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The Golden Ratio and Its Special Qualities
This post (Golden Ratio Also Relates To Space-Time And Biology) from redOrbit.com on new theories about the role of The Golden Ratio, the "cosmic constant" in various scientific disciplines, caught my eye today. There is something magical in the properties of this very special "transcendental" number. It seems to provide a foundation for understanding movement and growth across the complete range of scientific inquiries.
The topic brought to mind this article (Is there a Spiritual Significance to the number Phi), which I wrote for The New Philosophy, The Journal of the Swedenborg Scientific Association, in 2005. In the article I speculated on the spiritual meaning of the Golden Ratio as an infinite unfolding of finite creation. The concepts are quite surprising and far-reaching!
Changing the Name of this Forum
The original concept of the ISAS name for this forum came from its goal – Integrating Science and Spirituality – and from a mental wordplay that came from sounding out "is as." Part of what the forum does is to explore life and the world, from the premise that there is an objective world that we can access to and learn to know. The world "is as it is", but we have been given the gifts of perception, rationality and insight as well as motivations for exploring and understanding that world.
Unfortunately, a very similar acronym, "ISIS, " representing an entity that seems to have quite different goals than knowledge and understanding, is getting considerable and quite negative attention on a daily basis. Several wise people have suggested I change the name of the forum, and I am going to do so.
If you have any thoughts on a new name and acronym, I would welcome hearing about it. For the time being, we will continue to use "Integrating Science and Spirituality" but will no longer use the acronym.
The Road to Science – Paved by a Saint
A short, insightful article on Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) appeared in The Philosopher's Mail (a publication of the School of Life in England) last week. Aquinas integrated Greek notions of reason with Catholic theology, establishing the concept that "natural law is a subsection of eternal law, and it can be discovered through the faculty of independent reason." This "broke a logjam in Christian thinking… and opened the Christian mind to the insights of all of humanity from across the ages…" Through his works, Aquinas helped open the doors to natural philosophy (at a time when they were being closed in the Islamic world), leading ultimately to the scientific revolution in subsequent centuries.
The Human Race – and The Technology Race: November 4, 2014.
George Gantz is the featured speaker for the Wayland Great Presenter's Series on Tuesday November 4, 7:30PM at the Wayland MA Public Library:
Has technology advanced beyond our ability to control it? Some believe this is a good thing and will lead to a marvelous "Singularity", a point where self-replicating machinery will largely replace human labor, freeing humans to pursue whatever they want. Others are less sanguine about the impacts of technology – warning that the earth and the human race itself may be headed for disaster. George Gantz will lead a discussion on these profound questions, starting with our own experiences with digital technologies and recent research on the human – digital interface.
Pope Francis Endorses Science
As reported in The Independent, the leader of the Catholic Church has declared that evolution and the Big Bang Theory are real and do not conflict with faith in God. This is a remarkable statement from the world's largest religious organization and perhaps may soften the rhetoric in the science-religion debate. This is the same Pope who, several months ago, revealed his Top Ten Secrets for happiness, the 9th of which is to respect others' beliefs. "We can inspire others through witness so that one grows together in communicating. But the worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyzes." Good advice for theists and atheists alike.
The Atheism – Theism Debate: Report from the Field
An opinion piece posted by Gary Gutting October 13 on the NYTimes website summarizes his series of interviews with philosophers on religion. Some of his findings echo themes we have touched on previously (see Miracles for example). While the author is "agnostic" and finds that to be the most defensible ground, he identifies areas of weakness for both atheists and theists (outnumbered almost 5 to 1 in his interviews), in the debate.
There have also been some interesting posts recently about what might be called the sociology of alternative beliefs. In recent weeks, I participated in a Linked-In exchange with the provocative title: Is there a lack of civility and empathy in the atheist community? Do you find many atheists come across as arrogant/ haughty/ belittling/ ostentatious/ offensive?
Last winter, Big Questions Online also carried an extensive exchange with the somewhat tongue-in-cheek title: "Is Atheism Irrational?"
Along a corollary line, research was reported that those who believe in God are happier and healthier.
And a sharp controversy recently flared up on the question of why atheism may be male oriented:
There is nothing definitive about any of this material, as it is dealing not with truth claims per se, but with the demeanor of the combatants. Nevertheless, there may be lessons to be learned. Who would you like to spend more time with? Who would you trust most in a pinch? What is the better pathway to a better and happier life?
"Tip of the Spear" earns a 4th place in FQXi Essay Contest
Last April, George Gantz submitted The Tip of The Spear in the FQXi essay contest titled "How Should Humanity Steer the Future?" A total of 155 essays were submitted and were rated by other essayists during an extended community comment period. The Tip of the Spear earned a 4th place rank, joining the 40 top-ranked essays in the final judging by a panel of experts, and was subsequently awarded a fourth prize at the announcement held on August 21.
