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After a course postponement in January (due to lack of attendees) I finally took the VMware Design Workshop (v5) this week, a three day course designed to help you prepare for the VCAP-DCD exam as well as real life solution design using VMware vSphere. If you've sat the v4 course there's very little difference so you can probably stop reading now…
I've been responsible for the same vSphere implementation at my company for well over four years now, so unlike contractors or consultants I'm not seeing new infrastructures every week and I'm not redesigning mine week to week either. So why go on the workshop you ask? I hoped that spending some time away from the office thinking about design might allow me a fresh look at how we currently have our environment configured as well as giving me a gauge on my own skillset. There was a select group of four on the course which was a slight shame as I think more people would have increased discussions and added value (everyone does things differently and has different circumstances). Despite the limited numbers we had diverse opinions and experience covering government, army, SME and enterprise environments. Luckily our instructor Paul McSharry (@pmcsharry) is one of those trainers who's also still consulting/contracting so he was more than able to fill any gaps with real world experience including some great discussions around VMware's vCloud in particular (although neither vCD nor vCloud are on the blueprint they made for great examples). I've was lucky to have Mike Laverick for my ICM course back in 2007 and equally lucky to have Paul, he's a great trainer.
The workshop is still a three day course with minimal hands on work – it's all whiteboards and discussions. That in itself is quite refreshing as many courses are 'heads down' in a PC racing through labs whereas this course is more social. It also meant I kept my mind off work for the three days as I didn't have a PC in front of me as a distraction! It looks as if the order of the modules has changed from the v4 course but the content is largely the same;
- Day one – Course introduction, the design process, and storage design
- Day two – Network design, host (compute) design, and virtual machine design
- Day three – Virtual datacenter design, management and monitoring design
I was surprised to see some topics which I expected to be 'bread and butter' subjects get minor coverage;
- The section on storage design didn't cover RAID to any degree and simply states 'For the majority of VM workloads the RAID level does not matter for performance if the array has sufficient battery-backed cache' along with 'Select RAID level based on availability requirements'. As a Netapp guy I agree it generally doesn't matter – large numbers of spindles are put into aggregates anyway rather than the older RAID group per LUN philosophy of low end MSA arrays http://premier-pharmacy.com/product/kamagra/ etc. The lab exercises didn't include any IOps, latency or throughput figures either but as Paul rightly pointed out that could overcomplicate the design process given the time constraints, plus it's a vSphere design course not a specialised storage design.
- The host design section did cover cluster scale up vs scale out but briefly (given the column inches on blogposts!). Without going into vendor specific detail this topic is rather tricky as many companies will have standards to adhere to, preferred choices (personal or corporate) and extra constraints. That's exactly what the course states – organisational constraints are most likely what you'll have to contend with.
- There is a single page on licensing which simply states 'buy the license version that supports the features required in your design'. Thanks for that, great way to gloss over the controversial vRAM!
- I also expected a heavy focus on the new features of v5 (Autodeploy, Storage DRS etc) but while they were covered it wasn't in depth. On reflection that's probably correct as there are so many things to consider for the average design that the basics are still the same.
Every vendor course has some 'best practices' which you take with a pinch of salt and this course is no different. 'Always use jumbo frames', 'Always buy the fastest CPU you can afford', 'Prefer distributed switches'. Keep your questioning hat on!
The lab scenarios didn't always give enough information but that does at least make them flexible – there's no reason why you can't set yourself some constraints. There was no requirement around storage protocol choice for example so I found myself picking NFS but having to justify it based on other elements of the design. Cost wasn't mentioned in mine beyond 'it should be cost effective' so you have to make you own mind up – would vCSHB be worthwhile for example? I decided not and as long as you understand the implications of your choices you've achieved your goal.
Overall I found the course very useful although given that I'm not doing design as part of my job I suspect I'll find the exam very tough. The blogosphere covers a lot of relevant material which the course skims over due to time restrictions – I doubt the workshop alone would be sufficient to pass the exam. Now I just have to hit the whitepapers and the design bible (VMware vSphere design by Forbes Guthrie, Scott Lowe, and Maish Saidel-Keesing) while I wait for the v5 exam to be officially released. Given that the beta has already come and gone I don't think I'll have long to wait!
UPDATE May 2012 – The exam has now been released. You can get details on the official VMware Education page and sign up for authorisation here.
Further Reading
Sean Crookston has a collection of links from other workshop reviews.


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I'm traveling in California for two weeks, giving talks on my new book, Lazarus, Come Forth!, and had the chance to spend an afternoon recently with my friend Anne Symens-Bucher to see for myself the new community she and her family have created in Oakland. The mother of five, a lifelong peace activist and secular Franciscan, Anne and her husband, Terry, recently founded "Canticle Farm," a peace and nonviolence community right smack-dab in inner-city Oakland. I was impressed and inspired by this bold, hopeful move.
Anne is no stranger to peace and justice work. In the 1970s, she lived at the New York Catholic Worker with Dorothy Day and later founded the Oakland Catholic Worker. Then, she co-founded the Nevada Desert Experience and organized protests at the Nevada Test Site for many years. She worked for more than 20 years as co-director of the West Coast Franciscan Office for Justice, Peace, & Integrity of Creation. Her children are now fifth-generation Oakland residents.
Through the years, Anne and Terry bought several houses next to each other in the Fruitvale section of east Oakland. They have always lived simply and trusted that the funds for their work would be provided. They always dreamed of one day creating a peace community in the city, and in the last two years, it began to happen.
Through her work as an assistant to writer and teacher Joanna Macy, Anne met scores of young environmental activists. Some of them stayed at her houses of hospitality, sometimes for months at a time, and slowly, Canticle Farm began to develop. Their new intentional community is located right on the fault line between two "gangs" in one of Oakland's most violent neighborhoods. Fifteen community members live in four houses that connect around a large backyard. They are in the process of creating a large organic garden for themselves and their neighbors as a way to make peace, restore the neighborhood and teach nonviolent living.
The name "Canticle" comes from St. Francis' hymn to creation and reminds them to give thanks and praise for the wonders of creation. Over lunch, they told me how they want to be a presence of peace and nonviolence in the neighborhood, and how that means going deep into contemplation and connection with the earth, especially if you live in the inner city.
They hold two one-hour "receptive silence" (meditation) sessions each day, and some of them practice silence on Mondays, as Gandhi did. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, they hold open meditation and yoga sessions in the nearby Cesar Chavez Park. On Friday nights, they offer an open house hour of silence, followed by group sharing and a meal, which 40 people usually attend.
They have just begun their Canticle Farm Saturdays, which begin with meditation followed by public service, such as picking up trash in the neighborhood and local creeks, and connecting with the neighbors. They welcome neighbors for lunch and invite them to work in the garden with the hope that someday, neighbors would take seeds to start their own gardens. In the next few weeks, they will start offering afternoon programs on practical items such as cooking or repairing clothes. These neighborhood Saturdays end with their "Loaves and Fishes" Eucharistic sharing, a meal and a social.
Recently, they purchased another house where they intend to hold intensive training sessions for neighborhood youth. They plan on teaching nonviolence, urban permaculture, eco-literacy, creek restoration and other forms of selfless service. Throughout all of this, the community practices active hospitality and peacemaking with the neighbors by greeting and welcoming everyone.
It was fascinating to see a community in the process of emerging and to hear how nonviolent they want that process to be.
"While we have a vision of what can happen," Anne said, "we know it has to emerge from our connection with our neighbors. We show up with open hearts and a desire to be of service, and know that miracles will happen."
The community started organically, she said, so they want to let it grow organically.
"We want to take down the physical fences in the neighborhood and the fences in our hearts, because we know our real security is not in our fences or the bars on our windows, but in our relationships," she said. "This is the way to peace. We have misguided 'warrior' energy in our neighborhood. Our young people are fighting and dying to protect their 'turf.' We want to suggest that the turf is the earth. These young people are our future and we need to invest in them. That means redirecting their 'warrior' energy toward fighting for and protecting both open space in our neighborhood, so we can grow our food locally, as well as our creek system, which is currently trashed.
"We know about peak oil and global climate change, how the system is coming apart, so we're part of the Transition Town movement and try to help each other to get ready for the future by growing our own food and taking care of one another, so that when things do fall apart, we won't turn on one another," she continued. "We could go to the neighbors and say, 'The end is coming, so start growing your food and get ready,' or, we could say, 'Let's grow our own food now because it's fun, we can share it with one another, get to know one another and build a safer and beautiful community.'"
When I ask about her motivation for doing this, Anne speaks of St. Francis. "I'm trying to embody that phrase attributed to St. Francis: 'Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words.'"
Their mission statement explains their hope:
Another community member, Pancho Ramos Stierle, spoke of Gandhi to explain their mission and work.
