
That followed a loan spell from Manchester City last season when he scored 17
goals in 32 Premier League games.
A Spurs source said: "Manu wants to play and he really hoped to be in with a
chance of starting against Chelsea.
"Mentally he saw that game as a make or break for him at Spurs.
"It's obvious now that AVB doesn't fancy him and Manu thinks it's better he
Video: Mata and Hazard the difference – Villas-Boas

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The human body is complex and multi-faceted, made up of hundreds of amazing parts and functions. Human functions might make sense if you're a doctor, but it's difficult for many patients to wrap their head around what's happening in their body. Patient education is crucial when it comes to improving the health community. Proper medical knowledge greatly increases a patient's chance of improving health. Additionally, correctly educating a patient during treatment can help reduce additional health-care expenses.
Empowering with understanding
Whether it's a common health problem or a rare condition, visuals can help a patient better understand their body. Anatomical visual aids can provide your patients with the knowledge they need to heal faster and prevent future care needs. By using a visual aid, patients will have improved understanding of their diagnosis. They can't always see what's happening in their body — but you can show them — with a model.
Getting effective treatment
Making visual aids readily available helps ease the discussion of a diagnosis with your patient. Patients will be able to relate when you show them a visual aid of the effected area. From head to toe, you can find a visual aid to assist you in giving your patients the best possible care.
You'll find a wide selection of visual aids when you browse the selection at Medical Device Depot. Whether you're explaining an ear infection or acupuncture, we have just the model for you. Our goal is to help practices like yours provide quality and affordable health care.


text:
The Moment of Impact [20 Pics]
Nov 20 2012
Some impressive photography right here. Take a look at how Alan Sailer is able to capture destruction of different items seconds before it happens.
Playing the Piano While Juggling [Video]
Nov 18 2012
Now that's something you don't see every day. Pretty random/creepy.
What the Swedes Do When They are Bored [Video]
Nov 13 2012
Pretty amazing what an old turbocharged Volvo motor from the 240 can do inside of this old tractor. Looks like so much fun!
A City that Can Only be Found Once a Year [38 Pics]
Nov 11 2012
Every year, on the last Monday of August a truly unbelievable event takes place in the middle of Black Rock Desert. It's believed that once one visits this magical place, they are forever changed. Welcome to Burning Man.
A Robbery Takes an Unexpected Turn [Video]
Nov 9 2012
Mohammad Sohail is a store owner that was being held up by a robber with a bat demanding money. He does not hesitate and pulls out his shotgun in defense. Pretty amazing to see what happened next.
Not only did Mohammad spare the robbers life, but he sent him on his way with some bread and $40. Apparently the thief said he was doing it to provide for his family. A couple of months Later Mohammad received a letter thanking him for everything he did, it also contained $50.
Sohail joked that the robbery ended up bringing him good fortune. "When you do good things for somebody, it comes back to you. I gave him $40 and he sent me back $50. It was a good investment."
High-Speed Robot Hand in Action [Video]
Nov 5 2012
Ishikawa Komuro Lab's high-speed robot hand performing impressive acts of dexterity and skillful manipulation. A very cool outlook at what robots/computers can do today.
Sports Compilation That Will Blow Your Mind [Video]
Nov 1 2012
Compilations like these are amazing because they make you realize just how many talented people there are around us.
Rare Historical Photos Pt. 4 [18 Pics]
Oct 29 2012
Another roundup of the popular historical series of posts that we do. You can find the previous post here, and the start of the series here.
The Extensive Use of the "Green Screen" [Video]
Oct 27 2012
I can't believe how realistic all of these special effects are getting these days!! You will be blown away after you see this video.
Unreal 'Contact' Juggling [Video]
Oct 25 2012
Largely impressive performance by Akihiro Yanai at the 2012 Japan Juggling Festival. So many creative people on our planet...


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There's nothing better than a big pot of soup in the Winter – and this has been the longest one..ever. I've always loved my Gram's Minestrone soup – chock full of veggies, ground beef and pasta and thought I would make a spin on it by making it a combination of her Minestrone and Italian Wedding Soup just for fun. I made a batch of chicken meatballs with lots of parmesan cheese, garlic, onion and fresh parsley..browned them up a bit before adding some kale, carrots, chickpeas, chopped tomatoes and orzo and let it all simmer up into a big batch of healthy, heartwarming goodness. I topped it off with some extra grated parmesan, sea salt and fresh cracked pepper and mopped it up with some fresh baked Italian Rosemary bread from Todaro Bros. down the street.
Who says you can't have some fun during a blizzard? I'm happy as a clam right now. Or as a meatball, bathing in that gorgeous broth with veggies.
- Chicken Meatballs:
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs (plain, dried)
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg, whisked
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon minced dried onion
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Tony Chacere's Creole Seasoning (or sub seasoned salt or poultry seasoning)
- pinch of cayenne
- pinch of nutmeg
- dash of red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon Deliciously Dill Blend (The Spice Hunter)
- Sea salt
- Fresh ground black pepper
- Soup:
- 2 tablespoons olive or canola oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 20 baby carrots, sliced 1/4 inch thick
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups water (use 3 or 4 if you like a thinner soup)
- 1 (28 ounce) can chopped Italian tomatoes
- 1 bunch kale, torn (ribs and stems removed)
- 1 can chickpeas
- 1 cup orzo or other small pasta (ditalini, pastina, risi or stars)
- Make the meatballs:
- Preheat a dutch oven over medium heat and spray with some cooking oil.
- Add all ingredients into a large mixing bowl and stir. Mix together well with your hands and roll into small meatballs (about 1 1/2 inch size), place on a baking sheet or plate.
- Brown meatballs in batches for about 6-8 minutes until lightly golden brown (but not cooked all the way through).
- Remove meatballs, cover and set aside while prepping soup ingredients.
- Make the soup:
- Add additional 2 tablespoons of oil to the Dutch oven and saute onions, garlic and carrots for about 6 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Stir in broth, water, and tomatoes; cook over medium-high for about 5-7 minutes until liquid comes to a boil.
- Add kale, chickpeas, orzo to the pot, let soup come to a steady rolling boil for about 5 mins or so.
- Add browned meatballs, cover and let simmer for about 20-30 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until orzo and meatballs are cooked through. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve in large soup bowls topped with additional grated parmesan cheese and fresh chopped parsley for garnish and a side of crusty Italian bread or Rosemary Foccacia bread for mopping up the soup.
- Don't forget the wine, fireplace, and your Valentine to make it a complete meal.
Recipe adapted from my Grandma's Classic Minestrone Soup and Italian Wedding Soup by Whole Foods.


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The Wadias are planning to sell the prime property of Britannia Garden estate in Bengaluru and an 8.5-acre property in Chennai to raise Rs 700 crore (Rs 7 billion).
The company hasn't been able to find a buyer because of the slowdown.
This is part of Wadia's plan to raise funds on Britannia's books and use the proceeds for product launches and expansion. Britannia plans to move its headquarters to a 90,000-sq-ft commercial property in Whitefield from the six-acre
one now in Bengaluru.
The valuation of the properties have increased since the company first said it would sell the Bengaluru property last year.
A Britannia official said: "Britannia is moving to a larger office in Bengaluru. The company has indeed advertised to sell its Chennai property."
The company's margins have seen a sharp decline from 12 per cent in FY05 to just five per cent in FY12 before improving to six per cent in FY13, say analysts.
A property sale will help it generate funds for launching products and entering new markets, especially abroad.


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The five-member Davidson County Election Commission will spend all day next Thursday questioning seven people who want to be the county's next elections administrator.
Interviews begin at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 28, with Albert Tieche, an employee of the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services, scheduled to go before the commission first. Having received the most nominations from the commission when winnowing the original list of 55 candidates, Tieche is seen as a leading contender for the job.
By 10 a.m., Metro Councilman Eric Crafton, another potential favorite, will take his turn to explain why he should replace outgoing Elections Administrator Ray Barrett, who is set to retire by the end of the year. Buck Dozier, executive director of the Tennessee State Fair and former at-large Metro councilman, follows Crafton.
Davidson County Election Commission chair Lynn Greer told The City Paper he did not know when a new elections administrator would be hired. He said a commissioner could choose to nominate a candidate for the job Thursday. At the very least, the group of seven should be narrowed further by mid-November, he said.
The new elections administrator will initially earn between $65,000 and $85,000 per year, but the salary can bump up to more than $100,000 if the new administrator passes an official certification test.
The interview schedule includes Tom Cunningham at 9:15 a.m., Buck Dozier at 10:45 a.m., Matt Drury at 1:15 p.m., Lisa Powers at 2 p.m. and Mike Knotts at 2:45 p.m.


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Sweet Baby Blues
I was pleasantly surprised to have the opportunity to take six-month portraits for this sweet baby recently.
This young mother was such a natural, and we had the best time together.
She brought along some of the cutest little outfits, and we had lots of fun both inside in the studio and outside at the park.
First, I will share some of the photos we captured in the studio. I loved how the pearls complimented her images!
Did I mention what beautiful blue eyes she had?
Next, we went to the park for some outdoor photographs. It was a lovely day, and, boy, did mom and baby shine!
Look at those adorable chubby cheeks and baby blues!
It was quite windy, but we managed to capture some beautiful balloon shots too!
LOVE those pink poka-dots!
Oops! Where did my balloons go? Oh, there they are!


