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Corruption As Buhari's Second War
THERE is a renewed optimism over the war against corruption buoyed more by President Muhammadu Buhari's demeanour than any clear-cut policy. His body language, it is claimed, may already be working wonders in the energy and petroleum sectors where there are visible improvements. Power supply has improved nationwide with the same distribution companies (DISCOS) in place and no radical changes. The persistent queues of motorists and jerry-can peddlers have also shortened or disappeared altogether at the petrol filling stations. There is, as yet, no policy on fuel subsidy nor a timeline for the construction of new refineries. The increased output of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries is an inherited asset from the previous government's turn-around maintenance programme. Similar improvements may be recorded in varying degrees in other sectors.
By contrast, former President Jonathan Goodluck's disposition while in office is considered a major factor in the alleged massive corruption that characterised that government and the economic inertia of the last one-year. Under Jonathan, the nation had lapsed, unfortunately, into a state of anomie. Buhari's body language says the opposite – it is no longer business as usual. But the fight against corruption goes far beyond the partisan comparison between Jonathan and Buhari that has dominated the pubic space in recent weeks. For the war against corruption to be won, Nigeria needs much more than the good intentions and ascetism of one man – a lone ranger in power – the image cut by the retired general and espoused by his admirers. These admirers, it must be stated, do not necessarily share Buhari's passion and avowed commitment to the anti-graft war. For many of his political associates, the anti-graft slogan has become a mantra to court the president's favour, divert attention from themselves and stay out of trouble.
The current war against corruption is not Buhari's first. Like now, it was one of the cardinal points of his 20-month rule from January 1984 to August 1985. The overthrown National Party of Nigeria (NPN) government headed by Alhaji Shehu Shagari, wore a label very much like the opposition's tag on the Jonathan administration. All the key sectors of the economy had gone comatose and the only viable enterprise was politics for NPN stalwarts who imported branded champaign, expensive limousines and private jets with the proceeds of over-inflated contracts while Nigerians starved. The nation was overwhelmed by massive corruption, scarcity of essential commodities and the resultant poverty – a major plank of justification for the December 31, 1983 coup by Buhari and the coup plotters who toppled that government.
With the 1984-85 episode, Buhari came. He saw. But he never really conquered. Corruption was a terrible malaise but his 20-month fight did not make any lasting impact. Hundreds of politicians were clamped into detention and those convicted by the military tribunals were sentenced to long periods in prison with forfeiture of traceable proceeds of corruption. Many of the politicians found their ways out of jail and re-strategised for the emerging but stillborn Babangida-midwifed republic. The desperate efforts of Babangida who was not particularly keen on the anti-graft war to foster newbreed politics did not deter them. His attempt to ban "old" politicians made no difference as those of them who could not openly participate in the politics of the day metamorphosed into godfathers with political offsprings who were in many cases more corrupt.
Thus, while Buhari made a show of apprehending corrupt politicians, complimented by screaming newspaper headlines, the anti-graft war was without foundation from the day he came to power up to the time Babangida and co-travelers sacked that government. Like any fight doomed to be lost, Buhari's 20-month anti-graft war had neither commanders nor foot soldiers. And sadly, too, no successors. His long search for untainted politicians and technocrats to form his cabinet this time around is a vindication of the failure of that war.
For Buhari, and indeed Nigeria, to win the new war against corruption, he must look beyond the symptoms to the causes of corruption and mobilise the entire nation to buy into it. Any malaria sufferer knows that with the intake of anagelsics, the pains and aches may subside but a true cure does not come until the malaria parasite is dealt with. Nigeria's experience with the anti-graft war, including Buhari's 1984-85 adventure, is akin to a continuous dosage of pain relievers that do little to eliminate the disease–bearing parasite. The malaria can only fester and develop complications. That is the sad outcome of a poorly executed anti-graft war. Treasury thieves and looters have only become more sophisticated and more difficult to apprehend or prosecute since Buhari left the stage in1985.
This time around, the war must therefore be fought differently. The root causes of corruption – cronyism, unequal opportunities, tenure insecurity, bad economics and perverse value system should be frontally confronted. Bad politics, resort to self-help arising from marginalisation and selective enforcement of anti-corruption laws are major contributory factors that should also be dealt with.
Cronyism sends a strong and dangerous signal to a public servant that though he or she is better qualified, more competent and more experienced, a less endowed but better-connected subordinate may be appointed over him or her. The result: the less favoured appointee resolves to make the best of the situation, which in Nigerian parlance may inevitably lead to self-help and the resultant corruption. Cronyism also presumes that a person is more or less corrupt by reason of tribe or political affiliation. But in reality, corruption cuts across all the primordial boundaries. That is why corrupt people who are indicted are given rousing welcomes by their own people back home who see them as victims of nepotism and power play rather than criminals. Unfair apportionment of employment opportunities and political appointments also swells the ranks of the corrupt as the aggrieved and disadvantaged people seek to get even with their preferred competitors by all means.
Poor economics also fosters corrupt practices. Nigeria fares poorly in the management of scarcity. The import licensing policy of the NPN government that Buhari succeeded in 1984-skyrocketed corruption to dizzying heights as importers of "essential commodities" fought for the precious pieces of paper with everything at their command. In more recent times, the petroleum product shortages put people under so much pressure that they were willing to pay anything above the controlled price to secure petrol for their cars and generators. The return of normalcy in the supply of petroleum products has brought a reversal of fortunes as petrol attendants now woo motorists for patronage. No one has to "tip" an attendant now before fuel is sold. The same cannot be said of pre-paid electricity meters, which are ironically meant to ensure that the Discos get paid by all connected consumers. But the corruption works both ways: desperate applicants on long queues are compelled to part with extra unofficial payments to secure the meters while the Discos hoard the meters and deliberately overbill unmetered consumers. Why is it so difficult to meter every consumer? Why was the issue of local meter production not resolved before the sale of the Discos by government?
Tenure insecurity in the public service which resulted from the mass sack by the Late General Murtala Muhammed in 1975 has also been identified as a major cause of corruption. The trend has been sustained by successive military and civilian governments at all levels in their attempts to "rationalise" without following the due process of disengagement. In anticipation of premature retirement, many public servants award "gratuities" to themselves through corrupt self-enrichment.
Another factor that has encouraged corrupt practices more than many others is the selective enforcement of anti-graft laws. Nigeria is not short of laws and agencies to fight corruption but the failure of successive governments to effectively use them has been the bane of corruption. The inconclusive investigations and lack-lustre prosecution by the EFCC, ICPC and the Code of Conduct Bureau under erstwhile Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and Jonathan are traceable to pressures from their political camps. Under them, the anti-graft agencies became pawns in the political chess game. They were made to taunt perceived enemies while turning blind eyes to friends of the respective regimes. Even now, sadly, the independence of these anti-graft agencies is not assured.
To make a positive difference, Buhari must therefore learn from his 1984-85 mistakes and those of his successors. He must shun the temptation of cronyism and ensure equal opportunities for all, irrespective of tribe, faith or political affiliation. He must not teleguide the anti-graft agencies but give them a free hand to apply the laws evenly and equally on his partymen and opposition politicians alike. Unlike the flash-in-the-pan approach that characterised his first anti-graft war, he should endeavour to give depth to the current efforts. Rather than succumb to the lure of sycophants who would rather see the mote in others' eyes, he should seek out committed anti-graft Nigerians all over the country to join him in the fight. It is a war he cannot win alone. This time around, he cannot afford to fail. Unlike his first coming when his primary loyalty was to his military constituency, the present political dispensation has raised the bars of expectations and accountability.
• Isiekwene writes from Lagos.
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A few days back a picture of Govinda from the sets of Anurag Basu directorial flick Jagga Jasoos went viral on social media. There were reports that Govinda is doing a cameo in the film, but now director Anurag Basu has chopped down the cameo of him and Govinda is very upset with this decision.
During the trailer launch event of the film, Anurag told that the picture, which is being viral on social media of Govinda, was clicked during the shooting and a lot of changes had happened in the script since then.
Referring to the incident, Govinda said, 'Thank God Anurag Basu opened his mouth and told what is my role. I am happy that at least he said something after 3 years.'
Govinda further added 'I can understand that it would be wrong to put him in the limelight but what can I do because I also not getting the reply. I don't have the habit to come in controversies and not even I will allow anyone to earn money by using my name. I can forgive but I can't forget.'
Jagga Jasoos is going to release on 14th July 2017.

subset: commoncrawl


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Swiss-based global apparel company Mammut on Wednesday announced the acquisition of digital outdoors platform Mountain Hub in a push to bolster the brand's digital community, connection to consumers and integration of technologies across platforms. Terms were not disclosed.