The Tip of the Spear traces the latest findings of empirical science in the fields of mathematics, physics, biology and evolution to determine what the guiding principles are for the evolution of the physical universe and how they can help us in steering the future of humanity. The conclusion is that, while empirical science is the driving force to the advance of human civilization, the tip of the spear should be armed with our highest human empathic qualities – in a word, with love.
The winning essay, "How to Save the World" by Sabine Hossenfelder, challenges humanity to convert ideas into action: " We fail to act in the face of global problems because we do not have an intuitive grasp on the consequences of collective human behavior, are prone to cognitive biases, and easily overwhelmed by data. We are also lazy and if intuition fails us, inertia takes over." Her answer is to make the necessary information accessible to individuals. "To steer the future, information about our dynamical and multi-layered networks has to become cheap and almost effortless to use. Only then, when we can make informed decisions by feeling rather than thinking, will we be able to act and respond to the challenges we face."
New Technology Changing the World for the Better?
Last year I raised some concerns about the impact of technology on humans (see: Busted). These concerns remain, but in the interest of equal time, it is worth highlighting some of the potentially positive impacts of new technology. In a recent episode of EconTalk on The Sharing Economy, Russ Roberts, in a conversation with Mike Munger, highlights some potentially transformative impacts of technology. They conversation centered on AirBnB, Uber and ParkingMonkey. All three applications connect, through mobile devices, users with needs for lodging, ground transport or parking with potential suppliers, in simple, automated transaction platforms. The applications are potentially transformative in two ways – one economic and one social. On the economic front, the applications make it simple and nearly cost-free to connect under-utilized capital assets (e.g. vacant rooms in your house) with potential buyers – this has potentially immense economic benefits to consumers and suppliers but will be highly disruptive to incumbent businesses that will have to evolve to survive. On the social front, the three applications are also completely outside of the systems devised by government regulation to protect consumers, such as taxi cab licenses ("medallions"), local and state health regulations on lodging, and public access to parking spaces. As peer-to-peer applications, the "policing" is done by reviews by users and the private actions of the application operator (for example, Uber kicks out any driver that gets less than a "4.7" rating by its users), with no government involvement. All three applications depend on the trust of users and the trustworthiness of providers – achieved through transparency and consumer ratings rather than government oversight and regulation. In one sense, these applications are tangible demonstrations of the "democratizing" effect of technology – giving power to people to make prudent choices rather than relying on regulatory compliance. Moreover, the system rewards honesty, credibility and service – virtues that may need reinforcing after decades of self-preoccupation by members of Gen Me, Gen X, and Gen Y …
How Should Humanity Steer the Future?
The FQXi (Foundational Questions Institute) is dedicated to exploring the foundations and boundaries of physics and cosmology. One of their programs is an annual essay competition. Last year, the contest posed the question "It From Bit, or Bit from It", addressing whether information or energy/matter are more fundamental to the reality of the physical world. This year's essay question posed quite a different challenge – "How Should Humanity Steer the Future?"
The ISAS Forum has dealt with issues at the boundaries of science and spirituality, and the FQXi competition poses an intriguing question that intermingles the realm of empirical knowledge with considerations of value and purpose. The essay that George Gantz submitted, entitled "The Tip of The Spear", is an effort to follow the latest findings of empirical science in the fields of mathematics, physics, biology and evolution to determine what the guiding principles are to the evolution of the physical universe and how they can help us in steering the future of humanity. His answer is that while empirical science is the driving force to the advance of human civilization, the tip of the spear should be armed with our highest human empathic qualities – in a word, with love.
You are welcome to read and comment on his essay, The Tip of The Spear, or any of the other submissions. The Essay Contest closes April 18, but remains open for comments and scoring until August 31st. George also gratefully acknowledges the review and comments he received from Justin Junge and Sylvia Shaw on a draft of the essay.
Recent Thoughts on the Human Soul
Iain McGilchrist, psychiatrist and writer, was the featured speaker for an RSA Event on March 31, 2014, titled "What happened to the Soul?" The event was held under the auspices of the RSA Project on Spirituality, Character Development & The Social Brain, examining the scientific and spiritual foundations of character development.
McGilchrist noted that in the current environment, reference to the human soul as a concept capturing the full range and complexity of human experience has largely disappeared from intellectual discourse, squeezed out of our language by reductionism and linguistic analysis. The human soul is a very deep concept that cannot be analyzed, specified or defined without losing much of its subtlety. Essentially, in the process of dissecting and analyzing this profound concept, western discourse has so narrowed it as to strip it of meaning. Yet, it remains important and useful – but only if appreciated in its full depth and nuance.
He offered this quote from American philosopher Eugene Gendlin: "We think more than we can say – we feel more than we can think – we live more than we can feel – and there's much else besides." The human soul is a symbol for "much else besides."