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Five things we've learned from the Manchester derby...
1. Ashley Young has answered his critics. The former Aston Villa winger has come under fire for failing to build on a decent debut season at Old Trafford but caused City problems all afternoon. The England man set-up Rooney for United's opener and but for an errant linesman's flag would have had a derby goal of his own.
2. Wayne Rooney produced on the big occasion and these goals will surely start a purple patch. Boss Sir Alex Ferguson recently challenged Rooney to rediscover his goalscoring touch after enduring his worst goals return in his nine seasons at Old Trafford. This time last year Rooney already had 12 to his name but duly responded to his manager's pep talk with two crucial first-half strikes. Reaching 150 Premier League goals by the age of 27 speaks for itself.
3. Rio Ferdinand proved he still has plenty to offer. Ferdinand, like Young, has come in for some criticism and, given his age, inevitable speculation has mounted surrounding the 34-year-old centre-half's future at Old Trafford. Ferdinand has had some difficult times against City in the past but showed the poise, concentration and quality he is famed for during this derby.
4. Fergie back on derby form. The manager returned to the scene where he picked the wrong side in last season's title showdown and put that particular annoyance right. United brought the curtain down on City's two-year unbeaten home record with team selection being a significant talking point. Back in April, Fergie named Young and Antonio Valencia on the bench and United looked to be playing in a footballing straight jacket. This time around, Fergie reverted to a United system of old with Young and Valencia rampaging forward on the flanks.
5. United could well use this derby victory as a springboard to lift their 20th Premier League title. It remains early days but defeating your biggest rivals in their own backyard is a good way of going about league success. United blew an eight-point lead last season so their lead of six guarantees nothing. With Van Persie and Rooney firing in tandem, United may have too much for City, who are lacking the spark they had during the last campaign. A red letter day derby.
What do you think? Have your say.
Manchester derby: Five things we learned about Manchester United
Here are five things we learned from Manchester United's 3-2 derby victory over Manchester City.
Five things we've learned from the Manchester derby...


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I heard that some Indians have arranged marriages.Culturally, are single parents worthy enough for arranged marriage?
OMG. I cringe when I hear the word culture and arranged marriages. I immediately have visions of little girls and dirty old bearded men in dresses
Afghan girl. ...... many finish up on the streets, begging, drugs and/or prostitution. Wonderful culture ppfft
Yes different scenario most of these kids are sold into marriage we are talking of parents arranging marriage where both parties start of equal not the other
What makes arranged marriage work better is that the couple is being chosen by a large group of people with a lot of experience and everyone feels responsible for their choice if things start to go wrong. These days, it is up to these people whether they willing to repeat the process for a second time.
Arranged marriages must work, because the divorce rate among Indians is very low.
I think it is also cultural. In the West, people tend to quit on relationships earlier because they are always finding fault in others..... too many 'self improvement books' and talk shows (Oprah) trying to find fault with your spouse. Whereas , in India; families are more centric. You often have 2,3 generations living together and they work out their problems. I also think divorce is shunned.
May you are ignorant of Indian culture. In America or in Europe the society is concerned of the 'next generation' as far as economy or social environment is concerned and they think each adult person is good enough to choose the best for himself. But In India, the society is concerned for the "next generation' more in their emotional well being and social status. The Indian society is structured more in terms of familial relationship. It is rather unthinkable a child growing up with his mother living with a man other than his own father and his father keeping another woman in his home who is not his/ her own mother. Concerning marriage, it is a man finding good mate as his wife and also the parents searching a good daughter in law into their home and many others in the family searching out for a good aunt and a nice cousin to live and love each other as a new entrant into the big family. So family and parents of the girl, her physical charm, fairness, way of behaving,educational/professional status, her friend circle her dress code everything is considered while choosing a wife to a dear son in the family. You have to consider, the final say is to be from the groom himself. the marriage in India is not a trial marriage but the beginning of a permanent relationship. May be some marriages fail, but only when the choice is made inconsiderate to vital merits.

If you like asking a friend which car is good to buy, why not you thinking you need to consult many more when you are to get a life partner for you?
This is not typical to all Indians. Arranged marriages are typical if their religion calls for it. I'm Half indian half european however I'm catholic so I was able to marry who I wanted to.
Sorry I didn't read the whole question. A divorce would be looked down upon immensely.
From an Indian:

Divorced women do go in for second arranged marriages in metros, but it's pretty hard, just like for single mothers elsewhere.

They typically do it online because they don't want to hassle their old parents.

In the small towns/countryside, arranged marriages for divorced women are rare.
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(b. 1945)
Gordon Eklund is an award-winning SF author whose works include the "Lord Tedric" series and two of the earliest original novels based on the 1960s "Star Trek" television series. He has occasionally used the pseudonym of Wendell Stewart.
As a teenager Eklund was a member of a Seattle SF club, The Nameless Ones.
He was or is a member of the Fantasy Amateur Press Association, OMPA, The Cult, IPSO, and the Spectator Amateur Press Society. Fanzines and apazines include Rubber Frog, Sweet Jane, and Shadowfax.
- 1975 — TusCon III
- 1977 — Bubonicon 9
- 1985 — Rustycon 2
Eklund's first SF story, "Dear Aunt Annie," was published in the April, 1970, issue of Fantastic and was nominated for a Nebula Award. He received the FAAN Award for Best Fan Writer in 2004.
He won the Nebula (Best Novelette) for his 1974 story "If the Stars Are Gods," co-written with Gregory Benford. A series of stories with Benford were revised and published as a novel with the same name in 1977.
His other SF novels include The Eclipse of Dawn (1971), All Times Possible (1974), Serving in Time (1975), The Garden of Winter (1980), and A Thunder on Neptune (1989).


text:
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You can access important document information with document summaries. Document summaries contain information such as the filename, title, and author. The summary is contained in the document file and serves for future reference to the document.
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Included in the most basic summary is the filename, directory, title, and the author (which automatically appears as the default user of the program but can be changed for each individual document). The following are additional summary descriptions that can be added at the author's discretion:
A brief subject description
The name(s) of the author(s)
Important words to set the document apart from other documents
Any comments that may serve for future reference
The purpose of a document summary is to have a location for important information about your document.
From the File menu, select Properties...
The Properties dialog box appears.
Select the Summary tab
In the fields provided, type the appropriate information relating to your document
To return to your document, click OK
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The Print dialog box appears.
From the Print Options pull-down list, select Microsoft Word
From the Print What pull-down list, select Document properties
Click PRINT
The Summary information is printed.
From the Word menu, select Preferences...
The Preferences dialog box appears.
From the list on the left, select Print
Under Include with document, select Document properties
Click OK
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WARNING: Summary information will be printed in the manner defined above until this print command is changed. To turn off the summary printing, repeat steps 1-4.


text:
Not sure if we do push mower stuff here, but had a question that is puzzling me on a mower I got at swap meet. It is a Sears 22" Mulcher mower with 4hp engine and high wheels in back. Model starts with 917. if anyone knows the maker codes. It has adjustable wheels, yet I have them all the way down and still not really cutting that short on grass. SO, went to sears to get blade and adapter pix and numbers. Compared pix to offers on epay and also went out and looked at mower and seems I have correct blade and adapter on it. Was thinking maybe would need a dipped down blade, but nothing like that available. SO, is there something I am missing that is making it this way? Doesn't look like wheel mounts will move to any new holes, haven't removed to try yet, but don't look that way. Don't think engine is diff or changed, like the shaft may have been shorter say, not sure though. Just kinda stumped and it bugs me, I can't see to fix right now. What think?
Sears Push Mower Question
Posted October 15, 2014 - 08:05 PM
- hamman said thank you
Posted October 15, 2014 - 08:08 PM
The wheels should adjust down to put it closer to the ground. I have one similar to that and I can get it to mow at 1 3/4" . Got a few pics of it? Good luck.
Posted October 15, 2014 - 08:39 PM
Don't understand what you mean by "wheels all the way down". If the wheels are down in relationship to the deck it raises the blades. If wheel adjusters are in the upper slots or holes blades are closer to the ground. Wheels up/deck down...wheels down/deck up....Dave
- hamman said thank you
Posted October 15, 2014 - 09:40 PM
Ya that's what I meant. Sorry I looked at it backwards from where I was standing. Front wheels should rotate to the rear of the mower, rear wheels should rotate towards the front of the mower. At least the one I have works that way. Roger.
Posted October 16, 2014 - 04:09 PM
Took some pix today, what I could. Note blade seems new and correct one, with two little "scoops" in it to push grass around I suppose. Adapter looks like ones on site and ebay. Note the blade is high up in the body yet, about 1-1/2" from bottom still. I show wheels all adjusted to lowest spot. I tried to show the line of grass I cut with it, but doesn't show well. Seems to kind of lay the grass over and not cut it, like a dull blade, and it stands back up after awhile. The blade does not have a real sharp bevel on cut edge like you would make if grinding your own, but most new blades aren't that sharp. Think blade is on right way, pulled rope and it seems to be using the cut edge as lead. Thought maybe PO put it on backwards or something. Got me stumped, and dissapointed now, bargain rig maybe not so good a deal afterall.
Posted October 16, 2014 - 04:16 PM
Looks correct to me.
That "Dip" in the blade is for mulching
Bolens originally had this style patented in the late 50's and eventually other manufactures adapted the deck shape and blade. Funny how nearly 50 years later the same mulching design is used today!
- Alc said thank you
Posted October 16, 2014 - 05:03 PM
I would get on that blade with a good file and put an edge sharp enough to hurt yourself on. I've found with the mulching blades, if the leading edge isn't SHARP, they tend to do exactly what you are describing. I have them on my 38" deck and when they are sharp, the do an awesome job. Once slightly dull (about every other cut) they just do a half hearted job, at best.
I just sharpen the outer 1/16 edge of the blade, even on the curved section.
- Alc said thank you
Posted October 16, 2014 - 07:54 PM
Add about an inch to that and you're looking at the grass height.
I have noticed that mowers keep raising the grass height. The newer mower at Mom's doesn't cut shorter than 2" and was factory set to almost 4"
- Alc said thank you
Posted October 16, 2014 - 09:51 PM
Your adjusters are definitely in the lowest cutting position. When you put the mower on a flat surface how far is the deck lower edge up from the ground? As Dave8338 suggests, I would hand file a sharp edge on your blade and retry it. I know you have what you think is the correct blade adapter but is there a longer one available from Sears? Something isn't quite right with your setup. You should be able to cut at about 1 1/2 inches and longer IMO. Good luck rectifying your problem.....Dave
- Alc said thank you
Posted October 18, 2014 - 11:55 PM
Been looking around for a longer adapter say. AYP an Sears names bring up one's I have, but don't offer any longer. Maybe longer wouldn't be any safer and more stress on crank? I did find AYP that looks like mine that noted 1" depth, while other is 7/8" depth. Not much diff there and not sure that would do a thing for me. I didn't measure the deck to ground yet, but bet it isn't much more than 1". Will get back to you on that. Haven't sharpened yet either.