Mountain Hub, based in Park City, UT, and originally founded by MIT graduate students in 2015, was born out of the desire to enhance the outdoors experience by crowdsourcing real-time trip reports, routes and conditions that make the outdoors safer and more accessible for everyone.
Described as "Waze of the outdoors," Mountain Hub's capabilities perfectly align with Swiss brand Mammut's focus on enhancing the consumer experience, building community and providing valuable mapping, planning and information tools through a premium product.
"Mountain Hub makes it easier for anyone to get outdoors, find the right information they need and share experiences with a like-minded community," said Brint Markle, CEO and co-founder of Mountain Hub. "Together with Mammut we are eager to continue working with our community and partners across the outdoor industry to build that best digital tools and resources that help everyone get outside often, safely and responsibly."
This acquisition for Mammut represents another cutting-edge opportunity in which Mammut seeks to push the boundaries and continue to serve the outdoor industry from the frontline.
"This is about experiences," said Joe Prebich, CEO for Mammut North America. "The acquisition of Mountain Hub brings a whole new way to partner with consumers and professionals to deliver a digital experience like no one else can. From trail data to community meetups, athlete profiles and trip logs to real-time reports that aid in your daily adventures, Mountain Hub truly brings digital into the outdoors in a seamless and organic way."
The Mammut Mountain Hub app will launch with an expanded feature set in 2019 that will be available on Apple and Android App Stores.
Look for more on this story in SGB Executive.


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Bicycle Network Victoria
Joint Winner Interior Design: Non-Residential
|IN2 Space
|Profile Partitions
|(03) 9348 1999
|Kristian Gehradte
The brief was to create a space which reflected and embraced the organisational culture of the company, with a focus on creating a vibrant and dynamic workplace that has a strong sense of community. The interiors were to ensure that the open plan spaces supported and fostered the company's core values.
Situated on the upper level of a multi-storey building in Melbourne's CBD, and with ceiling heights of 4.5 metres, the concrete floors and large windows make this the ideal back drop for a 'less is more' design solution.
The use of recycled materials, low VOC paints, raw industrial finishes and scaffolding pipework were used to create a contemporary yet functional work space.
In contrast, the modular workstations and ceiling hung screens offer flexibility and long term adaptability of the culture.
Bold colour, pattern and use of textural compositions define spaces and functions throughout.
The clever use of re-cycled wheels as patterned screening adds texture and fun, rather than kitsch.


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The lifespan of a tire depends on a number of factors: its design, the climate, your driving habits, the road conditions you're driving on, and how well you care for your tires. While there's no way to tell exactly how long a tire will last when you buy it, here are three questions you can ask yourself that will help you determine if they need replacing.
1. How old are your tires?
Some tires actually come with a recommended "best before" date from their manufacturers. Even if the treads appear to be in good condition, the rubber components can still break down. This rule also applies to spare tires. If you're missing your owner's manual, or you feel you put a lot more wear on your tires than the average driver, here are some guidelines to consider:
Are your tires over five years old? Once your tires have been in use on the road for five years or more, they may be in fine shape, but they may need replacing. You should have them inspected by a professional at least once per year.
Are your tires over (or approaching) ten years old? As a precaution, most tire manufacturers recommend that you replace tires ten years after the manufacture date. At this point, it's better to replace your tires so you aren't compromising your safety on the road.
2. How hard are you working your tires?
If something seems "off" while you're driving – If you're sliding while breaking on a rainy day, if you lose traction when accelerating if you hear strange noises or feel a pull on the wheel, if you feel a shake – it could be your ball joints or tie-rod ends, or it could just be that your tires are worn or out of balance.
By checking your tires for signs of damage, you'll have a better idea if they need replacing, before you end up with a flat and find yourself changing tires on the side of the road. If your ride feels rough, and if you notice vibrations in your car, you should reduce your speed, drive extra carefully, and pull over in a safe spot to stop and inspect your tires.
Once a month and before you go on long road trips, check your tires for these signs of damage:
- Cracks
- Bulges
- Small stones, nails, and other troublesome objects
- Damaged valve caps
- Uneven tread wear
- Shallow tread
Your tires' treads are the points of contact between your car and the road. You don't want to drive on worn tire treads because the shallow grooves reduce your car's grip on the road, which affects your car's responsiveness in poor weather conditions.
Tip: how to check for shallow tread
You don't need fancy equipment to check if your tires' treads are in working condition – a quarter will do the trick. Follow this simple test from Michelin to see how (using a Canadian quarter as an example):
3. Are you making these mistakes?
All these mistakes will wear down your tires, meaning you'll need to replace them sooner:
Don't: Use your summer or "all-season" tires on snow and ice
Don't: Mix summer or all-season tire types on your car
Don't: Use tires on damaged rims
Don't: Use tire and rim sizes that are not compatible
Don't: Use tires that have a speed capability and load index lower than recommended by your car manufacturer (check your car's owner's manual)
Don't: Re-inflate a tire that has been run flat or seriously under inflated for an extended period of time
Don't: Use a spare tire of a different size at speeds higher than 80 km/hour
Do: Check out our 6 upkeep tips for longer-lasting tires here!
Extend the life of your new set of tires
If you enjoyed this article, check out our introductory guide to tire maintenance and learn about all the things you can do increase the lifespan of your tires, so you won't need to replace them as often.


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Dear Voters of Ward 3 Greater Napanee:
During the electronic voting period of October 20-27, I ask that you consider voting for me to be your next Municipal Councillor. Below are some of the reasons I believe I can be an effective member of Council for all citizens of Greater Napanee.
My Qualifications
My careers in environmental science, and computer and information technology have given me some relevant skills for the 21st century that would compliment the expertise of the other members of Council. I have volunteered on a number of organizations related to arts and culture; mental illness and affordable housing; and conservation. I am married to Kathy Medd and have two adult daughters who were raised and schooled in Greater Napanee.
Sustainable Development
I will be a voice for smart sustainable development that ensures our natural environment and heritage is an integral part of economic development planning. Clean air, water and soil = Healthy Living = Good Business
I do not support any future expansion of the Richmond Landfill site or the proposed BREC landfill for environmental and economic reasons that have been well documented. We can do our part in managing waste by significantly enhancing composting and recycling; or by attracting private investments to build a regional material separation facility or enclosed composting facility. Like landfills, site selection is critical for industrial wind and solar energy projects. These developments should not be built on good farmland or in our prime tourist areas where beautiful natural vistas and heritage zones have been identified.
Conserving Country Charm
Many people in Ward 3 want to maintain the quiet, pastoral living offered by the Villages of Roblin, Selby, Forest Mills, Westplain and the surrounding countryside. Roads and infrastructure upgrades are a common request. The Salmon River, Lime Lake and the Menzel Nature Reserve are important natural treasures in Ward 3 that deserve our continued conservation.
Business Sectors
I recognize the fundamental importance of food production and will be a strong advocate of our agricultural sector that has played a historically essential role in the prosperity of our community. I strongly support other established sectors like manufacturing, skilled trades, commercial-retail, and health services that have helped diversify Greater Napanee's economic base.
I am excited by Greater Napanee's rising sectors like alternative energy technologies, tourism, boutique retail and restaurants. I support coordination of efforts and integrated strategic planning between the Town's Core Advisory Committee, the County's Economic Development Coalition, the BIA, and the Chamber of Commerce; all of which are doing outstanding work.
Art, Culture and Heritage
As a long time volunteer organizer of arts, and music initiatives, I can help provide venue opportunities for young people; and help build our rising tourism sector as a member of the Town's new Cultural Plan. I will help promote Adolphustown's unique Loyalist heritage as a defining moment in the creation of Canada. Greater Napanee is the eastern gateway to the Bay of Quinte with four magnificent waterways that comprise the Bay of Quinte area: the Napanee River, Hay Bay, Long Reach and Adolphus Reach. For this reason our natural heritage will continue to play a key role in tourism development.
During my campaign I have talked to many knowledgeable citizens about a number of other important issues, some that include: the pool; taxation; affordable housing; and public participation in municipal government.
The Pool
Communities are built by organized people with the conviction and creativity to communicate a dream that benefits the whole community. An aquatics venue could serve many needs for youth and adults such as recreation, competition and therapeutics. It fits into a vision of healthy-living for Greater Napanee that has been built over the years by committed people who have created a vibrant sports scene; a top-calibre hospital; a diverse health services sector; and by people who are willing to stand up for a clean environment.
Our next challenge in making the dream come true is to clearly define the scope and responsible financing for the capital and operating costs. We have an example of a financing model that worked, namely the SPC arena. I support moving forward judiciously to find a funding mechanism that works and is in balance with the other needs of the community, like roads and infrastructure upgrades.