And from Indian writer Rabindranath Tagore: "The small wisdom is like water in a glass: clear, transparent, pure. The great wisdom is like the water in the sea: dark, mysterious, impenetrable." Understanding any part of the human soul is deep wisdom.
For McGilchrist, while the human soul may be resident in the physical body and brain of humans, this does not mean that it can be explained in material terms. Just as the water carries the wave, but is not the wave, so too, perhaps, does the brain carry the soul – but the soul is not the brain. The wave transcends the water, and the soul transcends the brain.
New Effort to Address the Science – Religion Divide
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has embarked on a Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER). The results of an initial DoSER survey was released February 17th at the AAAS annual meeting and researchers reported that "religious and scientific communities may be less combative than is commonly portrayed in the media and in politics." Only 27 percent of those surveyed said that they viewed science and religion as being in conflict with each other, with the highest percentage being in the evangelical community. A survey by MIT researchers a year ago also found little conflict between science and church doctrine – they reported that only 11% of Americans belong to religions openly rejecting evolution. However the MIT researchers also found a gap between official doctrine and individual beliefs – 48% of respondents in that survey reported believing that humans were created by God in their current form less than 10,000 years ago. The DoSER initiative will now hold a series of regional workshops for local science and evangelical leaders with the goal of building dialogue and understanding. A national conference will follow. As an AAAS article on DoSEr notes: "Ultimately it is the building of real relationships between scientists and religious communities that can provide the best bridges of understanding."
This effort is an important acknowledgement by an esteemed scientific establishment of the need for improved dialogue with religious communities. In fact, as discussed in the earlier ISAS post, Science – Losing Credibility, the scientific community has been losing credibility in recent decades. We can hope that improved dialogue between scientific and religious communities will reduce the distrust and polarization that seems to dominate media coverage and public policy debates on science policy and funding and on public issues involving medicine, health and the environment.
Ian Barbour – In Remembrance
Ian Barbour, a leader in the efforts to build dialogue between science and religion, died on December 24, 2013, at the age of 90. According to the TF Newsletter, he was "one of the founding figures in the academic discipline that studies the relationship between science and religion." He was committed to the idea that "science and religion might converse at the level of the assumptions they share, and both might hold that the universe is rational and intelligible, awesome and wonderful. Such reflection might lead to … integration. Here, the expectation is that scientific and theological inquiry will profoundly inform one another."
May we be fortunate enough to see his vision fulfilled in the not-too-distant future!
Is the Science-Religion Debate Turning a Corner?
In the Big Questions Online forum this month, Kelly Clark posted an essay that takes aim at atheist claims of rational superiority. Under the provocative title "Is Atheism Irrational", he borrows the line of reasoning from atheism that labels belief in religion as mental weakness, illusion, or "cognitive functioning gone awry" and applies it to findings that show a correlation between low empathy (in the form of autism) and a belief in atheism. The hypothetical (and ironic) conclusion is that atheism is no more rational than theism. He notes that "the vast majority of those who work on these topics are atheists or agnostics", which explains why this finding may have been overlooked. In the comments, Roy Baumeister notes as well the correlation first observed by Freud that there is a "pattern of filial love correlating with religious faith," which supports the idea that such psychological factors can influence one's beliefs. Baumeister concludes: "A bit more gentle respect all around would seem appropriate. Thanks for your essay, which exemplifies that spirit." My own concluding comment: "The bridge between science and religion, or theism and atheism, has to be built on a foundation of humility – something sorely lacking on both sides."
Are we a Culture of Gratitude or Entitlement?
This month's Big Questions Online projects features a commentary by Dr. Robert Emmonds (guru of gratitude) on What Must We Overcome as a Culture or as Individuals For Gratitude to Flourish? Dr. Emmonds points out that while we live in a world dedicated to the pursuit of happiness, this pursuit seems to have morphed into self-entitlement. When material things come to us so easily, we begin to believe that that is what we deserve and we lose the ability to be grateful. But research consistently shows that feeling gratitude is essential for happiness.
We all have tendencies to self-preoccupation or even narcissism. Emmonds uses the example of the story (Luke 17:16-18) of the ten lepers healed by Jesus, only one of which returned to give thanks, as a reminder of how common ingratitude is. He also stresses that gratitude requires humility. Humility allows us to recognize "that everything good in life is ultimately a gift.
The comment section is worth reviewing as well as the essay. In Emmonds reply to my comment, he noted that he was introduced by a co-author to Swedenborg: "She shared with me Swedenborg's insights that those who feel love toward the neighbor and a blessedness toward God are in a grateful sphere or heavenly state, and are thus in heaven. Also that it is through gratitude we have the ability to live in a joyful, peaceful state; in its paradoxical, elusive way, gratitude is the door to many heavenly gifts. But the door is low, and Swedenborg reminds us that we must humble ourselves to enter." Well said.