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Twin Cities Tzimmes with a Kick
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Author Notes: I love to make traditional Jewish tzimmes with carrots, onions, dried fruit, and brisket. Sometimes I make a similar vegetarian version. This unique tzimmes dish was originally created by my daughter, Rebecca on a family weekend at the Oregon Coast. She added pepper jelly to the sauce which gave it a great kick. For thisTwin Cities version I have adapted her recipe which used some seasonal ingredients like spring onions and green garlic, as well as a grapefruit syrup, using my readily available ingredients. She used no dried fruit, just fresh apples.
She used a peach pepper jelly, but I used a favorite green pepper jelly. Because of the kick, I added a dollop of crème fraiche at the end, and liked the tangy creaminess it added. This is NOT your grandmothers Tzimmes, but it is very tasty!
Serves 4-6
- 3 large carrots, scrubbed and cut in 1/2 inch chunks
- 1 yam or sweet potato, scrubbed (and peeled if desired) and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
- 1 large leek, cleaned, white and light green part only, cut into 1/2 inch chunks
- 6 scallions, cleaned and trimmed, cut into 1/2 inch pieces, white and green parts
- 2 large apples, cored and cut into chunks
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 orange, zest and juice
- 1 lemon, zest and juice
- 3 tablespoons Maple syrup, amber
- 3-4 tablespoons your favorite peppr jelly
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/3 cup creme fraiche (optional)
- Mix vegetables and apple chunks in a greased casserole dish.
- Mix until smooth and blended in a saucepan over low heat: butter, maple syrup, orange and lemon zest, orange and lemon juice and pepper jelly.
- Pour the sauce over the vegetables, mix together to distribute evenly, sprinkle with salt.
- Bake at 400 degrees. For 1 hour and 15-20 minutes, until vegetable are very tender and the sauce has browned. Toss to redistribute the sauce a few times during baking.
- Top with crème fraiche if desired and serve!
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Carrot Recipe
More Great Recipes:
Side Dishes|Vegetables


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this is Hosehill Lake near Theale in Berkshire. It's our local conservation area.


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2009 Dakar Rally, Argentina-Chile
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2009 Dakar Rally, Argentina-ChileStage 7: Mendoza to Valparaiso
NASCAR star Robby Gordon, above, earned his best result of the 2009 Dakar Rally with a third-place finish in his Hummer on Friday, only 4 minutes, 13 seconds behind stage winner Carlos Sainz (Volkswagen). American Mark Miller finished second in his Volkswagen as event organizers shortened the stage from 260 miles to 151 miles after the drivers struggled with the sand dunes the day before. The competitors will rest Saturday as the rally arrived in Chile and marked its midpoint. With his third stage win of this rally, Sainz regained the overall lead in the car class, but by only 9 seconds over Volkswagen teammate Giniel De Villiers of South Africa. Miller is third overall, 13:35 behind Sainz. Gordon moved up to fifth overall -- 1 hour, 8 minutes, 21 seconds behind -- thanks in part to defending champion Stephane Peterhansel's mechanical problems. The Frenchman, who was fifth after Stage 6, had to put out a fire in the engine of his Mitsubishi early in Friday's stage. He briefly resumed the pursuit before his engine broke down again and he had to be towed home. The engine problems forced the nine-time Dakar champion to withdraw from the race."For us, it was a pretty good special," Gordon said in a release at dakar.com. "There was a little bit of mud at the end. I have to say for the first section we were right in the fight for the lead, but the last section where there was mud, since we have a two-wheel drive I was very conservative and cautious. We gave up probably 5 or 6 minutes to Sainz just in the last 70 kilometers. My Hummer is still hanging in there. ... I'm happy to be half way there. We've come here for the win and we won't stop until the finishing line, we're pushing as hard as we can, but you've got to be smart: a lot of cars are starting to drop out of the rally."In bikes, Chile's Francisco Lopez edged overall leader Marc Coma by almost four minutes. Coma's event lead grew to more than 51 minutes over American Jonah Street, who finished eighth Friday, 14:50 back of Lopez.
Go here for more news, complete standings and results.
-- Michele VinczePhoto: The Associated Press
Posted at 04:47 PM in Off-road racing | Permalink
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Daddycools Entertainment Booking Agency
Daddy Cools Entertainment is a Vancouver based talent booking agency that supplies live entertainment in BC, Canada and all over the world. We have been in the entertainment event industry for over 30 years.
Daddy Cools Entertainment Booking Agency books well-known top singers and entertainers, live cover bands, jazz bands, tribute shows, novelty acts and DJs. As one of Vancouver's reliable booking agencies, Daddy Cools Entertainment caters to a lot of different clients that demand a unique blend of live entertainment depending on their function, size of stage, sound and light production, outdoor or indoor event. It also helps in making any client's dream event the "event of the year". This talent booking agency also coordinates various theme parties for important corporate clients according to their function and venue.
We are able to help you plan a spectacular event by choosing the right venue and entertainment that will make your corporate party a big success. Daddy Cools Entertainment has a great line-up of Impersonators, Tribute Acts, 50's & 60's, 70's & 80's to 90's Cover Bands, Country, Top 40, Classic Rock, Big band/Orchestras, Dancers, Drag Queens, Female Impersonators, National Headliners, DJ's, Hypnotists, Comedians, and Magicians to choose from. Our entertainment page shows only a small sample of the acts we can arrange for you.
Please forward your thoughts by email and we will make it happen for you. Let us help you find the right venue for your needs. Come back and check out our VENUE'S page for a sample listing of many venues in Vancouver. Visit our other site luisamarshall.com


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Our secure online appointment system allows you to book your appointment in real time from your PC, tablet or mobile phone. Download the FREE Medical One App for complete portability.
When you have chosen your preferred GP, date and time for your appointment, you will need to complete the registration process. Once completed, you will receive an email confirmation of your appointment.
Prefer to phone? You can still make an appointment by calling Medical One – Sunshine on 9310 2947.
The system is encrypted and secure and no personal information will be given to a third party.
All Medical One centres have qualified nurses who provide support and assistance to the doctors for the management and care of their patients.
All Standard Consultations are BULK BILLED
To protect your privacy and ensure that all results are managed in accordance with best practice, Medical One does not provide or discuss results over the telephone.
Medical One understand the benefits of having allied health services on site at our centres for the convenience of patients and to assist with your medical care. The allied health services are not owned or operated by Medical One.
Please find below a list of the allied health services available.