Although the new provincial formula for determining policing costs will result in a significant reduction from the estimated $4.4 million bill for 2015 and the next 5 years, we need to continue lobbying the province through the Association of Municipalities (AMO) to control rising costs.
By listening to urban and rural rate-payers, I will continue to educate myself on the history, rationale and suitability of the current rural versus urban property tax rates. A services delivery review is underway and will form a baseline for future public discussion.
Affordable Housing
There is a multi-year backlog for people requiring affordable housing. I have been absorbing the input of a number of stakeholders, including students, families, Social Services and the Community Health Centre to better understand the scope and solution options for this important issue.
Public Participation in Municipal Government
I would like to create an environment at Council meetings that would encourage public participation, including that of students. This could be achieved by allowing a regular public discussion period during some Council meetings.
Striking a Balance
When we live in a small town we are part of a larger extended family. My grandparents taught me about living a life of balance: the balance between our needs and our wants; between our personal interests and that of our community; and between material wealth and spiritual wealth.
Please contact me with your ideas and concerns for our exciting future ahead!
Stephen Medd


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Last night in bed, Darwin was telling me about a discussion he'd had in the car with Julia (12) and Jack (7) about why Isabel (9) was being so moody lately.
Julia: "I think it's because she's getting older."
Jack: "I think it's because she's a chicken sandwich."
I laughed myself stupid over this, and every time I stopped, the phrase "chicken sandwich" would pop up in my head again, and I'd start shaking again.
And suddenly, in the midst of my laughter, I remembered that it was our half life. Actually, that I'd forgotten our half life -- on Sept. 16/17, Darwin and I (and family) were on vacation and not remembering that 18 years earlier, we'd started dating, two weeks after we met. So we've known each other for half of our 36 years.
"We missed our half life!" I said to Darwin as we huddled under our feather comforter against the chill breeze blowing in the perpetually open window. "Have we really known each other 18 years? That seems like a really long time somehow. How is that possible? Let's see -- we've been married almost 15 years; Eleanor is 13... Oh my gosh, we are so old." I pondered for a moment. "We really ought to have sex in honor of the occasion, but my toes are cold."
"We ought to have sex, but your toes are too cold," Darwin murmured, mostly sleepily. "Some excuse."
"Also, the cats are stupid, and there are two boys in the crib."
"Well, I guess that's not going in the blog post."
"Only if we don't have sex. And there's a cat on my pillow."
The cat judged me.
Darwin dropped off to sleep, after we'd realized again that there is no ideal position for two people who want to snuggle, because, perhaps to remind us that true happiness is only found in heaven, an elbow or an arm or a knee was always jabbing in the wrong place. I stayed awake a little longer, offering prayers of gratitude for 18 years of companionship, and every now and then trying to stifle my laughter at the chicken sandwich.
Anscombe at OUP
7 hours ago


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For geek dads, the phrase A Man's Home is His Castle can take on multiple meanings. Hey, if you have turrets and a drawbridge then you'll likely find the folks around here asking for your building plans rather than laughing behind your back. And feel free to ditch the concept of castle if you like – maybe Bat Cave or Fortress of Solitude are more your style.
But however you view your home, I have a strong feeling that you'd probably take unkindly to trespassers, thieves, and really anyone who doesn't have you or your family's best interest in mind. While 99.999% of us are unlikely to own an actual castle, that doesn't mean we can't take our geek cred and apply it a bit in the area of home security, right? I'm pretty certain that my local law enforcement officers will frown on installing cauldrons of boiling oil on the rooftop... and a moat probably violates my Home Owners Association by-laws somewhere... so I'll tone it down a bit and just talk about a good home security system I've recently installed and tested.
Now, there are many tutorials on the Internet for turning your home computer into a security system with a simple web cam... the problem is that if the bad guys take the computer or laptop, there goes your evidence most likely. And given that most break-ins last less than 12 minutes, you ideally want to be notified quickly somehow so you can call the police. Of course, like me, you probably have a home alarm system. But seriously... my neighbor across the way has an alarm system that seems to go off just about every other day – I do take a moment to look out the window to confirm there's not a line of guys wearing masks carrying out the TV and microwave, but it always seems to be a false alarm. The bottom line is that by the time the security company calls your phone, you don't answer, and then they contact the police, I'm guessing enough time has passed for the baddies to grab something and haul butt, right?
I've got some great neighbors, and we do watch out for one another... and we all set our alarms. But it's not my neighbors job to risk their necks trying to rush over and subdue a bad guy if I'm not home. I'd rather them just try to catch a license plate number or take some photos from behind their windows and let me know they've got something to show the police. No, what I need is a security system that can do as much of the following for me as possible:
1. Take some HD pictures and videos when a bad guy enters my home... preferably using multiple cameras both indoor and outdoor.
2. Text me a message FAST that says "Hey, something's moving in you house – here's a picture!"
3. Email me, too – it never hurts to get the same alert using a different method of communication.
4. Allow me to watch in real-time what the camera(s) is pointed at – door, window, baby, etc. – using any Internet-connected computer.
5. Allow me to do #4 above but with my mobile phone.
It's a good list... and I've been looking for a system that could do these things easily and without a lot of troublesome configuration issues. Many homebrew systems are just too much trouble and often require some coding background or a bit of unusual hardware. Other systems I've looked at use lower quality cameras so I can expect a grainy image that matches those 7-11 videos with the blurry-faced bad guy. A few others only save the video locally with no remote access capabilities. It's been a tough hunt for the right security system I have to say. But my search is now over.
Say hello to the Logitech Alert 750i Master System.
Let me just say this up front – I've never been disappointed by anything from Logitech. I've had mice, webcams, keyboards, and I'm sure other products from this company... and I cannot recall ever being dissatisfied. And the same now holds true for the 750i. Let me walk you through the setup I went through and show you just how easy Logitech has made it to get your own home surveillance/security system up and running in less than 15 minutes.
As a technical writer, I appreciate accuracy and clear writing. The foldout Getting Started document is something my mother could follow – no lie. Most of it is imagery, not text, and there are a total of four steps (plus some extra mounting instructions and LED explanations for those who really want to know).
Step 1 – Install the software. Took about 3 minutes, including the automatic check for updates to the software that it grabbed and installed without first installing the older version. Nice. And no reboot required. Nicer. And when the software finished, it showed me how to plug in the Network Adapter (in color, too – matching the blue sticker on the Network Adapter and blue connector on the matching cable) to my wireless router. Okay, done. Then it showed me how to plug in the Camera (yellow sticker on it and a yellow sticker on the matching cable) to wall power. Okay, done, and clicked the Next button. Now the software starts looking for the camera... this looked like it was going to take some time as the progress bar slowly inched across the screen, but only 2 dots in and I got a message that Camera 1 was found. Bingo. (The system can support up to six cameras, so I imagine this would have taken a bit longer if I'd had more cameras... which I plan on adding very soon.)
Next, the software informed me the Camera and Network Adapter needed to have their firmware updated – a simple click of OK and the software did it for me and then asked me politely to unplug both devices and then plug them back in. (Just so you know, both devices plug into wall power and use your home's electrical system to communicate – no WiFi camera here, but HomePlug technology.)
After that, it was a simple matter of configuring a few settings in the software. I provided my email address so alerts could be sent to it when a camera detected motion in its field of vision. It took me a few minutes of exploring to find where I could configure it to send a text message to my mobile phone. I also enabled a few other settings such as defining a specific area of the camera's field of vision to monitor for movement and increasing the default 140GB of storage it sets aside for storing video (when it runs out of space, it starts to overwrite older video) to 200GB. I'll likely have to tweak this once I figure out how much storage is actually needed, and I have a feeling I can decrease this.
After tweaking the software a bit, it was time to test the system. As you can see from some of the screen captures here, the real-time video quality (viewed from my computer) is HD. The image you see on screen does lag behind whatever is in front of the camera by about 3 to 5 seconds (my best guess). And the compression applied to the recorded video does give the playback a stuttering appearance but it's more like a fraction of a second is lost for each frame, nothing worth crying over in my opinion. But throughout the playback, the image quality is top notch.
After stepping in front of the camera (after turning on its monitoring feature) I started counting... I hit 15 when my phone beeped, indicating a text message had been received. Very cool. I immediately opened up Gmail and tapped the Refresh button a few times... the email alert took about 30 seconds more to arrive. (I configured email to send only a text alert, but there's an option to send an image as an attachment – mobile phone optimized.)