The Moral Behavior of Ethics Professors
In a recent interview on Philosophy Bites, a podcast from England, Eric Schwitchgebel reported on his study of the ethical beliefs and behaviors of ethics professors. He found that professors, philosophy professors, and ethics professors all behaved about the same in terms of not eating meat, voting and making charitable contributions. However, the ethics professors' opinions on what constituted good moral behavior were far more supportive of those virtues.
It is difficult to say whether this is a sign of our times or simply a reflection of basic human nature, but the pattern of saying one thing and doing another is not unfamiliar. How often have we seen public officials convicted of graft or driven from office in scandal as a result of a failure to adhere to their own professed moral code? Or ministers and religious leaders who surreptitiously engage in behavior they decry as sinful in their public pronouncements?
Dr. Schwitzgebel speculates that ethics philosophers are so used to arguing on moral issues that they are probably better at rationalizing when it comes to moral behavior. Perhaps this is true as well of those who are well-versed in politics, public communications or theological inquiry. As we humans become adept at mental and intellectual pursuits by slicing, dicing and spinning arguments, our behaviors and private choices can lose touch with the simple notion of right and wrong.
We are all familiar with the idiom "the bigger they are the harder they fall." Perhaps we need another one that points to the spiritual risks of facile argumentation: "the smarter they are, the deeper they fall."
Great Summary of the Free Will Debates!
Dr. Jonathon Schooler has authored a discussion Does Belief in Free Will Make Us Better People? (in the Big Questions Online series sponsored by the Templeton Foundation) that succinctly summarizes the current state of knowledge and disagreement on this key metaphysical question. Dr. Schooler's opening article notes that the lack of consensus leaves us on the position of having to make a choice – "each one of us is faced with deciding for ourselves where we stand on an issue that may have important consequences for how we lead our lives." Increasingly, the evidence suggests that a belief in free will promotes pro-social behaviors and increases our sense of personal control and our general well-being. His conclusion is that a belief in free will, which is entirely consistent with our subjective intuition, is the better choice.
The comments in response to the article provide a thorough and expert overview of the three dominant perspectives on free will – determinism, compatibilism and libertarianism – and an exploration of the problems with definitions, uncertainties and unknowns that frustrate the search for consensus. The threads lead into issues the ISAS Forum has dealt with previously, including experimental philosophy, neuroscience and causation. Dr. Schooler in his closing words concludes that "people can have very different perspectives on the issue of free will, and that is as it should be at this time", implying that more empirical data may clarify which answer is the right one. My own conclusion is that free will, as explained in Miracles, is a paradox where we are forced to make a choice (using, of course, our capacity for freely willing).
Assessing Our Motivations – An Act of Love
There is a prevalent misconception that our choices are directed by our thoughts. In fact, our choices are driven by our motivations – the things that we love. Often, our very rational mind is hijacked in support of that which we want to believe, as I noted in the essay on Cognitive Bias.
If our choices are driven by our motivations, then we should spend some time trying to understand those motivations and the reasons why we do them. As inscribed on the ancient Temple of Apollo at Delphi, "Know Thyself" is an important and useful goal. At the same time, how can we organize this self-reflection in a way that is most helpful in improving our choices and improving our lives? There are entire libraries of philosophy, psychology and theology devoted to this subject, but sometimes it is helpful to keep things simple.
Curtis Child's video "Universal Categories of Love", from his "Off the Left Eye" series on youtube, provides a clear and simple analysis of the motivational categories or loves which drive our choices – and which determine our behaviors, our morals and our ultimate happiness.
You choose!
Quantum Physics and Free Will
The Templeton Foundation's Big Question Online Series posted a profound article this week summarizing the basis for concluding that quantum physics requires/proves the existence of non-physical agency. In the article "What Does Quantum Physics Have to Do with Free Will?", Antoine Suarez made the case for concluding that the only coherent explanation for quantum behavior is metaphysical – there are phenomena outside of nature that have effects on things in nature. This approach resolves a number of the issues we have been dealing with in this forum including the problem of reductionism. <See Causation). Reductionism requires an immense "leap of faith" to believe that coherent, finely tuned and ordered natural phenomena can emerge from randomness. In fact, they do not. There is an ordering "force" at work, a propensity or disposition in the language of dispositional essentialism, that directs the emergence of higher level systems from lower level substrates, e.g. consciousness from processes in the brain, life from chemistry, chemistry from physics… There is a place for God, and for Love, in this kind of universe.
NOTE: The BQO article by Dr. Suarez was subsequently removed from the BQO website. Dr. Suarez' theory is also presented in his book: Is Science Compatible with Free Will? Exploring Free Will and Consciousness in the Light of Quantum Physics and Neuroscience, (Springer: New York, 2013).