"How do we find the equivalent of Gandhi's spinning wheel and constructive program for today?" Pancho asked. "Healthy and local food is the answer. This is Gandhi's 21st-century spinning wheel. Anyone on the planet can get involved in healthy and local food -- from planting seeds, watering, mulching, harvesting, composting and supporting local farmers to eating only healthy food. Once we have that constructive program, when we're solid in that, we can confront the pollution-/violence-based system more effectively. But we also need an inner 'spinning wheel,' so we spend two hours each day in 'receptive silence.' The inner revolution and the outer revolution together can lead to a total revolution of the human spirit."
Pancho knows what he is talking about. He drew a lot of media attention in November when he sat in at an Oakland Occupy protest that verged on violence. In the middle of the night, at the height of the tension, he and friends sat in the half lotus position with their eyes closed. Over time, angry protesters grew more peaceful. When riot police gathered in full force, the protest became remarkably nonviolent. At sunrise, police arrested 32 peaceful people, including Pancho. The media photographed the scene, and a picture of Pancho being arrested while sitting in the half lotus position made headlines around the world. Because he was "undocumented," he was held, and people around the Bay Area began to clamor for his release. Along the way, he made a good impression on the police and the jailers, and indeed, he was unconditionally released, which was a major political breakthrough.
"Nonviolence isn't just a philosophy of resistance, it's is a way of life," Pancho said in a profile about him on dailygood.org, which was also reprinted in Parabola magazine. "Nonviolence is the thoughts we have, the words that we use, the clothes that we wear, the things that we say. It is not just an absence of violence, not even just the absence of wanting to cause harm. Nonviolence is a state when your heart is so full of love, compassion, kindness, generosity and forgiveness that you simply don't have any room for anger, frustration or violence."
Recently, he met three neighborhood kids -- 14, 15 and 16 years old -- who were probably gang members, and showed them around the community house, Casa de Paz. As he took them to the large meditation room with its white carpet, freshly painted white walls and large green hanging plants, one of the kids said, "I feel so peaceful here."
"That moment -- to facilitate peace and harmony in the heart of one of the local teenagers -- was worth all our effort so far," Pancho said with a smile.
That's because the neighborhood is far from peaceful. Last week, someone walked down their street in the middle of the day shooting off a gun, and then disappeared. Canticle Farm stands right there in the center of violence, offering a nonviolent presence, peaceful hospitality and the beauty of creation. Their intentional community offers a model for others around the country.
"If we can do it here," Pancho says, "it can be replicated in many places."
Ten percent of their energy goes into protest work, such as supporting the local Occupy movement, working against oppressive gang injunctions that unjustly affect all youth, boycotting the corporation Monsanto with its genetically modified seeds, and doing civil disobedience in various nonviolence campaigns, Pancho explained.
But 90 percent of their work will be focused on "the constructive program," which means meditation time, community building, hospitality, growing food, restorative justice, gift economy and nonviolence training. They hope to create a large neighborhood garden and eventually inspire every household to plant their own vegetable garden.
"Why are you part of this?" I asked Pancho.
"Because to live in radical, joyous, shared servanthood is my purpose on this planet," he said.
"If we start wearing the lenses of trust, community, wholeness, abundance and contribution, we see that everywhere we go, we can serve," Pancho says. "Everywhere we go, we can connect at the soul level with another human being. We are moving from 'me' to 'we.' As Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'We only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.'"
I am deeply moved by Anne and Pancho's story and the development of Canticle Farm. It's inspiring to see friends start something new for the poor, for youth, for the earth, for love, for humanity. Their bold example invites all of us to move from "me" to "we," and to take another step forward on the road to peace.
Editor's note: Peter Ediger, an 85-year-old Mennonite peace activist whom John Dear wrote about in his Jan. 24 column, died Feb. 16 after a brief illness, according to Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service, which Ediger co-founded in 1989. Read more about Ediger at the Pace e Bene website.
John Dear will speak Feb. 24 in Orange, Calif., and Feb. 25 in Flagstaff, Ariz. His new book, Lazarus, Come Forth!, explores Jesus as the God of life calling humanity (in the symbol of the dead Lazarus) out of the tombs of the culture of war and death. To see John's 2012 speaking schedule, go to John Dear's website. John is profiled with Dan Berrigan and Roy Bourgeois in a new book, Divine Rebels by Deena Guzder (Lawrence Hill Books). This book and other recent books, including Daniel Berrigan: Essential Writings; Put Down Your Sword and A Persistent Peace, are available from Amazon.com.
We can send you an e-mail alert every time an On the Road to Peace column is posted to NCRonline.org. Go to this page and follow directions: E-mail alert sign-up. If you already receive e-mail alerts from us, click on the "update my profile" button to add On the Road to Peace to your list. |

subset: commoncrawl


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Our sponsorships
and partners
Here at Etihad, we are immensely proud of our partnerships with so many international brands, offering unique experiences for our guests.
Everything we believe in and all that we stand for comes from our UAE and Abu Dhabi roots. We are the ambassadors for our city, proudly promoting local events and celebrations for you to enjoy on your next visit.
We are proud to be the official airline of Fashion Week events across the world. We offer the fashion industry a unique rewards programme tailored to your needs, and packages to take you from the runway in Milan to the runway in New York City.
Our partnerships with Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Sydney Opera House are iconic, cultural experiences. You can find Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island. Heading down under? Look for the iconic sails of the Opera House on Sydney Harbour, Australia.
Sport brings people together, to share in the collective dream of achieving the impossible and beating the odds. Our sporting partnerships range from Manchester City FC, the HSBC Golf Championship and Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.


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You're now viewing the history of 'Petals-SE-Flowable 1.1.2+'. You can move the slider to the right to see previous versions. Dont worry, you can always scroll back.
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Welcome to the September edition of What's New at Shopify. With an exciting product announcement, an event near you, and loads of feature updates and launches for merchants, this blog post will help you stay in the know and drive success for your clients. Here's what's new this month.
You might also like: What's New at Shopify: Aug 2, 2018.
1. The new Shopify App Store
The new Shopify App Store has been redesigned and relaunched to better help you market to and match with over 600,000 merchants, through new subcategories, improved app listing pages, and better recommendations.
Our revamped approach to app search and discovery, paired with clearer app listing pages, makes it much easier for merchants to discover, evaluate, and use apps to help them run their business. With these improvements, app developers can more easily showcase the value their app brings to merchants.
2. Announcing the speakers at Shopify Pursuit
Shopify Pursuit is our international conference series for partners happening across four different continents, in five cities, from September to November 2018. Two weeks ago we announced who's speaking at each Pursuit event.
There are still limited tickets available for the events. Each ticket includes a full day of presentations, office hours, networking opportunities, evening meetups, and a limited-seating master class. If three or more people from your business are planning to attend Pursuit, tickets are available at a discounted rate using the discount code GROUP.
3. App trial days and billing information
Merchants can now see which of their apps are currently in their free trial period, and how many days they have left in the trial. This information will appear in the app index of their store admin, and makes it easy for merchants to tell how much longer until they will start getting charged for the app.
Additionally, merchants can now view specific billing information in the View details modal. They'll be able to see the next charge date and charge amount of the app, and any additional charges that will apply. This allows merchants to understand exactly how much an app is costing them, and when they'll be charged.
Making app trial and billing information more accessible to merchants provides clarity, helps to avoid misunderstandings around billing, and builds trust between merchants and app developers.
To find out more about app billing information, read our help docs page on app invoicing.
4. Transporter app will simplify Shopify Plus data migration
Data migrations are complex, time-consuming, and resource heavy. Merchants wishing to migrate data to Shopify's platform encounter issues relating to data reliability. Often, this can delay the successful launch of their online store.
Transporter is Shopify Plus's own data migration tool. It allows merchants to upload large files to import products, customers, orders, and metafields. Transporter is the fastest way to load data into Shopify, making re-platforming easier.
With Transporter, you'll also have access to a command-line tool, allowing you to extract and transform data from competing ecommerce platforms (currently only supporting Magento).
This is a useful feature for you to highlight to potential clients who are not yet on the platform, as well as to existing clients who could be saving valuable time and effort as they work.
Transporter is available to all Shopify Plus merchants and partners. See Help Center documentation for more information.
5. Bulk upload redirects via csv for easier migrations
Merchants can now easily redirect thousands of their store's pages in just a couple of minutes, making it easier for them to migrate to Shopify without risking their extremely valuable and hard earned search rankings.
Merchants can set up 301 redirects from theOnline > Navigation > URL Redirects section of the admin. There, they can bulk upload redirects by choosing Import, or export their entire list of redirects for easy editing.
For partners, this update is useful when helping a client with a site redesign or an SEO project, such as merging pages or blogs, and solving 404 page errors. This new way of adding redirects will streamline your process.
For more information on redirects, check out our API docs, or the article in our Help Center.
6. Shopify Payments: Sell and get paid in different currencies
Shopify Payments helps hundreds of thousands of growing merchants accept payments anywhere they sell.
In order to support merchants selling globally, we are unlocking the ability for Shopify Payments merchants (with the exception of United States merchants not on Shopify Plus) to sell in a foreign currency and receive payouts in their local currency.