I tapped on theAlert app (free download) that I'd installed on my Android phone (also available for iPhone and BlackBerry) and logged in with my username and password... and then I tapped on the Camera 1 (Home) icon. You can see a screen capture from my phone shows me sitting in front of the camera pointing at my front door. The image displayed on my mobile phone isn't real-time, but it gives me a good quality image that updates about every 5 to 10 seconds. With support for up to six cameras, I could easily check on my home while away by switching between camera views, as well as any outdoor cameras I might choose to add.
And by the way – the kit comes with a 2GB SD card that fits into the camera and record up to a week's worth of video (according to Logitech) in normal usage – a bad guy might take the computer, but if they leave the camera there may very well be some video evidence stored there. And the camera is small enough that it could easily be hidden or placed somewhere where it is difficult to spot – the software even allows you to turn on and off the LED on the front of the camera so it doesn't give away its location.
So now that I've got it up and running, I'm starting to think of all kinds of uses for it:
* Nanny Cam – I don't like the thought of spying on babysitters, but I am a parent. If the camera is in plain sight, I have no problem explaining that it's a video surveillance system for home security – maybe it's not a bad thing if my babysitter is aware of the camera's existence?
* Child Monitor – given the portability of the camera (all it needs is a wall plug to send its video signal), I could easily see this being used at night to check on the status of my sleeping 1.5 year old or monitoring my two boys downstairs while I work upstairs on the computer.
* The UPS Man is Here! – I've actually missed a couple of deliveries in the past because I was in my basement and didn't hear the doorbell. If I used the included suction cup to secure the camera to the front window I could have it text me every time it detects motion in our cul-de-sac. Sure, I might get some false positives from the neighbor's dog or the mailman, but I get unlimited text messaging, so text away 750i! I can get up the stairs and to the front door in time to catch the delivery guy before he drives off.
* The Snack Thief – I know my 4 year old sneaks into the kitchen for an occasional snack, but I rarely catch him. We've put the snacks on a nigher shelf in the cupboard, but I suspect he climbs it like a ladder. Now to just catch him in the act. (And post the video to Facebook so family and friends can enjoy the acrobatics.)
* Neighborhood Watch Program – One of my neighbors is already sold after I showed it to him and he is buying one. We've both agreed to add one another to our notifications so that I'll receive a text message if his system sends off an alert... and vice versa. That'll be nice – my neighbor never travels so even if I get an alert while I'm out of town, he'll get it, too... and maybe be able to take a quick look out the window or a walk around the house to see what's up. And I'll do the same for him while I'm home during the day.
* Neighborhood Watch Program 2 – I'm purchasing an outside camera to monitor our cul-de-sac. I've already asked two other neighbors if they'd like to be emailed a photo when the camera detects motion (a car or person moves into view) and both have been added to my email notification list. I'll turn this on between 10am and 4pm so it doesn't annoy everyone with photos of their neighbors leaving for work and arriving home in the evening.
The 750i Master System comes loaded with stuff. I'm including a photo of all the things you get – various attachment methods (suction cups, stand, mounting kit), video security stickers for your windows, cable extender, and more. It's advertised as a complete system in a box, and my setup and testing can verify that statement. I'm going to invest in some additional cameras for a few locations around the house, but just having the single camera right now makes me feel better.
I know that no alarm system or video surveillance/security system is going to keep determined bad guys away. But the 750i Master System gives me some peace of mind knowing that I can check the status of my house, receive text and email alerts (with photo) if a camera detects motion, and notify the police quickly to cut the amount of time a bad guy has to search my home. And having the HD video recording doesn't hurt, either. And I can add two more items to the above list of requirements that the 750i allows me to do:
6. Let me listen in if I want to do so using a built-in speaker on the camera(s).
7. Only alert me if certain areas of the camera's view change – let me define where to monitor in the image so that the alert software ignores that moving clock pendulum. (Okay, I don't really have one of these, but hopefully you get the idea... just focus on the door or window moving, software!)
I'd like to thank Logitech for providing me with a 750i test unit – I'm sold. The ease of installation, the simple software interface and easy-to-figure-out configurations, the email and text notification, checking in with my mobile phone or an Internet-connected computer... all solid reasons to give the 750i a look if you're in the market for a video surveillance system that's expandable and reliable.


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Building the Right Environment to Support AI, Machine Learning and Deep Learning
Microsoft has announced that it will release a developer preview for an update to Windows Phone 8.1 sometime next week. One of the biggest new features in the release is called "Apps Corner." Businesses can use the Apps Corner to specify which apps can be opened when the phone is sandbox mode.
Other new features include app folders on the Start screen, a live tile for the Windows Phone Store, improved text messaging management, Smart case support, qHD screen resolution (960 X 540), and Voice over LTE (VoLTE).
Mobile development professionals will be able to download the update next week. End users should see the update "in the coming weeks," Microsoft said.
View article
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December 19, 2016
To the Delta - A Four Ferry Day
Hiep Phuoc to Tan An
Hiep Phuoc to Tan An 54 miles
December 19, 2016
To the Delta - A Four Ferry Day
I was ready to leave our strange room in the morning, glad to have survived. We were excited about entering the Mekong River Delta area to see what it was like.
We went straight through the big square industrial zone. About halfway through I glanced over and saw a foreigner racing along on some fast bike dodging motorbikes and looking quite irritated. Maybe all the latex he was wearing was getting to him. He certainly didn't look happy. I felt happy, however, because I was alive.
We stopped fairly quickly to have some noodle soup. One never knows how the soup will be but this time it was some of the best soup of the trip I thought. It was pork noodle soup which we don't often see. I try to not eat beef anywhere but here the most common noodle soup is beef noodle. Chicken is extremely rare.
The road wound this way and that through the small town of Phuroc Khanh to a large ferry. We were still southeast of Saigon and the river we were crossing had fast hydrofoils from the town of Vung Tau on the coast to Saigon. It was a big river but not actually part of the Mekong River. The ferry was fast and cheap and delivered us to the very mellow town of Phu Xuan. It was so mellow we just sat down and had some coffee. I figured that since Phu Xuan sits on a road that goes directly to Saigon not far away that everyone commutes. It was pretty nice and quiet while we were sitting there but I bet it gets crazy at rush hour.
Even the banana seller took a break to have coffee. He left his banana cart in the street and actually made three sales while taking his coffee break. It was probably his routine everyday.
Then began a series of small roads a dozen bridges and three more ferries as we made our way toward Tan An. Some of the rivers we crossed were tidally affected, others not. We once again encountered the type of palm that grows in clumps in water. Rice was everywhere and ready to be harvested. The countryside was lush and beautiful just as one might expect in a place called a river delta.
1 year ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
Big black rain clouds passed on one side of us and then in front of us a mile or so and then on the other side of us. It was simply a matter of time before we got hit. Their numbers were increasing as it got later in the day and our luck was wearing thin. It looked like we were not going to make it to Tan An without getting drenched but we didn't want to get drenched. We didn't want to dig out all our rain gear. So, we pulled into a shop that sold cold drinks to wait out the biggest blackest cloud to pass.
The woman there had us try a coconut flavored yogurt drink that was great. We devoured a package of moon cake like discs. And we had two more 7-UPs for good measure. But the cloud slipped past without rain. We couldn't wait any longer because we were also on a collision course with darkness and we didn't want to dig out our lights.
Only a few blocks from the guest house we settled at the rain finally caught us. We ducked under an awning in the middle of town and dug out our rain gear. The hardest part is getting the custom made waterproof bag (made by Andrea) over my day pack. We had no idea how long the rain would last so we had to get all set. Plus, it was raining hard. We were soaked when we pulled into the Nha Nghi. How many times have we done this now? We are hoping for less rain in the Delta.
Today's ride: 54 miles (87 km)
Total: 1,105 miles (1,778 km)
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A few people are extremely destined to experience considerable difficulties to show signs of improvement rest. While there are the individuals who could build up this issue due to unfortunate practice. In any case, the issue still lies that one is experiencing considerable difficulties calming into that great sleep.
The most ideal approach is that initial, one needs to address the issue of dozing. These incorporate knowing the reasons why that individual is experiencing considerable difficulties dozing. The concentration territories ought to incorporate the individual issues, status at work, wellbeing conditions, and dozing condition.
- Individual issues. The may incorporate pressure factors that influence the general passionate condition of a man. On the off chance that one if worried by individual issues, it will be harder for him or her to show signs of improvement rest since that individual is thinking excessively. On the off chance that it's conceivable to address these issues and issues quickly, it would truly help a man to show signs of improvement rest. If not, one should look for assistance from experts so he or she can adapt to the issues and will have better shot of getting rest around evening time.