The Science of Love
According to Stephen Post (BQO June 3, 2013) the act of loving is profoundly transforming. Studies show that showering others with our love frees us from self-pre-occupation and related negative feelings, increases our depth and enjoyment of life and improves our physical and mental health! In response to the questions posed, I offered this response:
One aspect of love that seems to be missing from the definition is that of "self-love". Love has two poles – it can be self-directed or other directed. This is not necessarily a bad thing. For example, as you point out, doing good things for others brings extraordinary satisfaction, the consequence of which is a higher sense of self-worth and a more rewarding life. In this sense we can be called to do for others as a matter of enlightened self-interest or self-love. Without this reciprocity from the act of loving others, it is hard to see how a person would ever feel a motivation to love others! On the other hand, love which is focused first on self-satisfaction can be exceedingly negative and manifest as impulses for mere gratification or dominion. This is the inherent human evil that St. Paul and Luther warned about, is it not?
On question 1, doing acts of charity from an initially selfish motive (to look good, for example) may yield an inward warmth that can change a person and lead them to greater acts of love to the neighbor.
On question 2, it may be more accurate to say that experiencing the reciprocity of love may engender a sense of divine presence and expectation. We are led to an appreciation of God through the experience of Love.
Finally, I hope that it does not take 100 years for physics to appreciate the dynamic creative and life-giving power of Divine Love. Emanuel Swedenborg wrote about this 300 years ago, and physicist Ian Thompson has recently shown (Starting Science from God: Rational Scientific Theories From Theism, 2011) the deep connections between what is known of modern physics and what Swedenborg had to say about Divine Love.
Three New Books about Physics
The technical details and mathematics of modern physics may be mastered by only small number of scientists at elite academic institutions, but non-technical explanations continue to proliferate. This popularization of physics for the layperson would be welcome were it not for the fact that the foundations of physics are in such disarray. Three new books provide fresh perspectives on this conundrum and should perhaps be added to our summer reading lists. Neil Turok's contribution is The Universe Within: From Quantum to Cosmos, in which he explores his solution to the ontological puzzle of what started the Big Bang – the Big Bounce. In simple terms, the idea is that our universe is one cycle of an endlessly repeating cycle of Big Bangs and Big Crunches. Jim Baggett, a physicist turned writer, takes a highly critical approach in Farewell to Reality: How Modern Physics Has Betrayed the Search for Science. This work sounds like a polemic by a reformed string theorist who has thrown up his hands in disgust at the lack of progress, but apparently offers good explanations of the key problems and theories. Time Reborn: From the Crisis of Physics to the Future of the Universe by Lee Smolin is a more inventive offering which points to the time-independent formulations of physics (since Newton) as a potential hindrance to deeper understanding. This approach may have merit – see the ISAS post on The Puzzle of Entropy for a discussion of one of the key time-dependent features of the universe. Happy reading!


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Hotel pick up at around 9 am to start today's tour.
Stroll in the world's largest city center square -Tiananmen Square to see Mao's Mausoleum, Monument to People's Heroes, Great Hall of the People and National Museum;
Walk through Tiananmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) to Meridian Gate which is the entrance to Forbidden City;
Enjoy Chinese lunch at a fine restaurant.
Drive to Panda Hall to get close with these adorable creatures.
At last we explore the manicured gardens of the Summer Palace.
You are sent back to your hotel at around 5pm.
1. There are a lot of walks in each attraction. Please make sure your shoes are comfortable enough.
2. In Summer Palace, a lake cruise is available at your own expenses if weather permits. The ticket costs RMB8.
Forbidden City was home to China's 'Celestial' emperors from 1421 until the last emperor of Qing Dynasty was evicted in 1924. This architecture museum is like a vast Beijing courtyard built according to traditional Chinese fengshui theory. The lavishly decorated chambers and halls show the strict classes in the feudal society.
The Panda Hall was built in the style of traditional Chinese gardens. It has 3 exhibition halls and several outdoor playgrounds for pandas to exercise and entertain themselves.
The Summer Palace enjoys a world-wide reputation as a leading imperial garden. It consists of 3 areas: the political activity area, the living area and the scenic area. The 728-mter-long corridor, which links the 3 areas together, is decorated with 307 exquisite paintings.
- Tour Code: BJ-DT01
- Attractions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Panda Hall and Summer Palace
- Location: Downtown
- Distance: --
- Tour type: private tour, no strangers in your group
- Availability: everyday
- Duration: 9 hours
- Tour Valid: all around the year
- Meals Included: Lunch
- Price: from USD69 per person
Hotel pick up at around 9 am to start today's tour.
|Your group size
|1 person
|2-3 persons
|4-5 persons
|6-9 persons
|10 or more
Price includes:
1. Private transfers
2. Experienced English speaking guide
3. Chinese lunch
4. Entrance fee to all the attraction
Price excludes:
1.Lake cruise in the Summer Palace
2.Tips to guide and driver

subset: commoncrawl


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Where Honesty & Quality Come Together
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Sunrise, Susan and Selena(a.k.a. Sal) spent the first two years of their lives at a local, free-range, organic egg farm. After the hens were past their prime laying age, the farm would give them away to people who wanted chickens. I am not sure of their breed but have narrowed it down to three possibilities: Red sex-links, Production reds, Or a commercial mix. Originally I just had Sunrise and Susan, But about a year later, we decided to adopt Selena as well. She got along very well with the two original hens. Despite the fact that all are well over two years old, we have gotten really good egg production until the last few months, when we began to get thin shells. Despite growing up with little human contact, the girls will allow me to cuddle them and sit on my lap like cats--especially Susan.