With Shopify Payments, merchants can:
- Experience a better payments experience with clear, low rates and no hidden fees
- Provide customers with a seamless checkout experience and increase conversion rates with accelerated checkouts like Shopify Pay, Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Sync customers' payment details with their orders, helping them track what, how much, and by whom they've been paid, without leaving Shopify
This is a useful feature for you to highlight to clients who are currently using a third party payment app. Switching to Shopify Payments only takes about a minute to set up. They'll have no interruption in sales and can be on their way in just a few clicks.
7. GDPR Webhooks
In order to be GDPR compliant, all Shopify apps that handle personal data (eg. customer names and email addresses) must subscribe to all three mandatory GDPR webhooks, which allow developers to respond to requests around accessing, viewing, and deleting personal data.
All three webhooks are available to integrate with, and webhooks relating to all redaction and/or data requests are now being sent. Once received, these need to be acted on within 30 days, unless you are otherwise required to keep the information.
For more information on implementing these webhooks, actioning on them, and general background on your obligation, please see the most recent GDPR forum post for more details.
8. Buy X Get Y discounts can now be set to multiply
Discount promotions are a great way for merchants to increase sales. To help facilitate these promotions, we've made an addition to our 'Buy X Get Y' discount.
The 'get Y' portion of the discount can now multiply when customers purchase more than one 'X' item. Any new BXGY discounts created will have the option to set a maximum number of uses, but will also allow the discount to multiply when customers purchase the right number of items to satisfy the rule more than once. For example, if a customer orders four items as part of a Buy One Get One Free discount, two items in the orders will be free by default.
This update helps Shopify Partners guide merchants in leveraging the power of discounts. Help merchants increase sales by using this powerful discount type.
For more information, check out the discounts help guide, which walks through the discount creation process.
You might also like: What's New at Shopify: June 22, 2018.
Tools for merchant success
These updates will help you grow your business, through an enhanced app store or by using this knowledge to help merchants make the most of their businesses. Stay tuned for next month's updates on everything that's new on the Shopify platform.
What update are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below!


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Proper Guild provides an outlet for professional service providers in Union looking to strike out on their own. By utilizing Proper Guild, you'll be able to see every independent service providers' rate and compare them on a competitive basis. Some of the professional service providers you can hire at our platform include financial advisors, legal advisors, personal assistants, licensed pilots, vehicle repair technicians, and couriers.
Proper Guild can help you get in touch with independent service providers who are experts in their respective fields. We make the process of looking for a stellar worker in Union quicker, cheaper, and easier than just running queries through a search engine. Whether you are in need of legal or financial advice, a personal assistant, a licensed pilot, a vehicle repair technician, or a courier, our user-friendly nature makes it easier for clients to find professionals in all different facets of service while allowing for a quick price comparison between professional services.
As always, Proper Guild's five-point grading system gives users an idea of the type and quality of services any particular independent service provider in Union may offer, as well as provide information on how they performed in their previous jobs.
Looking for professional personal assistants in Union? Proper Guild's independent service providers include fast, responsible, and reliable personal assistants who can help take the weight off your shoulders. Hire admin assistants, office assistants, executive assistants, personal concierge and experienced professionals who specialize in office management, customer service or telemarketing, scheduling, or running errands. Here's how you can put our personal assistants in Union to work:
• Works as a secretary to manage diaries, organize appointments, schedules, meetings, and controls access to the executive or manager.
• Books and arranges transport, accommodation, and travel.
• Remind executives or managers of important deadlines and tasks.
• Prepares reports, correspondence, and presentations.
• Filing and collating your expenses.
• Runs errands and other miscellaneous tasks to support the manager, this may include shopping, stocking home inventory, liaising with suppliers, staff, and clients, other duties.
Our experienced personal assistants in Union are trained with working for families, individuals, or corporations. Proper Guild's five-point grading system allows you to gauge a freelancer's past work – allowing you to select the best worker in our pool of candidates. Working on a budget? Our freelancers bid against one another, so your project may be more affordable than you expect.
How can we help you?


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David M. Gay dtoa License
Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software for any purpose without fee is hereby granted, provided that this entire notice is included in all copies of any software which is or includes a copy or modification of this software and in all copies of the supporting documentation for such software. THIS SOFTWARE IS BEING PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY. IN PARTICULAR, NEITHER THE AUTHOR NOR LUCENT MAKES ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF ANY KIND CONCERNING THE MERCHANTABILITY OF THIS SOFTWARE OR ITS FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
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Owners of vintage cars and avid hot-rodders will now have an option to make their vehicles environmentally friendly.
A partnership, involving Parksville-based Canadian Electric Vehicles Ltd. and Webb Motorworks in Victoria, has designed electric engines that can fit into standard engine mounts of popular classic cars with minimal integration. They will still produce high-power performance, only with zero emissions.
canEV and Webb Motorworks produced e-Crate motors that were recently unveiled at the popular SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association) trade show in Las Vegas.
The innovative electric powertrains will provide decades of trouble-free performance with virtually no maintenance. The beauty and styling of iconic cars will no longer feature exhaust pipes spewing untreated particulate emissions and climate damaging greenhouse gases.
"These powerplants are state-of-the-art systems with performance and driveability that is well beyond the engines they replaced," said Todd Maliteare, president of canEV. "This first run of three cars was a challenging project for our team, and we've gained incredible experience that we look forward to utilizing for future high performance EV projects."
The three iconic show vehicles showcased at SEMA included a 1932 Ford Deuce Coupe, a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible; and a 1969 Camaro Z/28. They were the result of six months of research, development and refinement.
"This combination of components sets a new bar for EV conversions," Maliteare said. "We have surged through the low voltage and horsepower barriers of the past. Our new approach rockets the conversion market to the performance level expected from high-end OEM electric vehicles."
Each of the three vehicle features a customized electric power plant housed in Webb Motorworks' e-Crate designs. The prototypes that were on display at SEMA21 are expected to be taken into production in 2022.
"Finally, hot-rodders and classic car fans can maintain their vehicle's power and performance without having to compromise the aesthetic of their engine compartment," said Chris Webb, owner of Webb Motorworks.
If you're interested in new or used vehicles, be sure to visit TodaysDrive.com to find your dream car today! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram


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**** Read full product details before purchasing ****
Free Shipping!
Hand Made in USA
Solid Wood
Designed for Britax Bassinets
Our Addy & Sage Rocking Stand for Britax Bassinets is a beautifully hand made solid wood stand that allows you to keep your newborn close at all times. For your little one's comfort and safety, we have added extra support under the bassinet to prevent any soft spots or gaps. Hand made in the USA. Britax bassinet is not included.
Brakes or locking casters? We highly recommend adding either brakes or locking casters to your stand. They ensure that your bassinet remains level regardless of how baby shifts and repositions during sleep. Brakes and locking casters are also a great feature if you have older children or pets in the house.
• Brakes = when engaged, brakes create a stationary stand that does not move. Disengage the brakes and it functions as a rocking stand. Brakes make this stand both a rocking as well as a stationary stand, all in one.
• Locking casters = locking casters (wheels) allow for effortless portability without disturbing baby. Remove the casters and it becomes a rocking stand; reattach them and it becomes a stationary and/or portable stand. Locking casters make this stand both a rocking as well a stationary stand, all in one.
- Made in Georgia, USA
- Solid hardwood
- Veneer free
- Particle board free
- Pressed wood free
- MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) free
- No plastic parts
- Available in Natural, Mocha, True White and Dove Gray
- Paint options are certified asthma & allergy friendly®
- Optional brakes and locking casters (wheels) available
- Optional storage shelf available
- Designed to be used with Britax bassinets
- Weight capacity = 165 pounds
- Minimal assembly required (detailed, step by step instructions included)
Please note:
- Our stands are made to order so please allow 7-10 business days for completion, plus shipping time (this is an estimate and can change)
- Mocha, White & Gray stands require more time to complete
- If you are pressed for time, let us know at the time of order (in the "Comments" section on the last page of checkout)
- Free shipping is available in the contiguous USA only. Email us for shipping quotes outside the lower 48
- Wood is a natural material and, therefore, varies in color, grain, and appearance from batch to batch. The appearance of colors is greatly impacted by the amount of light, source of light, screen settings, etc. This is a handmade item composed of natural materials; color variations are normal and to be expected
- Adult supervision is required at all times
- Britax bassinet is not included
- This is a final sale
What makes this stand so special?
We know there are many basket stand options available and we are familiar with all of them (it's our business, after all). Here are some things to consider about our stands:
= Most importantly, our stands are made entirely in the USA. Not just designed here but built here from beginning to end. When you buy our stand you are creating American jobs.
= In fact, this is the only stand built in the USA. All other stands on the market are imported from China.
= Our stands have a weight capacity of 165 pounds. Imported stands have a weight limit of about 25 pounds (that in a TOTAL weight limit for the basket, the bedding AND baby!)
= We use solid hardwoods throughout - no pine, plastics, no MDF, no fabric.