- Status at work. Studies demonstrate that an ever increasing number of individuals are experiencing considerable difficulties resting due to their status in work. With the general worldwide emergency that the world encounters now, it is basic for individuals to stress over their security. In the event that you feel this is one factor that won't let you show signs of improvement rest during the evening, at that point now is the opportune time to confront it and be set up for the more awful. On the off chance that you are readied that regardless of what happens, you will even now have your activity or you are sure that you can without much of a stretch discover one, at that point you will have genuine feelings of serenity and will lead you to rest better around evening time.
- Wellbeing conditions. A few people can create dozing scatters without them knowing. These resting issue are generally caused and activated by such huge numbers of components. In the event that you are having hard time resting and you surmise that the reasons are something that you can never again control, at that point it is best to look for proficient help.
- Dozing condition. This is likewise among the things that influence the general dozing condition of a man. On the off chance that you have awful dozing condition, at that point the propensity of your body is to oppose dozing.
The normal way
In the market today, there are such a significant number of items and even drug that guarantee to enable one to improve rest. Be that as it may, these simulated substitutes may have a symptom. To maintain a strategic distance from encourage entanglements, it is best to take a stab at resting strategies the characteristic way. Some may incorporate schedules that will just enable you to show signs of improvement rest yet help enhance your general wellbeing also.
The primary thing that you could do is to create and hone great rest cleanliness. These incorporate eating the correct sustenances that can enable you to rest better and stay away from those that influence dozing designs. It likewise incorporates having customary exercise and abstaining from resting toward the evening so you will rest soundly around evening time. You may likewise need to build up a normal that will enable you to rest better, for example, doing unwinding exercises before your sleep time, for example, cleaning up, perusing, or writing in your own diary.
To show signs of improvement rest, you can likewise take a stab at soundproofing your space to dodge superfluous clamors, changing the lights so you will be more open to, getting into a happy with dozing position and rehearsing profound breathing to unwind your faculties.
Helping youngsters to show signs of improvement rest
With such huge numbers of contraptions to play with and utilize and with such a large number of gatherings to go to who might need to rest? With such a large number of diversions today, individuals—particularly the more youthful ones or the adolescents—are experiencing considerable difficulties to show signs of improvement rest. This ought not be an issue but rather it demonstrates how poor the nature of youngsters is today. A considerable lot of them don't perform well in school since they infrequently get rest because of every one of these diversions.
On the off chance that you are one of those guardians who are having issues that their youngsters are not getting the appropriate measure of rest that they ought to have, here are a few hints that you can share to them.
- Request that they cut out on an excessive number of caffeine admissions. On the off chance that you are doing the basic supply, at that point you ought to be the person who have removed from the rundown the nourishments and beverages that contain caffeine, for example, espresso, chocolates, soft drinks and teas. In any case, since you can't screen their schedules outside your home, it is an absolute necessity to remind them to remove on these nourishments and beverages. You can do this by revealing to them the terrible impacts of caffeine in dozing as well as in their general wellbeing also.
- Let them know not to depend on liquor as a "tranquilizer". Numerous grown-ups depend on liquor to rest quick. Since their bodies are considerably more established, they can endure the impacts of liquor however this ought not be the situation among the more youthful ones. On the off chance that you are a parent, endeavor to tell your tyke that in spite of the fact that liquor may help him or her to nod off, it might cause aggravations that may prompt lesser nature of rest. Beside not so much helping them to show signs of improvement rest, it might likewise influence their general wellbeing and physical appearance since liquor may cause early maturing.
- Show them how to unwind before their sleep time. In spite of the fact that this is significantly less demanding to do when they are baby, guardians should at present endeavor to educate their adolescents how to unwind a bit when they are going to rest. You can do this by investing energy with the high schooler and discuss how he or she should deal with the regular pressure either in school or in growing up. In the event that the youngster can discuss these things previously sleep time, he or she will have a serene rest without considering such a large number of things. You can likewise request that her or him do unwinding exercises, for example, perusing a book or rehearsing yoga on the off chance that you are not around to converse with.
- Request that they have consistent exercise. On the off chance that standard exercise causes more seasoned individuals to show signs of improvement rest during the evening, what more to the more youthful ones? Disclose to your youngster the significance of having quite recently the appropriate measure of activity in improving rest and accomplishing ideal wellbeing. To make it more viable, join your youngster in doing consistent activities, for example, light running or lively strolling. On the off chance that he or she sees that you are "strolling your discussion" there is more prominent possibilities for him or her to obey you.
- Give enough hours for TV or for Internet. For a youngster to show signs of improvement rest, there ought to be less hours for him or her to spend staring at the TV projects or perusing the Internet. Since these two are real diversions, it is an absolute necessity that guardians confine them with an excessive amount of time on these exercises so can rest better during the evening.


text: LadyC 242 Report post Posted February 22, 2018 i wish someone would clone the WTForecast app and make the humor more postive and upbeat. even with the profanity filter limited, everything is bitchy and whiny. if i turn off the filter entirely then i have my favorite weather app. but i enjoy sometimes seeing funny stuff. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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A Place to Stand
October 17, 2015 § Leave a comment
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." Jesus, Matthew 5:7
I recently had the privilege of visiting with the Senior Vice President of World Relief's North American operation. World Relief is a global non-profit organization, based in Baltimore, and committed to caring for the weak and needy around the world, whether for orphans, for immigrants, for victims of natural disaster, or those lost in the horrors and brutality of human trafficking. Years ago, when our church in Miami planted a church in 'Little Havana,' the 'landing place' for many immigrants from Latin America, World Relief had an office where we started the work. That office remains today, and as you can imagine, has processed innumerable refugees through the years, offering legal advice, guidance for green cards, citizenship, etc.
At the heart of World Relief's mission is the gospel's call to the Church with the singular thrust that the strong have been made – by God – stewards of the weak. I am convinced that if the Church fails, all is lost. Every other system that attempts to care for the poor, the weak and the underprivileged has some underlining political agenda that eventually fails the very people they attempt to serve, and often lines the pockets and reputations of those who champion these causes.
World Relief's Vision Statement is Stand/For The Vulnerable.
Last night Katherine and I shared a meal with a young couple that is committed to mentoring young people from Baltimore's Inner City whose lives are racked with heartache, brokenness and poverty. They give what they can: safe harbor, school clothing and supplies – and love. They stand for the vulnerable.
This morning I ran into one of our Members (okay it was at Dunkin Donuts – what can I say?). He leads a team that regularly meets with folks at New Song Church in Sandtown, the neighborhood ravaged by fire and riots earlier this year. New Song drives the agenda, but together they are working through ideas to generate commerce in the neighborhood so that the dollar will remain there, and hopefully begin to break the pattern of violence, hopelessness and sorrow that most of us in the burbs can't fathom possible. They stand for the vulnerable.
We have a friend in Miami who, when she and her family attended a downtown church, for years, drove an hour away from her home, to the slums of Little Haiti, to bring children to church and later that week to Youth Group. In between she and her husband kept in touch, provided for needs and loved well. They stood for the vulnerable.
'Blessed are the Merciful,' was Jesus version of, 'Blessed are they who stand for the vulnerable.' Every word, action and encounter exemplified this during His ministry, all the way to the Cross, where He died for us – the vulnerable.
Who more than Christians, know the relief of being forgiven a debt one could never repay?
We have been given much – in order to be to the world what Christ has been to us. It really is that simple. And when those we serve feel our touch, it will be as though they have encountered Jesus Himself.
What good, hopeful news…
Our Winding Stories
April 25, 2015 § 6 Comments
Last week I posted about my Armenian heritage. Though my parents were Protestants and raised us in Christ, we ate the food, gathered with other olive-skinned Armenian-Americans, played the 'Tavlou' (backgammon), and shared that same peculiar 'ian' identifying suffix to our names. As I mentioned on Facebook, you don't even want to know the names our grandparents, aunts and uncles had!
Our grandparents were born in what they referred to as 'the old country.' But in their teens they were ordered to leave home by the next day, or face death. It was part of the attempt by the Ottoman Turks to extinguish every Armenian from the region. To this day politicians and Turkish officials, in spite of the overwhelming body of evidence, avoid using the term 'genocide' – sad.
However as an Armenian-American, I have no bitterness towards our historical oppressors from that dark epoch. We are Christ-followers, we belong to a new community, a new race, and 'better country' (Hebrews 11:16). We too are a forgiven people.
I do find it sad however, that our government refuses to acknowledge the genocide, when in fact nearly 1.6 Million Armenians were killed in an attempt at this human 'cleansing.' It isn't that I want validation from a President (or Kim Kardashian!). My identity is found in Jesus, Lord and King of all that is. No, my sadness is that such a refusal reduces the value of human life to political advantage, rather than in the integrity of compassion for the 'least of these,' a foundational characteristic of true justice.