Left to right:Susan, Selena, and Sunrise
Lto R: Susan, Selena, Sunrise
Susan-she's the sweet one in our flock. She always will let me pick her up or pet her.
Selena- the silly one. She's not as friendly as the other two, but a very funny, happy, chicken.
Sunrise-the smartest of the three, Sunrise is full of personality.
Susan eating.
Sal posing for the camera
Around November 2012, Susan stopped laying, got a blue comb and acted lethargic. She was sick, on and off, for about three months before she died on Februrary 24, 2013. Rest in Peace, Susan. What are Sunrise and Sal ever going to do without you? Sunrise died a few weeks later, in March. Sal is the only one of the trio living, and has four little sisters (chicks) and one new best friend, Sophia.
Sunrise, Susan, and Selena
By earlybird10842 · Nov 23, 2012 · Updated Apr 24, 2013 · ·
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I was asked to say something about what ACPF is for me. Normally, one would answer such a question from an organizational perspective, but an organization is nothing more (nor less) than the people that together constitute that institution. As I happen to know the people that build and now constitute that organization, I feel I can say something about not just the institution, but about the staff of ACPF, too.
For me, ACPF is one of only a handful of truly pan-African organizations that have the legitimacy to speak on behalf of children in Africa. Although its identity is rooted in universal human and child rights instruments and although it is informed by child rights activists, academia and policy makers from around the world, it is staffed by people that were born from African parents, were raised in African value systems and bring up their own children in the reality of Africa today. From the stories their children tell them, form what they see with their own eyes as the walk home from doing their groceries, and from discussing politics with their friends and families, these people know what it means to live in Africa: the good, the bad, and the ugly. They live the changes that are happening, they feel what goes well and needs to be encouraged, and know what goes not so well and needs to be challenged. ACPF is a group of people that initiate work from their heart, but then uses their intellectual powers to research the facts, their networks to share knowledge and experiences, and are not afraid to challenge duty bearers to do what is in the best interest of the African child.
Having had the privilege to have worked with ACPF from its inception, I wish ACPF to take centre stage in setting the agenda for African children. Continue to champion those that are forgotten, neglected, overlooked, abused and violated. If those that have the power to make a difference would only listen to what you have to say on behalf of the children, Africa is going to be an even much better place to live!
Toast to another decade of putting Africa's children first!
When I first heard of the African Child Policy Forum (ACPF), my first impression was that it is a forum for policy makers and experts who meet to compare notes on the plight of children on the African Continent, brain storm and theorize on what should be done to address the many problems plaguing some of the children on the African continent, share a cup of tea, shake hands, leave and prepare to attend the Forum's next event.
However, after my interaction with ACPF through:
(a) Its support in facilitating a Stakeholder Conference of the Malawi Law Commission on February 27, 2012 on Intercountry Adoption with the aim of providing an informed input into the process of the Review of the Adoption of Children Act, Cap. 26:01 of the Laws of Malawi;
(b) participation at the Fifth International Policy Conference on the African Child (IPC) held in Addis Ababa from 29th and 30th May, 2012; and
(c) consideration and adoption of a Study on Violence Against Children Living and /or Working on streets, of the Malawi Human Rights Commission funded and facilitated by ACPF,
I realized that ACPF is not just about mere policy formulation and rhetoric, it is a Forum whose aim is to realize tangible results which will change for the better the plight of some of the children on the African Continent. It is a forum that is inclusive in its composition and approaches; and is genuinely interested in improving the welfare of African children.
The fact that ACPF involves holistically the countries on the African continent but also engages individually with the African countries, makes its approach to solving the problems of children on the African Continent practical, unique and easy for different countries to buy-in to the ACPF's proffered solutions.
ACPF 10th anniversary is definitely a cause for celebration. However, as much as it is a cause for celebration, it poses a challenge. ACPF was established to serve the best interest of Africa's biggest and most critical segment of population- its children. ACPF's stellar track record over the past decade has raised the bar in terms of regional and global expectations of this organization.
African children suffer varying degrees of marginalization and violence. ACPF has kept abreast of the evolving needs of the African child; most importantly they have done this while adopting a child's rights approach. ACPF should be commended for expanding its international network. ACPF has kept excellent rapport with both the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child based in Geneva and the Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the African Child. It has prioritised issues of concern such as budgeting for children; inter country adoption and combating violence against children including Female Genital Mutilation. A highlight of ACPF 2012 achievements is the adoption of its Guidelines for Action on the Inter country adoption of children in Africa. Another is the opening of a Child Protection Center which inter alia; caters for the right of the child to protection notably children involved with the justice system. The ACPF annual conference has been a great success providing opportunities for networking and exchange of experience amongst stakeholders at the African and global level.