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Recipe provided by Rob D'Amico
I've never been to Chicago but I hear you have to check out Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder. They specialize in oven grinders (sandwiches) and this thing called a pizza pot pie.
When I saw the picture I was definitely intrigued and needed to figure out how to make this on my EGG. The first round I made it with the "normal" pizza ingredients; sauce, cheese & pepperoni which was delicious but that wasn't enough, I wanted to do something different.
So I came up with the Open Faced Spaghetti Pot Pie…and it was epic!
Below you'll find everything you need to know and don't forget to check out the video.
- 1 Slice of BelGioioso Provolone
- Half bulb of BelGioioso Burrata Cheese
- 1 Cup of cooked angel hair pasta
- 3/4 Cup of homemade tomato sauce (you can use it out of a jar, if you have to)
- 1/4 Cup of BelGioioso Ricotta Cheese
- Grated parmesan romano cheese
- 1 EGG (chicken egg)
- Chopped fresh basil
- Salt & Pepper
- Dough (1 lb dough ball will make 4 servings) King Authur Flour Dough
Big Green Egg
Basting Brush
10oz Ramekins
1. Set up EGG for indirect cooking (with convEGGtor) at 425ºF
2. Spray ramekin inside and out with cooking spray.
3. Place 1 slice of provolone at the bottom
4. Start to layer by adding half bulb of burrata cheese
5. Dump 1 cup of cooked angel hair
6. Pour 3/4 cup of homemade tomato sauce
7. Add 1/4 Cup of ricotta cheese
8. Sprinkle with grated parmesan romano cheese, salt and pepper.
Now dust a surface with flour and roll out the dough into the shape of a pizza. Then cut out a circle 1 inch bigger than the size of the ramekin. Place that on top of the of the ramekin covering the food inside and make sure it hangs about half way down the sides.
Brush the top with an egg wash and vent the dough with the tip of a knife.
Place in the center of the EGG and bake for 20-25 mins.
Once the pot pie is done let cool a couple of minutes, flip and remove ramekin with a fork. Then top with extra sauce, grated cheese and basil.
Each ramekin can serve 1-2 people, so make enough ramekins for the entire family. If you have multiple ramekins on the EGG make sure you separate them about an inch apart so the dough can rise without them sticking to each other.
Prepare To Get Hungry®


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Google+ opens social network to everyone
Google+ is being opened up for anyone to join after two-and-a-half months in closed testing.
The search firm's latest foray into social networking was initially offered to journalists and people working in technology related fields.
However, members' ability to invite friends meant its user base quickly grew to tens of millions.
Google+ has been praised for several innovative features including its multi person "hangouts" video chat.
Two weeks after it launched, the company announced that its service had attracted 10 million users.
Full Story here
Google+ opens social network to everyone
Discussion in 'News' started by GiddyG, Sep 21, 2011.
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Virginia Western Community College Southeast Asia studies
Think about what career is best suited for you, and where you want to study. Request more information now.
Think about what career is best suited for you, and where you want to study. Request more information now.
Think about what career is best suited for you, and where you want to study. Request more information now.
Info concerning Virginia Western Community College Southeast Asia studies, and registering for elective seminars and discussion sections. As a student, your first stop should be the registrar's office, where you can pick up a free copy of both the academic calendar and course catalog, in order to find available credit classes that you may be interested in taking. In-person class registration has largely been replaced with online sign-up, and many schools offer mobile apps that streamline the course registration process. Finally, check with your major department for assistance with prerequisites, tuition payment deadlines, and Virginia Western Community College major requirement information. Please use the form above to request admissions info for Virginia Western Community College.
Popular college classes include engineering, computer programming, nursing, and business administration. Technical degree programs may be a low-cost alternative to attending a regular four-year college or university, and you might end up earning good money as a highly-skilled, technical consultant. Massive Open Online Courses offer a variety of learning programs, utilizing cloud-based software and Google APIs to deliver a real-time learning environment online.
The high quality of classes, combined with low-cost tuition, encourages many high school graduates to continue their education at a community college. In most states, community colleges have transfer agreements in place with dozens of public and private universities. In fact, among all students in the US who earned a bachelor's degree, almost one third had supplemented their college education with classes from a community college. Beyond consideration for Virginia Western Community College Southeast Asia studies, you may think about Waubonsee Community College class cancellations for complementary electives to your primary course of study.
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Cagliari President Massimo Cellino has been released from prison on Friday, but he'll now be under house arrest.
The Rossoblu owner is under investigation for alleged irregularities into the construction of the Is Arenas.
Two Quartu town officials, where the stadium is based, have also been allowed to leave Prison today while the investigation continues.
See the latest Serie A predictions and betting tips with Eurotips.co.uk [12]


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I am writing from Paris, where we are spending the first part of Ben's winter break ( We'll go on to London in a few days). Today we looked at Greek and Egyptian antiquities at the Louvre and had lunch in the Tuileries. Then we met Frederic, a friend from voice class who moved home to Paris in September, at the Musee d'Orsay. Afterward, his friend Colette joined us for drinks, then we went to a baroque music concert at Eglise Saint-Germain. Altogether it has been a complete departure from our life in Brooklyn, which is the point -- we want Ben to experience other places and cultures, to grow up with an open mind and an appreciation for differences.
Before we left, a friend confided that she envied our family for "always jetting off somewhere." "I wish I could afford to take vacations like that," she said.
In fact, we do a lot of scrimping at home, as well as extra work, to pay for these trips. And the vacations themselves aren't exactly deluxe. We travel to warm climates in the summer and cold ones in the winter. We stay at fairly primitive hotels, and we gorge on the included continental breakfast in order to skip lunch (or, as we did this evening, dinner). We look for discounts and special offers, and we cut corners wherever possible.
Even so, I am aware that we are privileged to be able to travel this way. An even greater privilege is having a sixteen-year-old who still enjoys traveling with Mom and Dad. I know we are on borrowed time, and I want to make the most of every moment.


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bad landing47
Supreme Court may be forced to rule on CCW
According to Fox news the US Supreme Court may have to rule if Concealed Carry is allowed under the second amendment. This being fueled by some lawsuits involving states that disallow CCW and states that will only issue if you can prove you are particularly at risk to be a crime victim. As a young man living in Washington State back in the 70s it was damn near impossible to get a carry permit. If the court rules against CCW it will be a disaster for people wanting to protect themselves outside of their homes.
I believe the Federal Government may not intrude
on a State's right to legislate concealed carry WITHIN the confines of the State. [IT ALREADY HAS BEEN DONE]. Also, each state which HAS already legislated such regulations, also has the right to recognize any other states' permits, if they so desire. [Reciprocation from state to state is already a fact, and additional federal legislation has been proposed to enable across the board recognition from state to state ONLY for those states that have CCW regulations-- The idea is to permit the same kind of recognition as now exists for vehicle drivers' licenses].
My guess is neither the lower level federal courts, nor the SCOTUS, will hear such a case as is described by Mr.Bad Landing47, above. I think there have been previous 2A cases that examined what "keep and bear arms" really means. If an individual or class of individuals [citizens of a state ] feel their rights are being denied BY THEIR STATE ( that is,no CCW permitted), they certainly should have the right to sue their state. The question would NOT be whether CCW is allowed under 2A, [it already is]. The question would be: can CCW BE DENIED under (my state's) laws. It might be a real mess. States' rights versus already existing precedent under the 2A.
Too old to fight, Too old to run, guess that's why I carry a gun! "would someone show this asshole the way out of town".[Rabbi Avram Belinski-aka "The Frisco Kid"]
CCW of the nation. How can the states nullify an amendment to the constitution. Because the people of the state allow it. Read that as chickenshits.
i tried being reasonable,i didn't like it, NRA LIFE MEMBER,USMC VETERAN
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May 31,2007
Poland health minister underwent surgery
by UPI
WARSAW, Poland -- Doctors said they successfully operated on Polish Health Minister Zbigniew Religa to remove cancer from his left lung, Polish Radio said Thursday.
Following the three-hour operation, doctors quoted Religa as saying he hoped to be back in his office within the next 10 days, the radio reported.
The news about Religa's cancer and an imminent surgery was broken by Polish Radio Wednesday.
He told reporters the cancer was in its initial stage and chances for full recovery were nearly 100 percent.
Religa said he would not resign his post of health minister as it would mean avoiding responsibility at the time when doctors in about 200 state-run hospitals across Poland are on strike demanding higher pay.
Striking doctors, in the 11th day of their protest, are treating only emergency cases.
Copyright © 2007, by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.


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HB4542 SFAT Palumbo 3-10
Macia 7888
Senator Palumbo moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows:
Eng. House Bill No. 4542--A Bill to amend and reenact §21A-5-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, all relating to unemployment compensation benefits; preventing contributory employers from being relieved of benefit charges to their accounts if an overpayment of benefits is the result of the employer's or an employer's agent's failure to provide requested information to the agency timely or to adequately; and providing definitions.


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Everybody like (Hey!) are you ready to go? Ready to go
Everybody like (Hey!) are you ready to go? Ready to go
(Hey!) Are you ready to go? Ready to go
Everybody like (Hey!) are you ready to go? Ready to go
[Verse 1: Logic]
On my Charlie Sheen, homie, yes I am a winner
And when it comes to making music, I am no beginner
Hit the stage and get wild, my braniac's loud
Call me 007 because I bond with the crowd
You shine like a star but I sun it
50 keep it a 100, homie you know I run it
The game needs change and Logic can break a 100
I had a shorty to bun it, until she didn't want it
So I focused on the flow and they gon' put me on the map
With a pocket full of change, every day a different dime
Only fuck with golden girls and I ain't talking Lifetime
When I rhyme they up on me cause they seen how I'mma shine
Now you may be wondering how my raps rock
Cause I'm so fifth key to the right of Caps Lock
And when my tracks drop I'mma be sipping Ciroc
With a whole skyline chilling in the backdrop
[Verse 2: Phil Ade]
Shit, nigga I was born ready
And I swear I'm what these rappers can't bear, warn teddy
My Pro Tools bouncing like a '64 Chevy
I'm trying to win fast y'all on that Eddie
Plus Carl and Harriet, G is how I carry it
Been in it for miles, don't believe ask Darius
Running this beach like Chariots of Fire
I aspire to be higher than these superficial liars
The attire I acquire cost a grip, buy your pliers
I'm a ball out and die in Maryland, Len Bias
Apply a sire to my name, yeah you ain't know I'm royal
I foil from slick talk, yeah trip of that oil
Toying with girls feelings, lord forgive me I need healing
I know you said it's wrong but a long would make a killing
Hit the bong I hit the ceiling, hit the drink I hit the floor
If they show 'em in the buildin to the crowd then let me know
[Repeat Intro]
From Logic's 2011 mixtape, Young Sinatra. Samples "Tom's Diner" by Suzanne Vega.