And yet, as a Christ-follower I can see that even this horrible moment in history was part of a larger narrative in which our Sovereign God loved, pursued and found my parents, and many other Armenians, through Jesus.
My grandparents on Dad's side emigrated through Egypt, where an uncle and two aunts were born, until they arrived years later in NYC, and settled in Brooklyn where Dad and his younger sister were born. Later Dad would meet Jesus in faith at a Billy Graham crusade in Madison Square Garden in 1957.
Mom's parents came to the US via Iran, where they were detained for a time in an Iranian refugee camp before immigrating to Atlanta, Georgia, where Mom and her siblings would be born. But it was in that camp that they met a missionary named J. Christy Wilson, a man who would later become an influential Professor at Gordon-Conwell Seminary outside of Boston (I was privileged to meet him many years later). Wilson told my grandparents about Jesus, and there, in that Iranian refugee camp they met Christ in faith.
So while this will always be a sad epoch in history, the Father knows who we are, and in the gospel everything sad will one day be eclipsed by what Jesus has accomplished for us, and in what He will one day do when He makes heaven and earth one. Because in Jesus our winding stories, with their sadnesses, tragedies, celebrations, twists, turns and unexpected diversions, are all part of God's hand in leading us Home, to 'a better country.'
Friends, what good news…
Khanaghutyun (peace).
First Christmas
December 6, 2014 § 3 Comments
"The Christian future hope is the Advent hope."
N.T. Wright, For All the Saints
Yesterday Katherine and I visited with her father where he is being cared for in a Nashville medical center. We are here because I am performing a wedding ceremony for friends who live in Baltimore (and I fly back late tonight!), and it gave us an opportunity to spend some time with 'Opa,' as our children call him. It was a sweet time.
At some point Katherine and her Dad, both gifted with beautiful singing voices, joined together in singing 'Great is Thy Faithfulness.' Lovely would be an understatement.
This Christmas is a first for us. For the first time we will celebrate without either of my parents in this world. Along with Katherine's Mom, both have died and are no longer here. From time to time sadness overtakes us.
Regardless of how old we become, we can look all the way back to childhood in remembering Christmases past.
Recently some of us recalled growing up in Miami. When I was a young boy we lived in Carol City, which is almost as far north as one can go without leaving the city. Each year the streetlights on NW 27th Avenue were decorated with those colored frilly foil candy canes and Christmas bells. We would drive past them and throughout the neighborhoods as a family, listening to Christmas music on our car AM radio, looking at the lights as we embedded ourselves into the season.
Sweet memories.
One day our children will remember after we are gone.
The memories bring a kind of muted joy. Though sometimes I am brought to the point of tears in recalling them, I wouldn't trade them for anything.
Advent is as much about embracing sadness as it is looking to a future joy. Herod plotted Jesus' death as Mary and Joseph celebrated His birth. This is our world – joy and sorrow always intermingled. And until Jesus comes and makes everything new it will be this way. Even in blessing Jesus at his presentation at the temple, Simeon said to his mother, 'and a sword will pierce through your own soul also…' (Luke 2:35).
To insulate ourselves from the world's sorrows is to live as though Jesus is merely an ornament rather than the Deliverer that He is, and it robs us of the joy of the expectation of His coming. It is in the sadness that we find a deep longing for the sweeter day when Jesus returns.
We celebrate that He has come, and that He is coming. We limp along with our world, longing for the day when it will forever reflect His good reign.
We look to the day we will see our parents again – at the Feast. Until then, we embrace the sorrow that in Jesus, leads to unending joy. Every now and then we are given opportunities to hear the sweet song of life, and maybe even to sing along.
What good news of great joy…
grace and peace.
Generous (aka the secret to finding one's life)
October 11, 2014 § 10 Comments
"No life worth living is possible without generosity."
Miroslav Volf, Free of Charge
A friend died this week. The truth is that I can barely write these words without weeping. It isn't merely that a friend passed away, but someone who was so convinced that God is a generous God, that he became one of the most generous people I've ever known.
While alive Lewis never wanted people to know the extent of his generosity. To look at him, he would be the last person you would assume this of. His daily garb was a white or light blue guayabara, slacks and a shirt pocket full of pens, notepad and a cell phone. He evoked a semblance more like that of John Madden than some polished mogul.
Yet Lewis was a pioneer in the cruise line industry, the owner and developer of one of the most successful food service companies in the business.
Somewhere in his journey, Lewis met Jesus and through the guidance of his pastor (and my mentor), he learned that the Kingdom of God is worthy of our lives, our hearts – and our resources. So he became someone who gave generously – to the Church – to Missions organizations – to Missionaries – to Christian schools – to Community Projects – to out-of-work strangers – to struggling single-parent families – to drug rehabs – to ministers – to widows – all the while believing that he could never out give God.
All of this, Lewis did, joyfully and secretly behind the scenes. Even when he and his wife lost their college-aged son to a rare heart condition, his faith was unwavering in the midst of his unspeakable grief.
As his pastor, each year I would be the recipient of an envelope stuffed with thousands of dollars that he wanted for me to anonymously distribute to people in need – no tax write-offs – no publicity – no recognition – just gifts. I'll never forget knocking on the door of a single mom who was barely making it, to say, 'Merry Christmas from someone who cares, and who loves the Lord,' and the look of joyful amazement on her face. That indeed made my Christmas very merry.
This doesn't even scratch the surface.
That was Lewis. He didn't do it to be noticed or even thanked. In fact this may be the first public mention of his generosity. He quietly served on boards, embraced ministries, visited widows, ate with outcasts and befriended the lonely – just as Jesus did.
And I guess what I'm getting at is this: In his liberality Lewis discovered his life. He wasn't generous to impress or to prove anything, and he would be the first to admit to being unfinished and broken. No, Lewis gave because he was free. He truly found himself in giving himself away.
I am going to miss Lewis – our annual phone conversations and predictions about the Hurricanes' football program, and our deep talks about life and loss and faith and heaven. Because fortunately, in the mix of ministry and life, I was blessed to discover Lewis' greatest value to be that of friend.
And now he is home, reunited with his son, and his generous Savior, Lord and Friend, Jesus.
What good, sweet news…
Messy… and Restored
September 7, 2013 § Leave a comment
"When we die, we lose whatever grip we had on our unreconciled version of our lives. And when we rise at the last day, the only grip in which our lives will be held will be the reconciling grip of Jesus' resurrection. He will hold our lives mended, cleaned, and pressed in his hand, and he will show them to his Father. And his Father, seeing the only real you or me there is to see, will say, 'Wonderful! Just what I had in mind.' He will say over the Word's new creation of us at the last day exactly what he said over the Word's first creation of us on the sixth day: 'Very good!'"
Robert Farrar Capon, Kingdom, Grace, Judgment
The picture in this post was taken from the top outer deck at M&T Bank Stadium as a friend and I headed home from a Baltimore Ravens pre-season game. I love going to the games (hint, hint, not-so-subtle hint! H-I-N-T!!!).
As with my home City, Baltimore has a breathtaking skyline. To approach Baltimore from I-95 is a spectacular experience. It emerges from the water, with steeples, fly-overs, old and new buildings, constructed from brick, glass and concrete. Katherine and I still remember driving through Baltimore in 1984, because of the huge smoke stack that has the word, 'BALTIMORE' painted sideways, up and down the entire cylinder.
The other night, as we walked down that ramp, a train moved beside the stadium (something else I love), and spray painted on one car were the words, 'No Hope.' Baltimore has a lot of pain and pathos as well as beauty. And this is who we are. In some way, we are like cities with beautiful skylines. However within the beauty are things that aren't so pretty: our sin, our wounds, our scars, our regrets, our shame – you name it, the list is a long one.
Our instinct is to not only hide this, but to generate the impression that it doesn't even exist! But it does, and to hide only erodes us internally and diminishes God's lovely work of grace within us. Friends, this isn't what God wants – or likes. The gospel restores our native value and beauty (theologians call this the image of God) as we let go of the need to have it all together, in reality, and in appearances. And amazingly, it gives us permission to be concurrently restored while also a mess – until Jesus comes. In fact part of what makes our restored selves so beautiful to an observing world, is that we belong to a God that loves us on the skyline and deep into the pathos of the City.
What good news…
Long, Winding… and Good
July 20, 2013 § 5 Comments
"I read somewhere that a thing that does not exist in relation to anything else cannot itself be said to exist." Marilynne Robinson, Gilead
The trees pictured here are from my old neighborhood, in fact the home on the left corner is the one I grew up in. Forty years ago our dad, my brothers and I, along with other dads and their teenage children planted these trees as seedlings. The work was hard and dirty – and it cost us two weekends. But it was never intended to serve us alone. It was meant for generations that will follow long past our lifetimes.