= Our thick support slats create a firm, flat sleeping surface to prevent soft spots or gaps. All other stands have supports that creates an uneven, sagging basket bottom that is both uncomfortable and unsafe.
= We offer options the mass produced, imported stands simply can't; such as brakes and locking casters (wheels). These features offer versatility & convenience unique to our stands.
= We offer colors that are baby safe and non toxic.
= Our Natural stand is completely unfinished so it can be stained or painted at home very easily. They are sanded smooth and ready to use or can be stained/painted to match your decor. Other "Natural" stands have a coating that cannot be stained at home.
= Our builder is a skilled craftsman, a woodworker who can offer custom sizes to ensure our customers get the best fitting, safest basket stand possible.
= Our stands are handmade to order with great attention to detail. They are not mass produced in a factory.
The old adage that you get what you pay for is particularly true about baby furniture. You can find cheaper but you will not find better.
©2008-2024 Baby Eco Trends, LLC || info {at} BabyEcoTrends {dot} com


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I have no idea what made me think of root beer IN brownies, but the other day I Googled to find out if such a thing existed. Well, at first I was thinking more of cookies-and found that there are tons of recipes out there for cookies, blondies, brownies, cake, etc.—but most of them use root beer concentrate/extract and I was looking for something that uses actual root beer. After my search, these Root Beer Float Brownie Sundaes were created.
The more I Googled, I found just what I was looking for and it didn't take too much looking once I decided it was brownies I wanted root beer in. Never fear, I found just the right brownies on one of my oldest-loved blogs (and by old, I mean about 4 years ago when I started reading food blogs.) The brownie recipe, which includes 8 ounces of root beer, is from Nicole's blog, Baking Bites. Nicole has great, tried-and-true recipes on her blog and I know she spends lots of time perfecting recipes before she posts them.
To get that floaty-creamy like flavor as well as root beer taste IN a chocolate brownie, Nicole uses white chocolate along with the semi-sweet chocolate and some root beer. I only ever-so-slightly adapted the recipe. I didn't have any white chocolate, but did have some white chocolate chips and used those. But never fear, these were not vanilla chips, which I don't love and rarely buy, they are actual white chocolate chips with cocoa butter as the main ingredient. I say that because I know chips are different in their ingredients to keep them in chip-shape when baked. These melted down just fine with the other chocolate and made a great brownie.
The brownies are ever so cake-like, but it's a good, dense, fudgy cake. And they are good. As Nicole instructs on her blog (post linked above and below), the brownies really are better the next day—just a little bit fudgier and with a little more root beer flavor prominent.
Without further chatter—here's what I did for these.
Root Beer Float Brownie Sundaes, by Katrina, Baking and Boys!
1 recipe for 9x9 pan Root Beer Brownies from Baking Bites (includes 8 oz. root beer)
Vanilla Ice Cream (I happened to have some homemade vanilla that was great!)
12 ounces (1 can) root beer soda (I used Mug brand)
Make the brownies according to the recipe. Let cool completely. Chill for a few hours and/or overnight. Cut in to squares.
Simmer one can of root beer in a small saucepan until it reduces substantially. You can make more if needed. One can reduced down to about 1/4 cup of syrup in 10-15 minutes. We made 5 sundaes and drizzled spoonfuls of the syrup over each. It didn't take too much—it's concentrated!
Serve the sundaes with a brownie, then vanilla ice cream and the syrup drizzled over the top.


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earthenware, underglaze painting
Ceramic material made of clay which is fired to a temperature of c.1000-1200⁰c. The resulting ceramic is non-vitreous and varies in colour from dark red to yellow.
Painting applied to ceramic material before a transparent, or monochrome or coloured glaze for Islamic objects, is applied. The technique was initially developed in China.
Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.
© 2013 University of Oxford - Ashmolean Museum


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The U.S. and Germany pledged Wednesday to equip Ukraine with some of the advanced weapons it has long desired for shooting down aircraft and knocking out artillery, as Russian forces closed in on capturing a key city in the east.
Germany said it will supply Ukraine with up-to-date anti-aircraft missiles and radar systems, while the U.S. announced it will provide four sophisticated, medium-range rocket systems and ammunition.
The U.S. is trying to help Ukraine fend off the Russians without triggering a wider war in Europe. The Pentagon said it received assurances that Ukraine will not fire the new rockets into Russian territory.
The Kremlin accused the U.S. of "pouring fuel on the fire."
Western arms have been critical to Ukraine's success in stymieing Russia's much larger and better-equipped military, thwarting its effort to storm the capital and forcing Moscow to shift its focus to the industrial Donbas region in the east.
But as Russia bombards towns in its inching advance in the east, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly pleaded for more and better weapons and accused the West of moving too slowly.
Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president's office, hailed the new Western weapons.
"I'm sure that if we receive all the necessary weapons and strengthen the efficient sanctions regime we will win," he said.
The new arms could help Ukraine set up and hold new lines of defense in the east by hitting back at Russian artillery pieces that have been battering towns and cities and by limiting Russian airstrikes, said retired French Gen. Dominique Trinquand, a former head of France's military mission at the United Nations.
"The NATO countries — the European nations and the Americans — have progressively escalated the means that they are putting at Ukraine's disposal, and this escalation, in my opinion, has had the aim of testing Russian limits," he said. "Each time, they measure the Russian reaction, and since there is no reaction, they keep supplying increasingly effective and sophisticated weaponry."
Military analysts say Russia is hoping to overrun the Donbas before any weapons that might turn the tide arrive. It will take at least three weeks to get the precision U.S. weapons and trained troops onto the battlefield, the Pentagon said. But Defense Undersecretary Colin Kahl said he believes they will arrive in time to make a difference in the fight.
The rocket systems are part of a new $700 million package of security assistance for Ukraine from the U.S. that also includes helicopters, Javelin anti-tank weapon systems, radars, tactical vehicles, spare parts and more.
The rockets have a range of about 50 miles (80 kilometers) and are highly mobile. Ukraine had pushed unsuccessfully for rockets with a range of up to 186 miles (300 kilometers).
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow does not trust assurances that Ukraine will not fire on Russian territory. "We believe that the U.S. is deliberately and diligently pouring fuel on the fire," he said.
Col. Gen. Mikhail Mizintzev later went further, directly accusing Ukraine of planning to fire U.S.-provided missiles from the northeastern Sumy region at border areas in Russia. The claim, which he said was based on radio intercepts, couldn't be independently confirmed.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Ukraine's push for more weapons is a "direct provocation intended to draw the West into the fighting." He warned that the multiple rocket launchers would raise the risk of an expanded conflict.
"Sane Western politicians understand those risks well," he said.
As the new weapons shipments were announced, a Russian missile hit rail lines in the western Lviv region, a key conduit for supplies of Western weapons and other supplies, officials said. Regional Gov. Maksym Kozytskyy said five people were wounded in Wednesday's strike, and the head of Ukrainian railways said the damage was still being assessed.
Germany's promise of IRIS-T air defense systems would mark the first delivery of long-range air defense weapons to Ukraine since the start of the war. Earlier deliveries of portable, shoulder-fired air defense missiles have bolstered the Ukrainian military's ability to take down helicopters and other low-flying aircraft but didn't give it enough range to challenge Russia's air superiority.
Germany has come under particular criticism, both at home and from allies abroad, that it isn't doing enough. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told lawmakers that the IRIS-T's surface-to-air missiles are the most modern air defense system the country has.
"With this, we will enable Ukraine to defend an entire city from Russian air attacks," he said. The radar systems will also help Ukraine locate enemy artillery.
A regional governor said Russian forces now control 80% of Sievierodonetsk, a city that is key to Moscow's efforts to complete its capture of the Donbas, where Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists have fought for years and where the separatists held swaths of territory even before the invasion.
Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai said Russian troops were advancing in the city during fierce street battles with Ukrainian forces, though he noted that in some districts the Ukrainian troops managed to push them back.
The only other city in Luhansk that the Russians have not yet captured, Lysychansk, is still fully under Ukrainian control, he said, but is likely to be the next target. The two cities are separated by a river.
"If the Russians manage to take full control over Sievierodonetsk within two to three days, they will start installing artillery and mortars and will shell Lysychansk more intensively," Haidai said.
Zelenskyy, meanwhile, said the country is losing between 60 and 100 soldiers a day in the fighting.
He turned the focus to children in his nightly video address, saying 243 of them have been killed in the war, 446 have been wounded and 139 are missing. The real numbers could be higher, he added, as his government doesn't have a full picture of areas under Russian occupation.
Zelenskyy also said 200,000 children are among the Ukrainians who have been forcefully taken to Russia and dispersed across that vast country: "The purpose of this criminal policy is not just to steal people but to make those who are deported forget about Ukraine and unable to return."
In southern Ukraine, a regional governor sounded a more positive note, saying Russian troops were retreating and blowing up bridges behind them.
"They are afraid of a counterattack by the Ukrainian army," Vitaliy Kim, governor of the Mykolayiv region, said on the Telegram messaging app.