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You go, girl!
In spectacular fashion, a straight woman surrounded by gay men wins the Ultimate Diva! contest. And it's not just the photo of Stacy McKinney — it's how she lives her life
When Stacy McKinney entered a photo competition with the goal to be named Dallas Voice's Ultimate Diva!, she encircled herself with hot gay men. It was more than a photo — it is a metaphor for her life. McKinney joined DIVA (the Dallas Independent Volleyball Association) not knowing it was a gay league but stuck around even after she found out. She's been a tireless cheerleader for the group, donating her $1,000 winnings to it. Such a diva thing to do.
Dallas Voice: How do we know you? McKinney: I thought everyone knew me!
OK, for those of us who might not, what's your involvement in the LGBT community? I got involved with DIVA and found that our Miss DIVA Pageant donates all the money to the Food Pantry. It went from there. I put my name on the volunteer list at the Resource Center Dallas. I started volunteering for GayBingo. Also, DIVA has given back to the city of Dallas recreation centers for the past 21 years. DIVA just hosted their bachelor auction and raised $5,000 for the pet charity, Mazie's Mission.
How did you end up in the community? I went to try out for DIVA and ended up in the Competitive Division. When the vice president of memberships, Brian Borski, was thanking everyone and saying their main goal is to provide a social outlet to the gay and lesbian community, all the blood rushed out of my body. I freaked. When we were done I ran to the registration table and said, "Oh my gosh, is it OK if I am straight?" They were like, "Girl we knew you were as soon as you hit the door." That was four years ago.
So what does DIVA mean to you? DIVA is a social volleyball sports organization but has also always given back to our LGBT community from its very beginning. We hold various fundraisers that benefit a local LGBT charity with the proceeds raised.
Is this Ultimate Diva! title going to make you just impossible to be around? Well, I already have a title within the organization as "First Lady of DIVA." This is just the cherry on top.
When do you take off the tiara? I only take it off a few times a day — when I swim and when I am playing volleyball. But I do wear it to the court.
OK, are you really just a fruit fly? Yes, as it should be. I really don't like straight people.
Will you ever surrender the title of Ultimate Diva!? Sure. I am always up for a good fight!
Apparently straight women can be ultimate divas: Don't be jealous, I was born this way!
OK, Gaga.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 18, 2011.


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A Bowl Of Cereal And Milk Gives Kids Protein And Is A Leading Source Of Nutrients They Need For A Great Start To The Day
As parents and kids fall back into their daily routines, it's important to be as prepared as possible with new shoes, pencils, notebooks and more. But there's one more thing that's just as essential when it comes to achieving a successful day at school: breakfast, the most important meal of the day.
There's a good chance, however, that even though 89 percent of moms want their kids to eat breakfast every morning, according to the Kellogg's Breakfast In America Survey, they may not realize that their kids may not always be getting all the essential nutrients that growing bodies need. Enter the breakfast dynamic duo: cereal and one cup of milk. Together, this simple combination is the perfect way to make sure children get a great-tasting and nutritious breakfast they'll love. A bowl of Kellogg's cereal plus one cup of milk provides protein and can help close the gap on the four "nutrients of concern" most likely to be lacking in kids' diets: fiber, calcium, vitamin D and potassium. [Read more…]


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Ram Sriram
VP of Marketing and Business Development
Ram is Vice President of Technology Marketing & Business Development at FXPAL. He has over twenty years of experience as a software technology executive with both established public companies and venture funded startups. He has held senior executive roles in R&D, product marketing & management, business strategy, and business development. Due to his leadership and entrepreneurial drive, as well as his deep understanding of the market and technology, he has been highly successful at creating new business opportunities, growing companies, and turning around struggling businesses. Ram holds an MS in computer science from The University of Tulsa.


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Last week Pope Benedict XVI presided at Vespers at the Vatican basilica for the opening of the academic year in pontifical universities. His homily focused on priestly ministry, in the light of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Pontifical Work for Priestly Vocations by Venerable Pius XII. The Holy Father reflected on the reading from the First Letter of Peter, which he said "invites us to meditate upon the mission of pastors in the Christian community."
The Holy Father emphasized three essential qualities of a priest: "the aspiration to collaborate with Jesus in spreading the Kingdom of God, the gratuitousness of pastoral commitment, and an attitude of service." A priest, he stressed, must sacrifice himself for the Church, making himself available to be "seized by Christ."
The priests administer the sacraments, but do not control them, the Pope said. "They cannot dispose of them as they please."
Pope Benedict also noted that "we must never forget that we enter the priesthood through the Sacrament of Ordination. This means opening ourselves to the action of God by daily choosing to give ourselves for Him and for our fellow man. . . . The Lord's call to the ministry is not the fruit of any particular merit, it is a gift we must accept and to which we must respond by generously and disinterestedly dedicating ourselves, not to our own project but to that of God, that He may dispose of us according to His will, even though this may not correspond to our own desire for self-fulfillment. . . . As priests, we must never forget that the only legitimate ascension towards the ministry of pastor is not that of success but that of the Cross."