I am confident that over the next decade ACPF will further assist African States to meet their obligations under both the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC). Areas of focus will be putting in place an infrastructure conducive to the implementation of the rights of the child such as:
- Harmonisation of national legislation with both CRC and ACRWC;
- Formulating national strategies with clear-cut, time-bound, and measurable objectives.
- Strengthening the mandate and resources of national entities in charge of coordinating the rights of the child.
- Establishing a central data system capable of revealing pockets of marginalization, to guide policies and target victims of exclusion ;
- Allocating adequate financial, human, and institutional resources. Such allocations will be made visible in the national budgets.
- States' partnership with civil society in policy formulation, monitoring, and implementation.
- Implementing systematic and sustainable campaigns to raise awareness of Child's rights among different segments of society. Human rights education for children is crucial to create an environment conducive to the respect and protection of human rights.
I am confident that ACPF will continue its legacy to ensure that every African child fully enjoys his/ her rights without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child's or his or her parent's or legal guardian's race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status. I look forward to following this remarkable organization's progress.
I congratulate African Child Policy Forum on its completing 10 years.
We were introduced to ACPF by Frances Sheahan who was documenting children's legal protection centres for ACPF and wanted to write about the work HAQ: Centre for Child Rights did in this area. This was in 2007.
In 2009, HAQ: Centre for Child Rights was organising its first international colloquium on children and governance. In researching for potential participants we came across ACPF's report on child friendliness of governments and decided to write to Dr. Assefa Bequele (that was June 2, 2009). Since I did not have a personal email id for him, I wrote at the organisational one. It was month before I got a reply from him---by which time we had almost given up !
In one of his early mails to me he wrote, "Many people assume Assefa is a woman's name. Just to let you know it is a very popular and very masculine Ethiopian name! I hope you get the joke – I am only trying to implify things for you, in case you may not know how to address me." And I replied- "Yes I know your gender! I found out...just so that I do not make faux pax, which incidentally I am extremely prone to". This was the beginning of an endearing relationship between not just our two organisations, but between us as individuals too.
Assefa attended the first ever global meeting on children and governance in India, hosted by HAQ in November 2011. He and ACPF thus became an important part of HAQ's journey.
I had the good fortune to visit ACPF and Adis Ababa twice- once for the preparatory meeting on the next African child well being report on budgeting and then for the release of the report in 2010.
It was also the time that I interacted with the ACPF team and understood the methodology for developing an Index. I have no hesitation in acknowledging that HAQ's Child Rights Index (2011) would not have been born, had it not been for the encouragement and sometimes even the push from my friend Assefa. We were in touch with Yehulashet Mekonen, cross-checking and verifying our methodology, which we have drawn upon from the ACPF report, and are deeply indebted to him for his patient support. However, our joy at being able to have come out with the Indian child rights index would have been incomplete had Assefa not been here with us on that occasion. This was also our second global colloquium on children and governance in November 2011.
ACPF's work is also included in the book "Every Right for Every Child-Children and Governance", which I compiled and edited, and for which Assefa wrote a chapter on developing a child friendly index. It is significant that at the release of this book, Assefa should say, "We have been actually grappling with issues of policy and governance at ACPF in a rather isolated way, without quite realising it. It is HAQ that made us realise that that is what we were doing…"
Hence, if I look back our association is not very long in terms of years, it may not seem very long. But it has been a mutually supportive relationship that transcends years and geographical space. That is the need of the day.
I congratulate African Child Policy Forum on its completing 10 years. Its work on bringing children's issues on to the centre stage of policy and discourse in Africa is pioneering. The child friendly index that it brought out in 2008 has inspired many such efforts across the world, including the Child Rights Index –India by HAQ: Centre for Child Rights. The quality of ACPF's research and publications is an inspiration for its quality and professionalism.
In its unique position as pan African organisation, ACPF has been successfully been able to bring multiple players- governments, civil society as well as international organisations into dialogue with each other to influence policy and discourse. This is also evident in the august board that ACPF has.
Ten years is a very important threshold in the life of an organisation. It has been the time for dreaming and building. The subsequent years are of consolidating, reviewing, and planning ahead. It is a time to also renew energies and revisit and reiterate dreams that sometimes get lost along the way. I wish ACPF all the best in this new phase and hope it will continue to address critical issues that affect the children in Africa and bring them into debate and action, and that we will discover and realise some common dreams together.
My very best wishes are with the ACPF team.
African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) is a Pan-African child-focused research Centre working with partners, international NGOs, governments and other stake-holders to influence programs, policies and practices which offer adequate protection for the African child. Its activities are strictly in line with the provisions of relevant international Treaties, Conventions, and Charters.