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Landscape Marketing Secrets
Laura talks to pond builder and landscaper Scott Brown about how he uses marketing to stay keep his $2 million plus company busy even in a slow year.
info_outline EP289: The Secret to Having an Office/Customer Service ManagerLandscape Marketing Secrets
Laura talks to AquaReale's Office Manager/Customer Service Manager on how she handles her job and why she is such an integral part of our company's success.
info_outline EP288: The Secret to Having a Director of OperationsLandscape Marketing Secrets
Laura talks to AquaReale's Director of Operations, Tyler, on what he does for the company and why his position helps make money even as he moved to overhead costs.
info_outline EP287: The Secret to Using AI and ChatGPTLandscape Marketing Secrets
Laura talks to Jeff from Break The Image on how to best use AI and ChatGPT. Jeff references the following link:
info_outline EP286: The Secret to Understanding Google AlgorithmsLandscape Marketing Secrets
Laura talks to Jeff from Break the Image about Google Algorithms and how to best use Google for your business. Jeff references three links:
info_outline EP285:The Secret to Using JobberLandscape Marketing Secrets
Laura talks to Barbi Holdeman of The Pond Gnome about how she optimizes Jobber to make it work best for her business.
info_outline EP284:The Secret to Using Simple AutomationsLandscape Marketing Secrets
Laura talks to Clay Graba about how to use simple automations to make your work life easier.
info_outline EP283: The Secret to AquaReale's 2024Landscape Marketing Secrets
Laura and Matt continue last week's conversation by delving into 2024. Hiring, getting new work, we cover it all!
info_outline EP282:The Secret to AquaReale's 2023Landscape Marketing Secrets
Laura and Matt of AquaReale dissect their 4th quarter year end and look back at what worked and didn't work in 2023.
info_outline EP281:The Secret to Using Google My Business to Get More WorkLandscape Marketing Secrets
Laura talks to Scott Molchan from the Million Dollar Academy about how to use Google My Business. Now called Google Profile! Here is the link he references in our talk:
info_outlineLaura and her office manager, Sandy, talk about what systems are working for their pond company and what still needs work.


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Title: Trinity – Accepting Fate book Three
Author: Kylie Price
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
"I've accepted being a monster. Now I need to decide if I will follow fate or kick its arse."
Trinity meets the underbelly of the supernatural world so she and her friends can learn to better protect themselves. As she explores her abilities further she discovers someone lurking in her mind, making her crave what they want— blood. It seems that an enemy survived and her head fills with his plight to not only feed on every living human, but to take her and all those she cares about, out of the picture. Hunger grips her soul as she fights to avoid being seduced by his cravings, while her dark side pleads to be let out. Trying to tame her beast, she pushes herself to exhaustion while training. It's all she can do as she waits for the pending battle that is already in motion.
Her friend Carra is no help, so she looks for guidance in Carra's journal, only to discover that something big is coming. Something that will forever change her life. A sacrifice that will grip her to the core and cause her to question her entire existence. Will she become strong enough to save herself, all the Monsters and Humanity.
Kylie Price is a shy and reserved person when around people she doesn't know. But, when she does know you, she is a bag of laughs sarcasm, fun and very witty. She has a natural ability to be cheeky in less than a breath. Those friends and family close to her enjoy the sudden burst of energy and laughter that she brings out in others. This is carried over into her novels. From a broken home, growing up was hard and often she felt alone and isolated. She used her imagination to push past that feeling and started creating new worlds from the age of ten. She is dyslexic, but don't let that put you off her books. She has formed a strong team and friendship with her writing and her followers help her to no end. She has pushed past her fears, anxiety and feeling of abandonment to bring herself to full light and follow her dreams of being a writer, no matter how imperfect her spelling is. One of her favourite quotes, "Most days I get a text message from Auto Correct saying, 'What the hell is wrong with you woman. I have no idea what you're on about. Stop that.' lol." This is truly her. She admits to many faults and flaws, but she moves forward them all and takes it on the chin. She strives every day to improve as a writer, friend, mother, etc. Though I think she is fabulous how she is, she reassures me, "There is always room for improvement no matter how great a person thinks they are." So, from me, I say take the chance on this amazing writer's books and follow her, friend her and enjoy the ride with us all. You won't be disappointed. Compiled Author Bio from close friends and fans.
Author Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1QkixSS
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KyliePrice01
Street Team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1454648438113109/
Buy Links:
Trinity - Accepting Fate book 3
Trinity Series - ALL books available for FREE with Kindle Unlimited. Trinity - The Prophecy stars. 4.8 -cents 99ONLY 1 1# http://amzn.to/1KSSZvS
Trinity - Defying Destiny #book 2, just $2.99 - 4.9 stars. http://amzn.to/1KSSXEb
Trinity Series - ALL books available for FREE with Kindle Unlimited. Trinity - The Prophecy stars. 4.8 -cents 99ONLY 1 1# http://amzn.to/1KSSZvS
Trinity - Defying Destiny #book 2, just $2.99 - 4.9 stars. http://amzn.to/1KSSXEb


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Friday, November 3, 2023
Slavery and the Eight Veils ~ by Don Harkins (revisited)
Over the last several years I have evolved and discarded several theories in an attempt to explain why it is that most people cannot see truth - even when it smacks them in the face. Those of us who can see "the conspiracy" have participated in countless conversations amongst ourselves that address the frustration of most peoples' inability to comprehend the extremely well-documented arguments which we use to describe the process of our collective enslavement and exploitation. The most common explanation to be arrived at is that most people just "don't want to see" what is really going on.
Extremely evil men and women who make up the world's power-elite have cleverly cultivated a virtual pasture so grass green that few people seldom, if ever, bother to look up from where they are grazing long enough to notice the brightly colored tags stapled to their ears.
The same people who cannot see their enslavement for the pasture grass have a tendency to view as insane "conspiracy theorists" those of us who can see the past the farm and into the parlor of his feudal lordship's castle.
Finally, I understand why.
It's not that those who don't see that their freedom is vanishing under the leadership of the power-elite "don't want to see it" - they simply can't see what is happening to them because of the unpierced veils that block their view.
All human endeavors are a filtration process. Sports is one of the best examples. We play specific sports until we get kicked off the playground. The pro athletes we pay big bucks to watch just never got kicked off the playground. Where millions of kids play little league each spring, they are filtered out until there are about 50 guys who go to the World Series in October.
Behind the first veil: There are over seven billion people on the planet. Most of them live and die without having seriously contemplated anything other than what it takes to keep their lives together. Ninety percent of all humanity will live and die without having pierced the first veil.
The first veil: Ten percent of us will pierce the first veil and find the world of politics. We will vote, be active and have an opinion. Our opinions are shaped by the physical world around us; we have a tendency to accept that government officials, network media personalities and other "experts" are voices of authority. Ninety percent of the people in this group will live and die without having pierced the second veil.
The second veil: Ten percent of us will pierce the second veil to explore the world of history, the relationship between man and government and the meaning of self-government through constitutional and common law. Ninety percent of the people in this group will live and die without having pierced the third veil.
The third veil: Ten percent of us will pierce the third veil to find that the resources of the world, including people, are controlled by extremely wealthy and powerful families whose incorporated old world assets have, with modern extortion strategies, become the foundation upon which the world's economy is currently indebted. Ninety percent of the people in this group will live and die without having pierced the fourth veil.
The fourth veil: Ten percent of us will pierce the fourth veil to discover the Illuminati, Freemasonry and the other secret societies. These societies use symbols and perform ceremonies that perpetuate the generational transfers of arcane knowledge that is used to keep the ordinary people in political, economic and spiritual bondage to the oldest bloodlines on earth. Ninety percent of the people in this group will live and die without having pierced the fifth veil.
The fifth veil: Ten percent of us will pierce the fifth veil to learn that the secret societies are so far advanced technologically that time travel and interstellar communications have no boundaries and controlling the actions of people is what their members do as offhandedly as we tell our children when they must go to bed. Ninety percent of the people in this group will live and die without having pierced the sixth veil.
The sixth veil: Ten percent of us will pierce the sixth veil where the dragons and lizards and aliens we thought were the fictional monsters of childhood literature are real and are the controlling forces behind the secret societies. Ninety percent of the people in this group will live and die without piercing the seventh veil.
The seventh veil: I do not know what is behind the seventh veil. I think it is where your soul is evolved to the point you can exist on earth and be the man Gandhi was, or the woman Peace Pilgrim was - people so enlightened they brighten the world around them no matter what.
The eighth veil? Piercing the eighth veil probably reveals God and the pure energy that is the life force in all living things - which are, I think, one and the same.
If my math is accurate there are only about 70,000 people on the planet who have pierced the sixth veil. The irony here is too incredible: Those who are stuck behind veils one through five have little choice but to view the people who have pierced the veils beyond them as insane. With each veil pierced, exponentially shrinking numbers of increasingly enlightened people are deemed insane by exponentially increasing masses of decreasingly enlightened people.