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Vampires, Myth, and Christianity
So we made it to Texas and it has been a crazy week. I finally have my laptop connected to the internet and am stealing a few minutes to sit down and write. But as I considered what to blog about (usually whatever is on my mind at the time…), I realized that I've spent a lot of time recently thinking about vampires. Yes, vampires. But bear with me here.
I actually bloged about my encounters with vampire (books) three years ago (here), so it's not a new subject on this blog. But after reading through Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series recently, vampires have once again been on my mind. If you haven't heard of the series that means you are most likely not a teenage girl (or a huge fantasy geek). I was intrigued by any book that merited a midnight release for it's fourth installment and had been following the debates as to if the books were sexist or not (I personally think not). So I decided to give the books a go and ended up throughly engaged.
As you probably gathered at this point the books are about vampires (sorry for the spoiler). But the main characters in the books are "good" vampires – they feed off animal blood, not humans. What I found most intriguing though was the process by which these characters became vampires. Each of them had been at the brink of death and were at that point transformed into vampires – immortal, perfect creatures (at least in this series). Given the author's expressed religious devotion, I can't help but see the spiritual parallels there. The chosen ones being essentially resurrected into strong, beautiful, gifted, eternal (yet physical) beings. Interesting concept.
But the obvious spiritual connection in the books reminded me of other conversations I have had relating Christianity and vampires. The whole concept of blood being shed to give another eternal life mirrors vampire lore. There are of course those that recognize that with derision as this quote demonstrates –
"Almost two billion people on the face of this planet are Christians," he said. "That means every Sunday you'll find hordes of these creatures lining up to drink the blood of their god in a ritual called communion.
"And what does their god and his church offer them in return? "Everlasting life …
"If that is not the promise of a vampire religion, then I don't know what is …"
Sinton said Christianity was the only religion that worshiped a corpse and one of a handful that still engaged in blood rituals.
"Visit one of their churches and you'll often find a huge statue of their vampire Christ looming over the congregation," he said. Instead of blood dripping from fangs, Christ's blood drips from his hands, feet, side and crown.
"1.9 billion people believe this immortal god is their salvation and that his blood can redeem and protect them. "Listen to some of the hymns they sing," he said, "as they sway hypnotically before this eerie preternatural creature …"
Are You Washed In The Blood?
Jesus Thy Blood and Righteousness
Nothing But The Blood
Saved By The Blood
The Blood-Washed Throng
The Bloodwashed Pilgrim
There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood
There Is Power In The Blood
"With all this blood imagery," Sinton said, "no wonder the congregations descends like vampires when the priest calls them up for communion …" The Christian Bible states that Jesus actually said "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:54).
By drinking the blood of Jesus and eating his flesh, Christians believe they die and are reborn as immortals.
But others see those same elements and embrace the similarities. I've heard of goth oriented churches that play up the vampire connection especially related to communion. I guess it's just another form of cultural contextualization. Some churches reach yuppies by presenting Christ as the ultimate CEO, other churches reach the goths by comparing Christ to vampires. (I think I'd rather attend the vampire church…)
The connection of shed blood and immortality is an ancient one – one of the oldest religious beliefs around. Some dismiss Christianity for dwelling on it. Others (like C.S. Lewis) believe that in Christ myth became fact – making it all resonate with our deepest cultural longings. As he wrote in God in the Dock –
The heart of Christianity is a myth which is also a fact. The old myth of the Dying God, without ceasing to be myth, comes down from the heaven of legend and imagination to the earth of history. It happens — at a particular date, in a particular place, followed by definable historical consequences. We pass from a Balder or an Osiris, dying nobody knows when or where, to a historical Person crucified (it is all in order) under Pontius Pilate. By becoming fact it does not cease to be myth: that is the miracle.
In Christ in a way we have the fulfillment of legend. An interesting concept if nothing else.
But I'm sure that's not the reaction most have to the books. Obsessing over Edward Cullen seems more the norm…
August 19, 2008
This is a great post with wonderful theological nuances. Thank you.
I'm glad you made it to TX safe and sound. Good luck with the house hunting.
August 24, 2008
You will want to look into "WES CRAVEN'S DRACULA 2000" for a VERY interesting take on the origins of the curse, and the first of all vamps. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but seriously, considering this post from you, you will really, really want to see this film for its significance…
R. Abanes
Wes cravin permalinkAugust 12, 2016
Loden bere That movie Is sooooooooooooooooooooo bad kys
December 24, 2008
I absolutely love Dracula 200 and yes she would be interested in this.
Also look into the
Jewish myth of Lilith- the first wife of Adam being a vampire
Desmond permalinkJanuary 30, 2009
First off, I am a Christian, and I do feel, to a certain extent, that the "vampire theory" is accurate. That may seem counterproductive and somewhat blasphemous, but I give my reasons:
1. The word for God in the very beginning of the Bible is not "god" but "gods."
2. These gods walked with man. Now, that may be interpreted figuratively, as is normally accepted, or literally, as in, alien lifeform.
3. There is a stark difference between the baser elemental forces which took up the space at the beginning of creation, and the physical entity afterwards. Line by line, if time is not referred to directly, the stage of creation is actually very close to what is accurately seen in physics and the knowledge of our universe to date.
4. If you lived in that technology-less time frame, and saw someone lift off into the air with something that resembled wings (perhaps a technological device???), wouldn't you think they were the gods, the primeval creators of the universe? Pride has a strange way of playing in the hearts of creatures – if you are rewarded for something, you continue to do it, right?
5. The Nephilim, the "sons of God," "fell" from the heavens and mated with the daughters of men. Well, now, since we could assume that we got our military strategy from such beings, then wouldn't it serve to think that they had the same tactics? Hmm, a superior officer = God, and those beneath him = primary messengers. Those other messengers who were simply doing orders are referred to as angels with no direct context.
6. It is possible that these beings were vampiric in nature. Considering the need for blood in rituals, and the forbidding of taking of "the fruit of the tree of life," we may assume that this in itself was blood. After all, without blood, can a living thing live effectively? No, of course not.
7. The possibility of Jesus being Nephilim, the Son of the Gods, and a vampire are all one and the same. After all, if he is half supernatural bloodsucker and half human, then wouldn't he be "wholly God and man?" Of course he would! If a person is mixed, then they are half and half. They are a separate thing altogether because they are both things at once!
8. The nature of the "Divine presences" is purely that of an extraterrestrial nature. After all, bright lights from the heavens, liftings up, and voices that boom like thunder sound suspiciously like loudspeakers, huge overhead lights and those natures of which, if one is unwilling, seem like abductions.
9. The Last Supper is essentially vampiric in nature. Considering the vampiric myths that in order to be free of a vampire's control, one must take of his blood, and the effective usage in the Last Supper, one could deduce that conclusion. "Well, it was purely symbolism," some would argue. Yes, fine, but so is the formula for the Philosopher's Stone, which has been at times proven to exist, though containing a difficult formula. Plus, that is only using the "one cup and one bread" philosophy. No, if one carefully pieces together the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – all of whom were at that supper – then we notice that there were TWO cups given. The bread was probably either bloodless or had the blood baked in – he gave Judas Iscariot the first piece, which he broke off and soaked (to wash off the blood, perhaps???). Judas then left before he could take any more of it. The other 11 disciples took of the wine, and the second cup of blood. Therefore, when Jesus died, it was curious that at the same time, Judas Iscariot did also. As Jesus was revived, by another of these men in dazzling white clothes (alien doctor???), Judas was also, cursed to wander the Earth for eternity (the immortal Judas myth).
Ric Toney permalinkMarch 19, 2009
This business about Christianity being a myth is entertaining at best, downright offensive at worst.
Jesus is no more a mythical character than was George Washington. His historical existence is documented not only by the New Testament writers, but also by his enemies (ever heard of the Jewish historian Josephus, or the Roman Imperial historian Tacitus?) Both mention the historicity of this Jesus close to the time of His death. If such historical documentation is not reliable in your opinion, you might have trouble establishing the life of ole George, our founding father, since the same kind of documentary research proves that he lived.
Myths are generally written many years, even centuries, after the events they describe allegedly happen. No so with the historical data surrounding Jesus! And of those pagan myths of a dying god rising from the dead, that predate the resurrection of Jesus, isn't it odd that not one of them mentions any appearance of such "gods" among the living following their "rise" to immortality? Such is not at all like the numerous accounts of the appearances of Jesus, which accounts could easily have been disproven by either the Jews or Romans parading the body of Jesus through the streets, effectively squelching rumors of His resurrection. But that didn't happen, did it? Why couldn't the enemies of Christ not parade His body thus? They could not find it, though the authorities certainly knew where His tomb was. Oh, I guess you might say that the disciples stole the body. (Hmmm!) Curious why these same disciples would go to their deaths claiming the resurrection of their leader while knowing it didn't happen? Hey, men may die for another man's lie, but never for their own! You might want to rethink the "myth" theory regarding Jesus. If He is a myth, hey why bother. Does anything matter? But if He is not a myth, but rather a historical character whose resurrection is so well-attested that the evidence for it could stand on its own in a court of law, you really cannot afford to wrong about Him, can you?
March 19, 2009
Ric, I think you completely missed Julie's point.
1) Myth is not the opposite of fact. Myth is a way of telling a story to convey a certain sort of meaning, but it has no bearing on whether or not it actually happened. The story of Jesus can be both myth and fact at the same time.
2) Julie acknowledged as much when she referred to C.S. Lewis' idea that Christianity is a "myth which became fact". Did you even read her post? She wasn't saying that Jesus isn't historical. She was saying that perhaps he is both history and myth at the same time – a "myth" that actually happened.
Timothy Michael permalinkMarch 28, 2009