Isaac's journey came to mind as I prepared to reenter the blogosphere after a break and some redesign. He was Abraham's son, and at some point in his life as an adult, Isaac found himself back in the land his dad once owned – it would one day become Israel. Upon arrival his first task was to dig wells in order to establish a usable water supply (Genesis 26). As he surveyed the land, he discovered old ones his father had dug years before, some working, and others not. Rather than build all new wells, he wisely recommissioned the ones that still functioned.
Such is the story of our lives as Christ-followers. Who we are now is in some way shaped by all who have gone before us, along with our every experience, which in turn somehow shapes those who will follow – like trees that line a neighborhood.
The video below is from the Paul McCartney concert Katherine and I attended the other night in DC. For me, a former Beatles freak, it was one of those bucket-list moments – what a thrill! The Long and Winding Road paints a beautiful picture of an entire lifetime.
Listen, our past helps to shape us, but because of Jesus it doesn't have the power to fully define us – Isaac's story reassures us that we don't have to fix every broken well, and we can enjoy the ones that still work!
Here is my cheap advice: Don't think so much in terms of any one given moment in your story, or you will either drive yourself crazy with things you can't change, or drive everyone away with foolish self-promotion. Instead, think of yourself as being on a road – a long and winding road, one that will take you where you were always intended to be. This puts everything into perspective, good and bad.
Sorrow, regrets, shame, broken dreams and sins long ago committed, even successes, all have a way of distorting how we remember our lives, and this easily leaves us feeling disconnected from something larger… something better. But worse, they rob us of the big story – the story that extends past and before us – the story of Jesus the Redeemer who entered into the pain and brokenness of the fall, and into our unfinished lives, with a resolve to heal our broken world and make everything new. It becomes a story He retells through the prism of the Cross and the triumph of the Resurrection – and every time – every time, friends – the story ends well.
What good news.
grace & peace.
Don't Hate Me Because I'm Baltimore (AKA how the Super Bowl informs a simple Faith)
February 2, 2013 § Leave a comment
"…I stay in the shallow waters and skim the surface for insights and truths that are often passed over by the deep thinkers."
Ruth Tucker, Walking Away From Faith
With Super Bowl XLVII just days away, the excitement and anticipation have built to a fevered pitch in the Greater Baltimore region. So pardon the simple musings of lifelong sports fan. Along with family and friends, I have entered into the excitement – much to the surprise of those who have known me for many years to be an avid, make that rabid, Oakland Raiders fan.
A simple visit to my office will reveal various Raiders paraphernalia, including my treasured, framed poster of the 1969 Oakland Raiders, the season Daryl Lamonica threw 34 touchdown passes and won the AFL MVP. My Dad secured this particular picture by writing to Al Davis, the Raiders' owner, on Eastern Airlines letterhead. I could probably list every significant play, win, loss, player (including number) and moment in Oakland Raiders history. And I'll never believe that Franco Harris' immaculate reception/touchdown was legitimate!
So why allegiance to the Ravens?
The answer is simple – Because we live in Baltimore. In nearly seven years I have grown to love what this city loves, including its teams, its Inner Harbor, its food (translation: crabs, crab cakes & Old Bay crab seasoning), and most importantly, its people. I'm from Miami and love that city, though friends will argue that I never loved the Dolphins, which is true. But in 7th Grade you go for the coolest uniform, and no team's uni was cooler than the Raiders'. I digress…
Years ago I had the joy of working with Rev. Bruce Reynolds in youth ministry – He and his wife Jeanette hailed from Baltimore. They were Baltimore everything, from the Orioles to the Colts (long time ago!). Bruce is now involved in a ministry of humor, faith and encouragement for churches, clubs and corporations. Neither would have dreamed they would settle in Florida, and we in Maryland. Not to mention that lifelong friend in life and ministry, Ray Cortese (also a Miamian), was as passionate for the Baltimore Colts as I was the Raiders. His Johnny U poster hung in our college dorm room.
It is worth mentioning that several players for the Ravens played at the University of Miami (the U) while we lived in South Florida – players we watched compete in the old Orange Bowl. And amazingly, one player for the San Francisco 49ers played at Katherine's and my alma mater, Belhaven College.
In my simple universe there has to be something to this.
I think it is that the contours, shifts and transitions we face and experience are about a story God weaves us into during the course of our entire lives. People, places, interests and affections are never static. Neither is faith. We are put into particular settings just when God wants us there. And for His own reasons, whether to grow our faith, to insert us into another's life, or for purposes we may never know, He is knitting us into a sweet narrative that before we would not have imagined – a picture we would never have recognized – with all the sounds, sights, smells, encounters, faces – yes, even teams – that help complete His work on the canvass that is our lives.
The apostle Paul saw himself as 'becoming all things to all men,' believing that being situated in diverse contexts and cultures enabled him to 'do all this for the sake of the gospel…' (1 Corinthians 9:19-23) – The temptation is to see this is as something God does through us for others, and undoubtedly this is part of what Paul is saying. But I'm not so sure it is only that. Could it be that He is working the gospel into us as well? I'm certain He is. And my guess is that wherever Paul was, at any moment, he was completely at home.
So my encouragement is to stop fighting and enjoy. Figuring out God's reasons is like counting the stars – it ain't going to happen! We're way too linear to understand God's plans for our lives. And every attempt to do so robs us of the joy of the moment.
And I guess this is my point. Wherever you are, for whatever reasons, God put you there, and through you He intends to be someone else's good news, and they yours…
Go Ravens! (and Oakland, please, PLEASE, deal with your offense!)…


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Whether you're shopping for your first home or looking to refinance your seventh, you'll likely also be searching for a home lending institution in your area. However, mortgage research – to be effective – goes well beyond locating the best interest rate. So, keep reading for some criteria and factors to help you evaluate different mortgage lenders.
Single Loan Officer
A good mortgage lender assigns you a single loan officer who takes you through the entire loan process – from walking in the front door of the bank to signing over the funds to you. This person provides ongoing personal support and is your one contact at the bank or mortgage lender.
However, some mortgage lenders cycle you through a series of bank employees and contacts as you move from one step to the next during your loan process. This musical chairs version of mortgage service can slow down the process and cause you significant headaches.
Credibility and Reliability of home lending company
When comparing home mortgages, look for a lender that exudes credibility and reliability. While that new mortgage broker with an office in the nearby strip mall might offer the best interest rate, you may have more faith and confidence in a local lender who's been established in the community for a long time.
Closing Speed
Sometimes an efficient lender who can guarantee that they'll close on time is worth the extra closing costs or .01 percentage point. A lender with a reputation for being slow can take your whole house purchase down with them if the financing isn't ready by your deadline.
Closing Costs
Before you choose a home lending company, make sure you get a written list of all the fees and closing costs associated with applying for and closing a mortgage with them. In fact, you should try to estimate your overall costs ahead of time so there are no surprises at the closing table. Ask for full disclosure so you can accurately compare each lender.
Customer Service
From the moment you walk through the door of a mortgage lender, you should be evaluating their customer service skills. Remember, you are a customer and this lender should be competing for your business – not the other way around.
Unfortunately, some mortgage lenders act like they're doing you a favor. So, if you don't like the way you're being treated, say so, leave, and find a more customer-friendly lender.
Interest Rates of home lending companies
While interest rates aren't the most important factor when choosing a mortgage lender, they are still very important. So, look for a mortgage lender who offers a low rate. Remember, you don't have to go for the lowest rate but look for a quality lender who combines features like superior customer service and historic credibility along with the lower rate.


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Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja's Amar Akbar Anthony has ended up as a big disaster at the box office. The movie is likely to collect a paltry 6 Crore Share across the globe in its full run at the Box Office. The movie was made at a Budget of 24 Crore and at this juncture, the digital Rights of the movie have come to the rescue of the Producers.
We are told that they made 20 Crore from the Satellite Rights (Telugu and Hindi) and the Digital Rights of the film. Gemini TV bagged the Satellite Rights of the film while Amazon Prime Video bagged the Digital Rights. So, the producers will be safe with this project. Only loss will be for Srinu Vaitla who forgoed his remuneration and accepted a share in the profits of the Theatrical Run.Follow @THEPANIPURI
News Journalist at Panipuri and Film Reviewer. Indian movies box office tracker.


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In remote communities of Madagascar, the distribution of chlorhexidine, an antiseptic and disinfectant, by community health volunteers (CHVs) is a major innovation that greatly contributes to the reduction of child mortality. This umbilical ointment prevents deadly infections and eases the healing process.
MSH's country representative for Kenya Spencer Ochieng spoke to Citizen TV yesterday about the successes and challenges Kenya faces in its effort to improve maternal health.