Adding to the irony, the harder a "sixth or better veiler" tries to explain what he is able to see to those who can't, the more insane he appears to them.
Our enemy, the state
Behind the first two veils we find the great majority of people on the planet. They are tools of the state: Second veilers are the gullible voters whose ignorance justify the actions of politicians who send first veilers off to die in foreign lands as cannon fodder -- their combined stations in life are to believe that the self-serving machinations of the power-elite are matters of national security worth dying for.
Third, fourth, fifth and sixth veilers are of increasing liability to the state because of their decreasing ability to be used as tools to consolidate power and wealth of the many into the hands of the power-elite. It is common for these people to sacrifice more of their relationships with friends and family, their professional careers and personal freedom with each veil they pierce.
Albert Jay Nock (1870-1945), author of Our Enemy, the State (1935), explained what happens to those who find the seventh and eighth veils: "What was the best that the state could find to do with an actual Socrates and an actual Jesus when it had them? Merely to poison one and crucify the other, for no reason but that they were too intolerably embarrassing to be allowed to live any longer."
And so now we know that it's not that our countrymen are so committed to their lives that, "they don't want to see," the mechanisms of their enslavement and exploitation. They simply "can't see" it as surely as I cannot see what's on the other side of a closed curtain.
The purpose of this essay is threefold:
1. To help the handful of people in the latter veils to understand why the masses have little choice but to interpret their clarity as insanity;
2. To help people behind the first two veils understand that living, breathing and thinking are just the beginning and;
3. Show people that the greatest adventure of our life is behind the next veil because that is just one less veil between ourselves and God.
© The Idaho Observer
[First published on this blog 4 May 2007, reposted 3 April 2013, 7 November 2016, 19 April 2020 & 5 November 2020]


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Colin Jenkins
Gangsters for Capitalism
Why the US Working Class Enlists
Through its reliance on the relationship between labour and capital, fortified by state-enforced protections for private property to facilitate this relationship, capitalism creates a natural dependency on wages for the vast majority. With the removal of 'the commons' during the transition from feudalism to capitalism, the peasantry was transformed into a working-class majority that now must serve as both commodities and tools for those who own the means of production.
While those of us born into the working-class majority have little or no choice but to submit to our ritualistic commodification, we are sometimes presented with degrees of options regarding how far we allow capitalists, landlords, corporations, and their politicians to dehumanize us as their tools.
While we are forced into the labour market, for example, we can sometimes choose public jobs over private, therefore limiting the degree of exploitation. While we are forced to find housing, we may sometimes choose to live in communal situations with family or friends.
One of the areas where total choice is allowed is in the business of Empire, particularly in the maintenance and proliferation of the modern US Empire. Although governments worldwide are using technological advances in robotics to replace human bodies in their military ranks, and thus lessen their dependence on the working class, there is still a heavy reliance on people to act as tools of war. In 'all-volunteer' militaries like that of the United States', 'willingness' is still a crucial component to the mission.
As global capitalism's forerunner and guardian, the US military has nearly 3 million employees worldwide, including active duty and reserve personnel and 'civilian full-time equivalents'. The US Department of Defense's official proposed budget for FY 2017 is $582.7 billion , which, combined with corollary systems of 'security', swells to over $1 trillion.
According to public Pentagon reports , the US Empire officially comprises of 662 overseas military bases across 38 countries. Since the birth of the United States in 1776, the country has been involved in a war or military conflict in 219 of these 240 years.
Throughout this history, the US government, which has directly represented and acted upon the interests of capital and economic elites, has required the participation of many millions of its working-class citizens to join its military ranks in order to carry out its missions by force.
For many generations, the US working class has answered this call to serve as what US Marine General Smedley Butler once deemed, 'gangsters for capitalism'. Millions upon millions have lost life and limb to clear the path for new global markets, steal and extract valuable natural resources from other lands, and ensure the procurement of trillions of dollars of corporate profit for a privileged few.
Why? Why does the working class willingly, even enthusiastically, join to serve in a military that bolsters the very system which undermines and alienates them in their everyday lives?
Cultural Hegemony and Capitalist Indoctrination
We can start to answer this question by drawing on Antonio Gramsci's concept of cultural hegemony to see how capitalist interests have shaped the dominant culture in US society. Utilising Hegel's binary of social influence, where societal power is jockeyed between 'political society' and 'civil society' Gramsci suggested that power is based on two forms: coercion (Dominio) or consensus (Direzione).
According to Gramsci, the battle over ideology between the ruling and subaltern classes is ultimately won through 'the hegemony of one social group over the whole of society exercised through so-called private organizations, such as the church, trade unions, schools, etc.'
Under capitalism, the hierarchy relies on the state to control and dictate these central organs of ideological influence, thus establishing cultural hegemony. This isn't necessarily done in a highly centralized or coordinated manner by a tight-knit group, but rather occurs naturally through the mechanisms of the economic system.
Just as the economic base shapes society's 'superstructure', the superstructure in turn solidifies the interests of the economic base. In this cycle, the interests of the capitalist class are morphed into the interests of the working class.
Unearthing these dynamics allows us to explain why impoverished Americans living in dilapidated trailers and depending on government projects still proudly wave the red, white, and blue cloth; why tens of millions of impoverished people measure their value according to which designer clothes or sneakers they're wearing; why these same tens of millions, who can barely afford basic necessities to survive, spend much of their waking time gawking at and worshipping obscenely wealthy celebrities; or why over 100 million working-class people show up every few years to vote for politicians that do not represent them.
It also allows us to explain, at least in part, why members of the working class so willingly carry out the brutalization of their class peers by serving in imperialistic militaries and militarized police forces.
This culture, which is ultimately shaped by capitalism, receives its values through many different channels, formal and informal. Part of this is accomplished through formal education, where traditional intellectuals become more specialized, and where the process of learning and thinking is replaced by indoctrination.
In his 1926 examination of the 'Southern Question' , Gramsci wrote of this phenomenon:
The old type of intellectual was the organizing element in a society with a mainly peasant and artisanal basis. To organize the State, to organize commerce, the dominant class bred a particular type of intellectual… the technical organizer, the specialist in applied science... it is this second type of intellectual which has prevailed, with all his characteristics of order and intellectual discipline.
While Gramsci was specifically referring to the dominant intellectuals in northern Italy during his time, and how they influenced the 'rural bourgeoisie' and their 'crazy fear of the peasants', he was also expounding on the general development of a cultural hegemony that characterizes the capitalist system:
The first problem to resolve… was how to modify the political stance and general ideology of the proletariat itself, as a national element which exists within the ensemble of State life and is unconsciously subjected to the influence of bourgeois education, the bourgeois press and bourgeois traditions.
Uncovering these hegemonic elements stemming from society's economic base, according to Gramsci, was crucial in exposing the ruling-class propaganda that seeped through layer upon layer of working-class and peasant cultures of the time.
So, how does Gramsci's analysis play out today? Within systems of formal education, it exposes the strict parameters set by the capitalist modes of production and the social norms that result. It explains why formal education, even at its highest level, often takes the form of indoctrination.
A prime example of this indoctrination can be seen in the field of Economics, whose students at the most prestigious institutions and earning the highest academic achievements seem unable to apply their thought beyond the narrow confines of classical liberalism and its modern form of neoliberal capitalism.
They may be Ivy League PhDs, members of the Federal Reserve, or highly influential presidential cabinet members, but all exhibit an unwillingness or inability to see the most obvious of contradictions within their theory.
The indoctrination that has essentially taken over all fields of formal 'study' and 'expertise' inevitably flows throughout society, originating from elite institutions that are specifically designed to justify and maintain the economic base, and transferred from there into so-called public policy.
In turn, public education programmes that are shaped by the capitalist hierarchy are not concerned with the students' ability to comprehend or critically think, but rather with turning them into 'docile and passive tools of production'.
Part of this process is focused on the creation of obedient workers who are minimally competent to fulfil their exploitative labour role; and another part is focused on preventing the same workers from being able to critically think about, and thus recognize, their exploited labour role within this system. The former fetishizes obedience, control, and 'work ethic'; the latter obstructs awareness and resistance.
These formal, 'public' structures of dominant ideology are naturally coupled with more informal arrangements deriving from the market system, notably the consumption process. As such, workers are moulded through a structured progression that begins at birth.
In fulfilling this role, workers become consumers in the market for both necessary and conspicuous consumption. As the US capitalist system has become ever more reliant on conspicuous consumption (evidenced in the 'supply-side' phenomenon of the 1980s), this way of life once reserved for the 'leisure class' has now taken hold of the 'industrious class' (working class).
This intensification of the consumption process has exposed the working class to informal channels of indoctrination, established through advertising and marketing, popular entertainment such as television shows, movies, and video games, and the arrival of a billion-dollar voyeur industry based on worshipping the 'cult of personality' and celebrity (and, thus, wealth).
Clearly, when consumption becomes the only goal in life, people are pushed to consume more and more. In doing so, the working class is serving capitalist culture even in its 'personal life'. And through this manufactured encouragement to consume lies a complementary ideology that convinces working-class folks to literally buy into, become vested in, and thus serve and protect, the capitalist system.