first of all,the bible talks of unicorns,dragons,angels,creatures with heads of oxen,men and bird with wings covered with eyes..in the old test. The princes of Jacob or Israel were descibed as wolves by night,which sounds like werewolves to me…to believe in angels and God himself and not believe in vampires is absolute denial when Christ himself said"unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no life in you." the gift of God is his son whom was sent to establish the blood covenant which would bring us back to rightstanding with the Heavenly Father..we were created to be eternal and we lost that gift so Christ came to give it back by the cleansing through the Blood which knew not sin…In the bible it says blood is required for the removal of sin..So to have the blood of Jesus in you makes you immune to death which is the wages of sin,which is what we would have to pay…but since we drink blood now we are transformed into new creatures..vampires or werewolves! so we don't have to pay dues when death comes around cause the old things have become new,which is to be born again…because people don't drink blood and eat flesh so when death comes around they have to pay-up..but to be a vampire and to feed on anything less than the best flesh and blood is to sell yourself short so I'm gonna tell you where to find the best blood!So if you're already a christian and can't make you're way"here comes the light….The bible is the body of God..in the beginning there was the Word,and the Word was with God and the Word WAS GOD.Jesus is the Word in the flesh and he's the bible. to read the bible is to feed on the flesh of Christ….The books of wisdom[JOB,Psalms,Proverbs,Eclessiastes and the Songs os SOLOMON]are the blood of the Bible.. for they are sweet to the soul.also they are the books of wisom and it says that Wisdom cries out! remember how God said that Abels' "blood cried out to him" after Abel was killed by Cain..The rest of the Bible is the Flesh and it's funny how the books of wisdom/THE BLOOD is located in between Flesh & Flesh…it's impossible to please God without Faith.But, Faith without Deeds is Dead…so if you have faith that the Flesh & Blood Of Jesus will give you eternal life…prove it with the deed of filling yourself with the word of God..because the Word of God/the Holy BIble is equivilant to Jesus in the Flesh…if you read the books of wisdom less than the rest of the Bible..you're probably a werewolf!.they are creatures who feed on more flesh than blood.Me??? I'm a pure blood…can't do without the taste of a sweet psalm on my lips..I like a story that's kinda tuff to digest every now and then,but, it is what it is,and that it will be..and with that I'm gonna leave you with a flesh and Blood scripture..and the vampire & werewolf scripture
Proverbs 30:8&9
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full,and deny thee, and say,Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
Vampire & Werewolf
Proverbs 30:14
There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords,
and their jaw teeth as knives,
to devour the poor from off the earth,
[by turning you and making you rich in life]
{vampires are the best converters}
and devour the needy from among men
[by giving them the truth needed to set them free]
{werewolves are the best preachers}
Working together Vampires & Werewolves can change the world!
p.s. the word devour means :to eat up greedily or ravenously.
which is exactly like a vampire and werewolf..
March 28, 2009
Whoa. That is so incredibly rad….
David permalinkApril 9, 2009
I love this discussion string. I have always believed, somewhat, that immortals existed, and it was somehow tied to the beginnings of Christianity and "other worldly" (alien) life-forms. Several movies have tied the vampire tradition to Christianity as well.
Thanks for this.
Mary Christine Erikson permalinkApril 22, 2009
Greetings, I am a Christian, and have been
fighting off a development of psyfeed vampirism
on my part.
While I agree there is a parallel to vampirism
in some things about Christianity, it is erroneous
to see Christ as the vampire. The analogy in that
view, is that a head vampire supposedly turns
people by feeding them his or her blood, but in
the Christian thing it is more that we are the
vampires, and Christ the Great Donor, Who unlike
usual donors is in control of the transaction.
It is an act of love on His part.
And His Blood alone can give life to the world.
The rest is a sham, or a mere liquified carnivorism, with a dash of paranormal transfers
of energy. And parasitism.
Christ is beyond these merely natural transactions.
Devin Riddle permalinkMay 3, 2009
I am a preacher's kid and I have read Twilight myself. As a Christian I have learned to understand people who are different from us. There is real evil out there, however, there are many dark and terrible things that are in fact misunderstood. I like how Stephanie Meyer makes the characters have an attitude that they dont want to be monsters. And there is somewhat of a parallel here. The vampire gives the choice of being a vampire or not. Jesus gives us the choice of accepting him or not as your savior.
one other thing. Not everything we see as evil may not really evil, but instead is is a misunderstood hurting life. Vampires according to twilight do not want to be evil but want to have relationships with humans. In the same sorta way God wishes to have a relationship with us.
Lindy permalinkMay 13, 2009
Jesus spoke often in parables in the bible, and when he said drink of my blood and eat of my flesh, he did not mean it literally. Just like, holy is the lamb, he uses this statement because a lamb is meek and mild, it does not mean a lamb is holy, God loves the poor, meek and mild, more so than the powerful. As he said the meek and mild will inherit the earth. There is nothing meek and mild about vampires. Jesus shed his blood on the cross to save us, thus using the words, drink of my blood. having communion is in rememberance and honour of him, whereas vampires actually do drink blood. Christians do not drink blood and are not a bunch of vampires gathering on a Sunday to drink of God's blood. We work hard at being christians, it takes allot of effort and self control. To compare the two is ridiculous. Be careful, evil comes in many disguises and is made to look very mysterious, and alluring to appeal to our senses, as Twilight does. Twilight embraces and promotes the power of a vampire. There is only one power, God and he certainly does not liken himself to vampires, nor is there any suggestion of this in the bible, it is just a matter of taking things out of context or changing them to suit your lifestyle or personal beliefs. If there are vampires in this world, which I believe there are,as the devil is out there everywhere, if they had to meet God face to face, first of all I do not think they would survive his light and glory, but if they did call upon him, if they wanted to change from being a vampire, would they not ask God to forgive their sins, and come into their heart and be their saviour, for this to be possible, God would cast that spirit out and that spirit would leave them and they would be free of the curse. They certainly would not be vampires anymore. Or certainly would not be trying to be good vampires as they would be cured of this curse and human again. So, no vampire is a good vampire. Read, William Duma, who cast out many an evil spirit.
October 1, 2015
To contest the war of the world we in..vampires are drug abusers and under oath as judement make them act out as animals unreal and visible to there seeong eyes of powerful hateful revenge given and they much believe in christ with out a doubt on revenge blaiming him but who is the creater as the purpose of there failur because perfection was giving to man woman or child to the exisiting visual of human stability
LCS permalinkJune 27, 2009
It interesting to read what all have said on this string/post. However, over everything that I have taken in, I must ask Lindy; What's the point of following a religion where it takes a lot of work and self control? If faith and belief in His word can guid one, and the bible preach to respect one another and not judge, are these not the basic fundamentals of how we want to be treated? To do theses things are a lot of work and self control? What God would require one to limit such joy from others?
Jack Reacher permalinkJuly 2, 2009
In Christ in a way we have the fulfillment of legend.
Sorry my dear, but you gave yourself away with this statement.
CP permalinkAugust 2, 2009
In response to Devin Riddle's comment, I just wanted to say that I agree. I am a pastors kid and I have also read Twilight. I really liked what you said.
Some parallels that I have thought about concerning vampires and Christianity and the spiritual aspect is, that I have heard of the devil being the king of suduction, hense how he lured Eve and Adam into falling. Which when I was reading Twilight, that came to mind. Like what Edward said "You are drawn to me, even my breath draws you in" And I think how in Twilight and in hearing and reading about vampires in general, they are always seemingly mysterious and suductive… they also "suck the lifeblood" out of humans/creatures which eventually brings death. So that is something I am cautious about when getting hooked into something like Twilight, I don't want that parallel to be okay with me. But I also do see the parallels in the book and how Jesus is perfect. Something that struck me was how the vampires are like many faucets of diamonds in the sunlight, which automatically makes me think of Jesus' beauty… God does have a form of suduction in everything He is. Not in an unpure way, but in a way that is hard to deny. God is the beauty you see in people and everything He created. I believe that a lot of the "suductive" things in this world, were originally magnificent things created for God's glory and enjoyment, that were polluted by the fall of man. Which all of those things are redeemed by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. I believe that nothing is impossible through Christ. (Not saying that I believe in vampires). But I do believe that a lot of what is in that book parallels the actual spiritual and natural relms, like "The lion fell in love with the lamb." That is a representation, to me, of Jesus falling in love with his bride (us). If God showed us his full beauty and power in one glance, we would be instant toast. He restrains his glory and shows it to us in smaller increments, in amounts that we can process and absorb. He could easily wipe us out in one blow, but he chooses not to, because he is in love with us…. much like this story in Twilight. But there is no flaw or evil in him, unlike the vampires desire to take away our lifeblood. God wants to continually give us more.
August 2, 2009
CP – might I suggest that you might enjoy the story more if you just take it at face value and not try to find a spiritual allegory in every detail. Your analogies are interesting and perhaps valid as far as they go, but I'm not sure that's really what Meyer had in mind as she was writing the story.
August 31, 2009
It's fun, facinating & fearful to explore myths, legends, fantasy & occult tales. Way to go, Julie-You got 'em goin. God bless Jinny for nailing down the Christian view, as Jesus Himself nailed it down long ago. In the end, what matters is not our superstitions & speculations, but What Is Truth!…then, now & forever! Here's the Gospel as I know it from his closest disciples… Fact1: God came as a mortal (or as a Son, God's image), born in a human womb, & God was hanging out on planet earth. Fact2: He did amazing supernatual things to prove His creditials & show what kind of loving God He & His Father are. Fact3: He also came to be the perfect blood & sacrificial lamb for a beastly race at war with themselves & their Maker. We rejected & murdered Him, refusing to let any other god but ourselves rule us! Fact4: We are all immortals! Born to look & love like God! But we became like selfish beasts, demandng to be gods & invent gods. So where do we exist forever? Fact5: This God/man rose from death to prove His immortality & invite every beast to reject their selfish nature and receive His loving spirit. As we "eat&drink Him" (totally believe, take in & live in Him) who was destroyed in our place- real life & love happens. As you read these things, if you feel a hunger in your heart, I dare you: Talk to God about it. And watch what happens! Right before your eyes, you may see an animal turn into an angel…
For a Biblical study of "Twilight", check out:
August 31, 2009