Maternal and newborn health in Kenya has drastically improved since 2013, when the government instituted a new policy of free maternal services at public hospitals. Since 2013, the number of deaths during childbirth each year has been reduced by one-third, and the number of women who deliver under the watch of a skilled health worker has nearly doubled, according to Citizen TV.
When her daughter was born three months early and had to be delivered by caesarean section, Helen was frightened. "Giving birth is sometimes scary. It was even scarier for me because I didn't give birth the natural way that I wanted," she said.
Thanks to care provided by staff in the maternal unit of Kibungo hospital, a provincial hospital in eastern Rwanda, Helen healed well and her baby was healthy.
Her story might have had a different outcome just a few years ago.
This Sunday, the Lancet will launch it's new Maternal Health Series at a United Nations General Assembly event in New York City. The series synthesises the last decade of evidence on maternal health worldwide and champions vital action on the path to 2030.
The video, Meeting the Needs of Urban Youth, tells the story of adolescents and service providers living in two slums in Nairobi, Kenya, and explores issues around access to sexual and reproductive health services in urban settings.
Produced by African Strategies for Health's partners, the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) and Management Sciences for Health (MSH), the video was recently screened at Viwandani and Korogocho, the two communities featured on the film.
UNICEF has comissioned MSH to develop a cost modeling tool and methodology that will help countries structure, plan, and finance integrated community health services.
UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, is a worldwide leader in promoting and supporting community health services as a key strategy to improve coverage of high-impact maternal, newborn, and child health interventions and reduce health inequities from pregnancy to adolescence and beyond.
The Lancet reports today on the recent partnership of MSH and the Government of Gabon to help reform Gabon's health sector, with a particular focus on improving maternal and child health outcomes.
Esther Nyende, 45, is a member of her village health team and a community leader in Uganda's eastern Pallisa District. Nyende alone has referred 20 clients who are now receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Chief Victor Joseph Ntuen is village head of Onuk, Ukana clan in Essien Udim Local Government Area (LGA) in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. He and his wife Emem have five children. Their youngest, 11-month-old Rosemary, fell seriously ill in January. She constantly vomited and had diarrhea for over one week. Baby Rosemary was diagnosed with cholera.
Chief Ntuen was devastated at the thought of losing his baby girl to the cholera outbreak ravaging the community. But, they had no money to take Rosemary to the hospital for treatment. He and Emem had just paid their older children's school fees.
Amy Boldosser-Boesch recalls feeling fortunate to have interned with Family Care International (FCI) when studying for her Master's in International Affairs at Columbia University. Founded in 1986, FCI was the first international organization dedicated to maternal and reproductive health. Little did she know, in those early days of her career, that she would one day lead the organization.


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This year, The Pakistan Institute of International Affairs, which is the oldest think tank in Pakistan, is celebrating 70 years of its founding. It was established as an independent, non-political, not for profit association in 1947, devoted to study and research in international relations, economics and jurisprudence. To mark its 70th anniversary, the Institute is holding a regional conference on Peace in South Asia: Opportunities and Challenges on 15 and 16 November 2017. Scholars from leading think tanks, academia and diplomats in the region are being invited to participate in this conference. South Asia, comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan is the most densely populated region of the world. Its population of 1.8 billion comprises one-fourth of the global population and almost 40 per cent of the population of Asia.
Two of the world's nuclear powers, Pakistan and India, are located in South Asia and military expenditure in the region has been rising. It is threatened with insecurity because of long-standing inter-state disputes, terrorism, the presence of non-state actors, problems of water sharing, climate change, environmental degradation, the movement of refugees and illegal arms, people and drug trafficking. It has low social indicators and a large percentage of its population lives below the poverty line. On the other hand, South Asia is rich in explored and unexplored natural resources. Also rich in diversity, it is home to numerous religions and a multitude of languages and cultures. It hosts four of the world's megacities: Delhi, Dhaka, Karachi and Mumbai. The youth bulge in its population can prove to be one of its largest assets for development.
The imperative of peace for the teeming millions in South Asia is high in the 21st century which has been described as the Asian century.
The conference has been divided into two segments:
- Opportunities: Physical, economic and technological inter-connectivity, trade links and corridors, people-to-people contacts, informal diplomacy, cultural exchanges, networking on social and women's issues.
- Challenges: Reducing regional tensions, settling inter-state disputes, achieving nuclear security, combatting terrorism, resolving water related problems, countering threats from climate change.
Scholarship and dialogue can surely contribute to peace and the resolution of disputes in South Asia.
The Constitution of Pakistan 1973 makes clear provision as a principle of policy and fundamental rights, under Article 40, for Strengthening bonds with Muslim world and promoting international peace:
The State shall endeavour to preserve and strengthen fraternal relations among Muslim countries based on Islamic unity, support the common interests of the peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America, promote international peace and security, foster goodwill and friendly relations among all nations and encourage the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means.
Equally, Article 51 of the Constitution of India also provides:
51. The State shall endeavour to —(a) promote international peace and security;(b) maintain just and honourable relations betweennations;(c) foster respect for international law and treatyobligations in the dealings of organised peoples withone another; and(d) encourage settlement of international disputesby arbitration.
The State shall base its international relations on the principles of respect for national sovereignty and equality, non interference in the internal affairs of other countries, peaceful settlement of international disputes, and respect for
international law and the principles enunciated in the United Nations Charter, and on the basis of those principles shall –
(a) strive for the renunciation of the use of force in international relations and for general and complete disarmament;
(b) uphold the right of every people freely to determine and build up its own social, economic and political system by ways and means of its own free choice; and
(c) support oppressed peoples throughout the world waging a just struggle against imperialism, colonialism or racialism.
The State shall promote international peace, security and co-operation, and the establishment of a just and equitable international economic and social order and shall endeavour to foster respect for international law and treaty obligations in dealings among nations.


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"I went to the tributary of the Crazy River looking for a missing tourist," Ronald told his friend.
"Did you find any clue that can lead us to where he went?" His friend Omar asks.
"No, I saw footprints of wild animals like lynx, bears, and monkeys, but not humans."
"You're nuts people disappear in that part of the river."
"Yes, I know those non-sense stories the local tell to whoever listens."
"They are a superstitious bunch, but they have lived here long enough to know what lurks in the wild."
"So, you think demonic creature, evil spirit, and the Devil himself dwell near the stream."
"No, I don't, but I won't bet my life on it."
"You're frightened. The village people have you scare with their tells."
"Well, they don't call it the Devil's Creek for nothing. Something over there terrorize them."
"We shall go see in the morning, there is nothing to be afraid."
"I am not sure if I want to go, but I let you know tomorrow."
"Good morning, are you ready to go? Ronald asks.
"No, I am not, but I will accompany you." Omar murmured.
"Ok, grasp your stuff, we don't have all day. It's a long way to the river."
"If we encounter anything strange, I will leave you there and come back to safety."
"Don't be a coward, there is nothing a bullet can't stop."
"I hope so. No, only there are wild animals, but supernatural being or so the villagers said."
"There isn't such thing as evil spirits or unnatural creature."
"The high grass, mosquitoes and the heat is killing me. How much longer we have to go?"
"Few more minute. Not be such a baby, man-up."
"Did you see that?"
"What? Don't tell me you're hallucinating."
"No, I am not. I saw something move."
"Let's go, keep moving."
"I am tired. Can we stop for a few minutes.?
"You stay here. I will come back in a few minutes."
"Ok, but don't leave me here too long."
"See, I didn't take to long. What happen? you're pale, sweating, and quivering.?"
"I, I, I, I saw it! I saw the devil creature."
"Don't be ridicule, the demon doesn't exist."
"I am telling you, the devil resides here."
"How he looks like?"
"Stop laughing, I am serious."
"Ok, tell me how he looks?"
"He was tall as a tree, with horns, sharp pointy teeth, snake-like tongue, and a tail."
"Ja Ja Ja. You saw the chupacabra!"
"Don't you such an ass. I am telling you the truth."
"Okay, let's said you're telling the truth. What does that devil want?"
"I, I don't know. There it is! Run Ronald run!
"Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh! He got him." Omar yelled while he sprints thru the tall grass.
"Omar, What's happening?" Ask Jeff when Omar reached the village.
"The Devil, the Devil trapped Ronald."
"What do you mean?"
"We were looking for the missing tourist around Devil's Creek and a creature got him."
"I told you not to go there, didn't I tell you that?"
"Yes, you did, but Ronald persuades me to go."
"Now, what are you going to do?"
"I'm sorry for him, but I won't go near that place again. He should have listened to me."
Now, no-one dares to go near the Devil's Creek.
Author; Melito Santos