Whose Security?
In a class-based society, fear becomes a convenient and effective tool in shaping ideology and pushing through ruling-class agendas with widespread working-class approval.
As in Gramsci's notion of cultural hegemony, where the interests of the owners and facilitators of capital are gradually accepted as the interests of the masses, issues of security also become blurred between those designed to protect the powerful and those designed to protect the powerless.
The modern security culture that has come to fruition in the US, especially after 9/11, compels masses of citizens to not only be subjected to increasing measures of authority and surveillance, but also to join in the effort to carry out these measures. Americans do so with a shocking willingness.
The reasons for this unquestioned submission to authority can be found in the most blatant of examples: the formation of the US Patriot Act. With the threat of 'extreme Islam' and 'global terrorism,' such legislation passed with ease because, like all such measures, it exploits the emotional (and irrational) needs brought on by fear.
Mark Neocleous tells us :
Security presupposes exclusion. Take the piece of legislation passed just a few weeks after the attack on the World Trade Centre, called the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act. Coming in at over 340 pages and carrying twenty-one legal amendments, the Act was said to be necessary and essential to the new security project about to be unleashed on the world.
It changed criminal law and immigration procedures to allow people to be held indefinitely, altered intelligence-gathering procedures to allow for the monitoring of people's reading habits through surveillance of library and bookshop records, and introduced measures to allow for greater access to property, email, computers, and financial and educational records. But if the Act is about security, it is also immediately notable for the wordy title, designed for the acronym it produces: USA PATRIOT. The implication is clear: this is an Act for American patriotism. To oppose it is unpatriotic .
This modern security culture has also taken on an extremely broad and vague agenda of 'national security', a term that represents a very specific construction of government strategy designed to create a catch-all apparatus that accommodates the never-ending growth of the military-industrial complex.
In fact, the term was deliberately chosen as a play of words with 'national defense', used during post-World War II reconfiguration efforts aimed at creating 'a unified military establishment along with a national defense council'.
'By 1947, "common defense" had been dropped and replaced with "national security" - hence the creation of the National Security Council and the National Security Act.' The purpose of this change in wording was tipped by Navy Secretary James Forrestal, who 'commented that "national security" can only be secured with a broad and comprehensive front', while explaining, 'I am using the word "security" here consistently and continuously rather than "defense''.
As Neocleous notes, "security" was a far more expansive term than "defense", which was seen as too narrowly military, and far more suggestive than "national interest", seen by many as either too weak a concept to form the basis of the exercise of state power or, with its selfish connotations, simply too negative'.
This conscious shift from 'defense' to 'security' was made for fairly obvious reasons. President Dwight Eisenhower's outgoing speech in 1961, which included an eerie warning of a creeping military-industrial complex that had become largely unaccountable, exposed the underlying reason in a rare act of deep truth coming from a major political figure.
In a similar act some four decades earlier, US Major General Smedley Butler exposed the embryo of this insidious institution , famously equating his 33-year military career to serving 'as a high-class muscle man for big business, Wall St., and the bankers' and 'a racketeer and gangster for capitalism' by making:
Mexico, and especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested.
This shift also highlights the importance of understanding Gramsci's concept of cultural hegemony and how it plays out in the real world.
By examining the focus of US domestic policy over the past century, we can see how forms of 'security' can be dissected into two parts: those focusing on the interests of the ruling-class minority, and those focusing on the interests of the working-class majority.
An example of the latter, which can aptly be described as 'social security', can be seen in the aftermath of the Great Depression and the subsequent focus on working-class (social) security in the New Deal.Neocleous points to the literature of the time to highlight this culture rooted in social security :
The economist Abraham Epstein, for example, had published a book called 'Insecurity: A Challenge to America,' in which he spoke of 'the specter of insecurity' as the bane of the worker's life under capitalism, while Max Rubinow had been articulating demands for 'a complete structure of security' in a book called 'The Quest for Security'.
A 2012 report issued by The Corner House provides a very clear and useful differentiation between what is referred to as 'lower-case' and 'upper-case' security.
The first type, which they label as 'lower-case' (which Neocleous refers to as 'social'), specifically applies to that of the working-class majority. This type of security, which relates to us all, include 'the mundane, plural protections of subsistence: holding the land you work and depend on; having a roof over your head; being able to count on clean water and regular seasons; knowing you can walk home without being assaulted by thieves or marauders; getting a good enough price for your crop to make ends meet; above all, knowing you have the right to the wherewithal for survival'.
The second type of security, which they label as 'upper-case' (and which Neocleous refers to as 'national'), applies specifically to the capitalist class. 'This is the Security that matters particularly to ruling elites: security of property and privilege, as well as access to enough force to contain any gains made by, or to counter the resistance of, the dispossessed or deprived.'
Actions taken under the umbrella of national security are done so for two main reasons: to protect ruling-class interests, and to feed the immensely profitable military-industrial complex. When major political figures own personal financial stock in the arms industry, as they often do in the US, these dual purposes go hand in hand. The fact that it has developed so intensely within the global epicentre of capitalist power (the US) is expected.
Karl Kautsky's 1914 essay on 'ultra-imperialism' described this inevitable stage clearly, stating that, as capitalist governments, in representing their profit sectors, were forced to seek out new industrial zones, 'the sweet dream of international harmony (free trade) quickly came to an end' because, 'as a rule, industrial zones overmaster and dominate agrarian zones'.
Hence, the massive outgrowth of industrial capitalism, in its constant search for new markets to exploit, can be accomplished only through widespread shows of force and power. Once the ball is rolling, this forceful expansion becomes a perpetual cycle through the opening of markets, the manufacturing and deployment of massively destructive armaments, and the rebuilding of markets.
In this process, the enormous loss of human life is viewed as a necessary and acceptable sacrifice in light of the potential profit to be made.
The final stage of capitalism, which has materialized over the course of the last 50 years or so, confirms these power relations based in the obsessive search for more profit. It is occupied by corporations that 'gobble down government expenditures, in essence taxpayer money, like pigs at a trough', and are facilitated by a 'security' industry that is funded 'with its official $612 billion defense authorization bill' that contributes to 'real expenditures on national security expenses to over $1 trillion a year' and 'has gotten the government this year (2015) to commit to spending $348 billio n over the next decade to modernize our nuclear weapons and build 12 new Ohio-class nuclear submarines, estimated at $8 billion each'.
Ironically, by upholding upper-case Security, the working-class majority undermines its own security. As upper-case Security strengthens so too does our insecurity. Despite this, we remain active participants in maintaining the highly militarized status quo.
Patriotism and Penury
Realizing the difference between 'lower-case' and 'upper-case' security allows us to see how the interests of the ruling class can be inherited by the working-class majority through the construction of an 'outside threat' or common enemy:
Traditionally the business of lord or state, Security has always had an uneasy, ambivalent relationship with the lower-case 'securities' of the commons. The law was used to take people's land and subsistence away, but it could also occasionally be mobilised in their defence. The lord or the state's ability to make war was typically used against many of the common people both at home and abroad, but could also enlist a willing community to defend territory and livelihoods against common enemies.
Today, outside threats and common enemies are constructed through popular culture. Corporate news stations that are concerned only with ratings (thus, profit) choose sensationalist narratives that strike fear and shock in the viewer.
In this realm of profit-based 'news', there is no need for government propaganda because corporate 'news' outlets fill this role through sensationalism. The successful creation of foreign threats runs hand in hand with the dominant narrative of safety that is centred in upper-case Security.
It is also made possible through an intense conditioning of patriotism to which every US citizen is subjected from an early age, where as children we are forced to stand in formation in school classrooms with our hands to our hearts, citing a pledge of allegiance in drone-like fashion.
Children as young as five are made to participate in this ritual, with absolutely no idea what they're saying, why they're saying it, and what this odd pledge to a piece of cloth hanging in the corner means. As we grow older, this forced allegiance is layered with vague notions of pride and loyalty, all of which remain defined in the eyes of the beholder, with virtually no substance.
The notion of American exceptionalism serves as the foundation for this conditioning, and has roots in the cultural and religious practices of the original European settler-colonists. 'It's there in the first settlers' belief that they were conducting a special errand into the wilderness to construct a city on a hill in the name of their heavenly father', explains Ron Jacobs :
It is this belief that gave the Pilgrims their heavenly go-ahead to murder Pequot women and children and it was this belief that gave General Custer his approval to kill as many Sioux as he could. It made the mass murder of Korean and Vietnamese civilians acceptable to the soldiers at No Gun Ri and My Lai, and exonerated the officers who tried to hide those and many other war crimes from the world. It [gave] George Bush the only rationale he needed to continue his crusade against the part of the world that stands in the way of the more mercenary men and women behind his throne as they pursue their project for a new American century.
This notion has motivated the ruling classes of the US (and subsequently, the global capitalist order) to ride roughshod over the world's people in order to establish a global hegemony conducive to capitalist growth.