It's fun, facinating & fearful to explore myths, legends, fantasy & occult tales. Way to go, Julie-You got 'em goin. God bless Jinny for nailing down the Christian view, as Jesus Himself nailed it down long ago. In the end, what matters is not our superstitions & speculations, but What Is Truth!…then, now & forever! Here's the Gospel as I know it from his closest disciples… Fact1: God came as a mortal (or as a Son, God's image), born in a human womb, & God was hanging out on planet earth. Fact2: He did amazing supernatual things to prove His credentials & show what kind of loving God He & His Father are. Fact3: He also came to be the perfect blood ransom & sacrificial lamb for a beastly race at war with themselves & their Maker. We rejected & murdered Him, refusing to let any other god but ourselves rule us! Fact4: We are all immortals! Born to look & love like God! But we became like selfish beasts, demandng to be gods & invent gods. So where do we exist forever? Fact5: This God/man rose from death to prove His immortality & invite every beast to reject their selfish nature and receive His loving spirit. As we "eat&drink Him" (totally believe, take in & live in Him) who was destroyed in our place- real life & love happens. As you read these things, if you feel a hunger in your heart, I dare you: Talk to God about it. And watch what happens! Right before your eyes, you may see an animal turn into an angel…
For a Biblical study of "Twilight", check out:
November 11, 2009
It is sad to see that many who call themselves "Christians" stoop to the level of agreeing that vampirism and Christianity have anything in common at all. They are polar opposites, not because of our feeble opinions or musings but because of the nature of who Jesus Christ is and of what He actually did throught the shedding of His blood. Jesus willingly shed His precious blood for our salvation, that we might live. A truly selfless and divine act.
A vampire (which any thinking person acknowledges to be the actual myth here as opposed to Christ who is a true historical figure) consumes a person's blood and takes their life in murderous fashion in order to extend its "immortality". A truly selfish act. So the two beings, and the two belief systems could not be in more opposition to each other.
Your theory is incorrect on so many counts Ms. Clawson. You seem to be fairly familiar with vampire lore but not as familiar with Biblical and historical Christianity. For example the fictional Cullens drink the blood of animals, which is an absolute sin according to the dietary laws given to the Israelites by God in the Old Testament. It is ludicrous to compare the Cullen vampires to Christians or hold up their supposed "good works" in this way. Saying that the selfish murder of an animal is a-ok as long as it extends the vampire's own false immortality is kinda like pro-choice advocates saying "well it's just a fetus". Sorry I don't buy it.
As for the rest of the professing Christians who commented on here, please don't capitulate your belief system to match the latest pop culture phenomenon. I read Twilight. It was entertaining. A fluffy romance novel at best. But the last thing I would ever do is compare my Savior to Edward Cullen or any other vampire. Remember the amazing thing about Christ is that He didn't need to "feed" off of the blood of others to grant His immortality. He is God, the Alpha and Omega. After His bloodshed and death, He was resurrected and is now sitting at the right hand of God. How awesome Christ is. How cheap a creaturely vampire is in comparison.
As for the comparison regarding communion it is absolutely innacurate and deserves no merit. It is a sacrament that does NOT involve the actual consumption of blood (even if it is a Catholic Mass where there is a belief in transubstantiation, the fact is that the elements remain grape juice or wine). Christianity is not "one of the only religions…that still practices blood rituals". In order to do that there would have to be blood present, wouldn't there? Christians do this as a
remembrance of Christ's sacrifice. Within the church there are varying
views on communion but it was Biblically instituted by Christ to His disciples as a sacrament of remembrance.
Vampirism is a cult that dwells on death, Christianity a belief that focuses on life now and everlasting. They couldn't be more different. The cult of vampirism is a fast growing phenomenon and it is actually dangerous to the church because it promotes the idea that creatures who are in direct opposition to the nature of Christ are fascinating and beautiful and somehow good in spite of their murderous acts. But hey, it sells books!
bose permalinkFebruary 6, 2011
Tthank you very much for your clarification Claudia. Christians often make the mistake of spiritualising everything just in a bid to clear themselves of guilt in enjoying seemingly worldly or anti christian entertainment. just enjoy the films if you want to but don't bother to start comparing what cannot be compared. Lets be real.
November 11, 2009
@ David Eden by the way– thanks for your comments! It is always good to give the pure and simple gospel unfettered by argument.
November 11, 2009
@Lindy thanks for your comments too! Your discourse on communion was so accurate.
Mandy permalinkNovember 30, 2009
The whole vampire idea is derived from the bible. In brahm stokers dracula it is very obvious. This is the original storey about vampires. The whole born again thing and the drink of my blood was taken metiphorically out of context to symbolise something entirely different. Dracula was torchured inside over the seperation he had from God. In the end he asks God why he has forsaken him. It has clear parallels to the bible. But, he was not a happy being. Most vampire stories depict vampires as a tortured lost soul, Jesus was not a tortured lost soul he was the way and the light. Vampires are not the way and the light they are dark and lonely. Jesus was not a vampire, but I think it is safe to say that the whole idea of vampires was inspired by the bible. They are basically a negative cannotation of Jesus. The vampire is traditionally viewed as a damned soul. There is no historical evidence that supports any vampires ever existing. Jesus was real, and we have proof that he was. We do not however have proof of his resurection. This is where faith and mythology come into play. You can believe it is myth or fact.
It is hard to know what to believe in this day and age. I have been struggling with the bible on a personal level. I have beliefs that the bible does not depict. Like whole idea that JEsus was married. Why isn't the gospel of Marry Magdeline in the bible as we know it. If Jesus was resurected and Marry was the one he showed his self to then it only stands to reason she was the one to spread his gospel. This has been my veiw for years. I can not beleive anything else. He would not be called Rabi if he was not married, and he would have been seen as sinfull to not be married. It was Jewish law for men to be married by a certain age. Also, the bible mentions a deciple that is his most beloved. This to me is the real mystery about Jesus. Not if he was a fictional vampire.
whiteraven permalinkDecember 11, 2011
all i can say that this is pure stupidity…HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT JESUS CHRIST IS A VAMPIRE…YOU HAVE NO RIGHT…AND HOW DARE YOU COMPARE CHRISTIANITY TO VAMPIRISM…UHGH..GREAT!!!BEFORE YOU EVEN TRY TO MAKE ANY ANALOGY WITH CERTAIN EVENTS OR THINGS THINK DEEPLY..I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU HAVE PROBABLY THOUGHT OF THIS…AFTER READING THAT YOU HAVE WATCHED OR READ TWILIGHT, YOURE NOTHING BUT PATHETIC…THINK DEEPLY BEFORE YOU JUDGE…
NorthwestGirl permalinkDecember 11, 2011
The comparison is actually REALLY accurate. It's really useful to understanding what we actually claim to be when we say we're Christians.
If this bothers you, remember that it isn't a perfect comparison. Christians are "children of the light"–vampires are children of the darkness. Also, of course, the drinking of Christ's blood isn't literal. The important thing is that Christians are bizarre, otherworldly new creations.
That said, what do we actually believe as Christians? That we "die" when we accept Christ (making us "undead"), that Christ supports and nourishes this undead existence in us by providing us with his life, that this is powerfully linked to his death (without death, there is no life), and that we are a new creation and a new creature who now needs his blood to survive eternally. Oh, and weren't the ancient Romans freaked out by us because we hid from them in graveyards and catacombs?
Wow, if that isn't like the vampire legend, I don't know what is. The radical transformation of the Christian into a new life and a new way of being (a powerful, eternal, and supernatural one at that) should never become too commonplace for us. We should see it as the shocking thing that it is.
Deniqua Frye permalinkJanuary 8, 2012
I was researching whether or not Christians should write off movies, tv shows, and books involving Vampires for school. Being that I'm a 17 year old girl, I LOVE VAMPIRES, but I'm also a Christian(and I use that term loosely, because I don't agree with everything they believe in and agree to, like hating gays and thinking anything not of god is evil, like pop music or something) Anyway, I really liked your take on Vampires, especially because you started off talking about Twilight, and I believe that is the most popular franchise that's brought teens in to begin with. I especially like how you brought in biblical talk to compare the similarities between being a Christian, God and, Vampires.
I would love to hear you take on the Vampire Diaries(currently my favorite show), and how Vampirism is Symbolism for abusing substances and enduring life/Immortality.
Eternal Soul permalinkDecember 21, 2012
So Many "Christians" feel that there is a Right and Wrong, but please show me where God ever gave us a right or wrong.. Now Yes he gave us the 10 commandments in the old Testament a list of Commitments for all of mankind to follow in order to reach a complete state of peace and living. Also in the New Testament, he says My Last and Final Commandment is Love… Love Unconditional Love. What is any Christian proving by debating an Allegory anyway. If an Allegory of Jesus being that eternal Savior ( vampire) is what brings a person to Christ, and Saves there Soul from Damnation then is it wrong??? And further more, Jesus tells us Judge not Lest Ye NOT be Judged. I strongly believe that God has showed us these parallels for a reason… we as Humans need to have that Understanding and Associate with something we understand.. Young ppl are going to feel drawn to this and it could be the message that saves one SOUL. And as a Christian… Im all about winning Souls!!
June 25, 2014
I'm way late to be commenting on this post, but I thought I'd do it anyway. I didn't read all the comments, but a lot of things I wanted to say are in this post I wrote. It answers the questions: "Is Jesus a Vampire?" http://trentdejong.com/maybe-jesus-was-a-vampire/
October 1, 2015
The bible you must read us much where you find the boy who cried wolf..in order of geograpghics..you must use religion with all since of nature..and existance and imagination..as you may use your conscience the consequently beleive in every bit of sacrafice..your whatnyou eat? Then chicken blood remain the most in our lively hood..beef..and so on and there of sheep whool clothing and lsmb chops..whats next..the light the sun moon and darkness..read all about and watch it in movies cartoon and news paper article..see we have a sense of blind mature nature..we eat
.we sleep..surving of not only bread but livley hood..but stock..how long you can survive..how long can you be happy but also we would alwzys have..care to worry care to love and care contest these issues of msn kind.
.stop caring and hurt your self..thats fear. Annointment in God..if the devil and jesus elwere cast to earth they can be neither here or there for eternal life..mind body soul and spirit..as long as they put God first..thats Christianity..vampires are real..to be the brightest lightest in the darkness..royalty majesty and what ever chasity mean
October 1, 2015
We are blessed with flesh fresh vegis and drink of which salvation of choices intervetion..mind conpacity and creativty…the world is not coming to end..where we are is world a new o peacful settlement of recognition of fair judgement of breed life..lively hood..cures inventions and share and growth as a human race..the dominate nations should rule the world but first wr must choose to look good be good and understanding of our history to make things better..starting with creativity of learning and descorvering..using the past as a stepping stone remeberance and capabilities.


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