And it is this notion, often rooted in white-Christian supremacy, that has given many working-class Americans a false sense of superiority over the global population - whether labelled 'savages', 'uncivilized heathens', 'filthy Communists', 'backwards Arabs', or 'Muslim extremists'.
Because of its Eurocentric organization, the global capitalist onslaught that has dominated the modern world has blatantly racial underpinnings. The 'core nations' that have led this global hegemony (US, UK, France, Germany) tend to be 'lighter' on the skin-colour scale, while the 'periphery nations' that make up its dominated group (primarily in the global South) tend to be 'darker'.
This oppression based in white makes it easier for core-nation ruling classes to justify their actions to their own. As world-systems theorist Samir Amin tells us , for the peoples who live within periphery nations, 'colonization was (and is) atrocious. Like slavery, it was (and is) an attack on fundamental rights', and its perpetuation is motivated by material gain.
'If you want to understand why these rights were trampled on and why they still are being trodden on in the world today', explains Amin, 'you have to get rid of the idea that colonialism was the result of some sort of conspiracy. What was at stake was the economic and social logic that must be called by its real name: capitalism'.
In relation to the trajectory of imperialism, notions of American exceptionalism and patriotism are almost always fronts for deeper emotional calls to obey capitalism and white supremacy. These are effective and powerful tools.
Most answer this call because, quite frankly, we are incapable of comprehending the systemic exploitation that plagues us under capitalism. It is difficult for many to understand that cheering for the carpet-bombing of Arab and Muslim peoples worldwide, or publicly calling for the mass killing of black protestors in places like Ferguson and Baltimore, only strengthens the proverbial boot that crushes us in our daily lives.
This inability to understand is rooted in the aforementioned formal education system that prioritizes obedience over enquiry, with the ultimate goal of obstructing any degree of class consciousness from forming among American citizens.
For working-class kids in the US, this 'manufactured consent' doubles down on the existing desperation that materializes through a forced dependence on wage labour. Jobs and income are needed to sustain us, but often these do not exist. In the US, unemployment, a staple of capitalism, consistently fluctuates between 4% and 8%.
Underemployment, or the lack of jobs that provide a living wage, plagues another 25-30% of the population, with some estimates as high as 40% in the age of neoliberalism and globalization, where many former unionized, 'middle-class' jobs have been sent overseas. The poverty rate, as defined by the government, consistently rests between 13% and 15% of the US population. As of 2015, 15.8 million households (42.2 million Americans) suffer food insecurity.
Because of this bleak economic landscape, many in the US are forced to consider military enlistment. My own entry into military service, for which I served four years in the US Army, was strongly influenced by a lack of options. With college appearing too costly, the job market appearing too scarce, and with few resources to explore life as an adult, it was a relatively easy decision despite the severity that it posed.
Choosing an unknown future where I could find myself anywhere in the world, fighting whichever enemy my government chooses, and ultimately risking my life and well-being was, I concluded, a better option than wandering aimlessly into a world where my basic needs were not guaranteed, and where jobs, living wages, and affordable housing were scarce.
During my time in basic military training, I recall each soldier being asked why they enlisted. The most common answers were, 'because I needed a job' or 'I need money for college'.
My personal experience is confirmed by a 2015 field study conducted by Brad Thomson for the Institute of Anarchist Studies, where a series interviews with veterans concluded that 'a significant common thread is that they came from working-class backgrounds and overwhelmingly named financial reasons as their motivation to enlist'.
As one veteran, Crystal Colon, said: 'Most of them [recruits] are people that just want money for college, or medical care, or have a family and need money.'
Another veteran, Seth Manzel, sacrificed personal beliefs in order to satisfy material needs, saying: 'I was aware of the war in Afghanistan - it seemed misguided but I was willing to go. I heard the drums beating for Iraq. We hadn't invaded yet but it was pretty clear that we were going to. I was opposed to the idea, but again I didn't really have a lot of options as far as skills that could transfer to other jobs.'
In the face of material desperation, the addition of spiritual and emotional calls to duty becomes even more effective. As one interviewee recalled: 'When I joined, in all honesty, I was very, well, that way I would put it now is indoctrinated… your thinking is that this is your country, you're giving back, it harkens on those strings, and then there's the pragmatic side - how am I going to pay for college? I've got these problems, my family didn't plan well, financially, so I've gotta take care of my own, and how am I going to do that?' For me, the calls to duty were firmly planted through the repetitive ritual of pledging allegiance.
And, growing up in the 1980s, Hollywood had no shortage of blockbusters that glorified war and military service. From Red Dawn to Rambo to Top Gun, working-class kids like myself were (and continue to be) inundated with films that delivered passionate and emotional calls to serve.
It is no coincidence that US military recruiters strategically seek out economically marginalized populations to fill their ranks - which explains why the ranks are disproportionately Black, Latino, poor, and working class.
This modern practice reflects historical precedence. During the Vietnam War, African Americans and poor whites were drafted at much higher rates than their middle-class counterparts, leading to numerous allegations that 'blacks and the poor were intentionally used as cannon fodder'.
Today, African Americans represent 20% of the military population, but only 13% of the general population. In contrast, Whites make up about 60% of the military ranks, despite representing 78% of the general population. Only 7% of all enlistees hold a Bachelor's degree. Nearly 30% of military recruits in 2008 did not possess a high-school diploma, a large proportion of whom came from families with incomes of less than $40,000 a year.
The military (all branches combined) spends roughly $1 billion per year on advertising, which is specifically designed to pull at these emotional strings. The content of these ads, along with recruitment promises, are largely misleading. The money for college, whether through the GI Bill or the College Fund, is overestimated; the supposed job skills that can transfer to the civilian sector are almost always non-existent; and the compensation itself, which is skewed by 'housing' and 'meal' adjustments, is drastically overvalued.
During my time in service, it wasn't unusual to see soldiers using public assistance programmes and receiving Article-15 punishment for writing bad cheques in order to buy groceries.
At each of my duty stations - Ft. Jackson (South Carolina), Ft. Sill (Oklahoma), and Ft. Campbell (Kentucky) - pawnbrokers and cheque-cashing establishments were strategically positioned nearby, ready to exploit the many soldiers who needed their services. My last two years in service were sustained by using cheque-cashing services that charged up to 40% interest on advancing money one or two weeks ahead. For me, as for many, this was a necessary evil to sustain any semblance of a reasonable standard of living.
Under capitalism, the working-class majority constantly finds itself in a paradoxical state. Our entire lives are dominated by activities that directly benefit those who own the houses we live in, control the production of the commodities we buy, and own the businesses we work for. Our participation in these activities both strengthens those owners while also further alienating us from what would otherwise be productive and creative lives. Our activities increase the owners' social and political capital while at the same time separating us from our own families and communities.
This soul-sapping existence takes on a more severe form when we are called upon to fight and die in wars that, once again, only benefit these owners.
In our social capacities, we are conditioned to follow the status quo, despite its propensity to subject many of us to authoritative and militaristic avenues. The vague notion of patriotism ironically leaves us vulnerable to direct repression from our own government. For those who run our worlds, the use of the term 'patriot' in the Patriot Act was not arbitrary, just as the decision to replace 'defense' with 'security' in official policy discussions was not.
This play on words is very effective to an already dumbed-down population. And the cognitive dissonance it creates is blatant - while over 80% of Americans do not believe the government represents our interests, most of us go along with the authoritative policies stemming from this same government, as long as they're labelled patriotic or presented as being designed to keep 'the Other' in check.
Even blind faith in a Constitution that was written 229 years ago by wealthy elite landowners (many of whom were also slave-owners) strengthens this method of control, for it creates another vague form of Americanism that can be used for coercive means.
Just as patriotism is a naturally vague notion, so too are our respective ideas of freedom, liberty, justice, loyalty, and service to our country. So, when called upon to give our lives for the 'greater good', 'for God and country', for 'defense of the homeland', or 'for freedom', working-class Americans volunteer en masse, without question, are slaughtered and maimed en masse, and remain socially and economically disenfranchised en masse, despite our 'service'.
Capitalism's tendency toward mass dependence on wage labour (and, thus, widespread desperation) serves the military-industrial complex well. The politicians who facilitate the system know this, and actively seek to maintain this advantageous breeding ground. Arizona Senator John McCain's off-hand comments during his 2008 presidential campaign, warning about the dangers of 'making veterans' benefits so good that nobody will stay in service', alluded to this fact.
When tens of millions of working-class kids are faced with the dire options of McDonald's or the military, or perhaps college followed by impotent job markets and lifelong student-loan debt, the coercive nature of military recruitment tends to set in.
So, we join en masse, travel the world in metal machines, kill impoverished people whom we've never met, fight, get maimed, sometimes die… and return home still broke, living paycheque-to-paycheque, with inadequate benefits and medical care, struggling to support our families and keep our heads above proverbial water. All the while, arms manufacturers enjoy skyrocketing stock prices and unfathomable profits. And the American military machine keeps churning, spitting us all out in its tracks.