As a Nigerian-based child focus NGO, Children's Rights Network (CHRINET) has, in the past two years participated in ACPF organized or facilitated programs and conferences. One of such conferences was the one held in Abuja, Nigeria in April 2012. It was Inter-country adoption, an issue poorly understood even by majority of educated Nigerians. This was followed by a bigger conference on the same issue in Addis-Ababa in the same year. Later the same year ACPF also facilitated CHRINET's participation at the Third Pan African Forum on Children and African wide Movement for Children (AMC) Annual General Meeting in Addis-Ababa and Nairobi respectively.
ACPF has certainly been playing a major role in shaping policies relating to how children are more properly treated. Their activities have assisted in bringing to the front-burner the desirability or otherwise of the Inter-country adoption policy in Nigeria to the extent that the Nigerian government is presently giving consideration to the Hague Convention of 1993.
Finally, ACPF has impacted positively on the African Child by giving direction to all stakeholders through its in-depth analysis and reliable data on the plights of children and means of mitigating such problems.
What the African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) has meant to my child rights practice
- How does Zambia compare with other Southern African countries in defining minimum age for criminal responsibility, leaving school and employment?
- Where can we get examples of good practical Africa-specific child participation mechanisms?
Check the ACPF's, 'In the Best Interest of the Child: Harmonising Laws in Eastern and Southern Africa Report.'
- Where can we find a good practice case study on diversion from the criminal justice system?
Try the ACPF's, 'Realising Rights for Children: Good Practice in Eastern and Southern Africa.'
- Which is the best child-friendly African Government?
Read the ACPF's series of, 'The African Report on Child Wellbeing of 2008: How Child-Friendly are African Governments?'
- How can we analyse the Zambian budget from a child perspective?
Read the ACPF's, 'The African Report on Child Well being of 2011: Budgeting for children.'
The above are some of the frequently asked questions by programming staff and my responses in our organization, the Zambia Civic Education Association (ZCEA), a human rights, not for profit, non governmental organization that promotes and advocates child rights. To us at ZCEA, the ACPF has been a hub of well researched Africa – specific information and data on a variety of issues and topics that enhance the realization of children's rights in Africa. The ACPF has helped us a local NGO to advocate and pressure our government to implement both article 4 of the CRC and article 1 of the ACRWC to ensure its full compliance to the provisions in both the CRC and the ACRWC to which it is a State party.
The ACPF has further been a pillar of support and solidarity for common collective action in Africa such as the elimination of violence against children. It has organized many meetings across the continent to bring together various experts from multi disciplines to bear on the root causes, legal reforms, responses and rehabilitation of child victims of violence which has resulted in gains in progressive positive impact on governments' policies. In Zambia we can cite the prohibitions of corporal punishment, removal of school going age girls for marriage and gender based violence in the Education Act of 2011. The further inclusion of a specific clause for children in the Bill of Rights of the draft Constitution 2012 has been a result of intensive lobbying backed by evidence generated by the ACPF. Personally, thank you ACPF for facilitating the process of my election as the East and Southern African representative on the International NGO Council on Violence against Children (InCo – VAC) and support of my missions to attend the InCo – VAC's meetings.
I wish ACPF the warmest and heartiest congratulations on its 10 years anniversary and continued blessings! Also, I congratulate you on the appointment of the new Executive Director who has all it takes to lead this great organisation to greater heights.
Good luck!
It is a great pleasure to congratulate the African Child Policy Forum on its tenth anniversary. ACPF fulfills an essential role, in Africa and beyond, in raising awareness of the conditions of children throughout the continent and in initiating change of those conditions. Its function as a politically independent, not-for-profit, "think tank" and platform for rights based policy development and dialogue has been invaluable. ACPF work is crucial for children, and, as children embody the future of society, also for the development of society as a whole.
In May 2012, together with Principal Legal Officer Laura Martínez-Mora , I had the privilege of attending the Fifth International Policy Conference for the African Child in Addis Ababa on the theme of: "Inter-country Adoption: Controversies and Alternatives". This conference gave us a highly appreciated opportunity not only to see the ACPF at work, but also to present the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, to illustrate its operation, and to explain its potential for African States which were not yet bound by this instrument. We are pleased that the resulting Guidelines for Action on Intercountry Adoption of Children in Africa, endorsed by the African Union, contain a firm recommendation that all African States should join the 1993 Hague Convention.
In its recently published paper "African Children and the post-2015 Development Agenda", ACPF, once again, calls the world's attention to the continued inadequacy of national child protection systems in Africa. The paper points out that the existing gap is being "exacerbated by globalization which has led to new and emerging protecting needs…". Practical global instruments such as the 1993 Hague Adoption Convention and the 1996 Hague Protection of Children Convention assist in providing legal protection to children in the increasing number of situations where the causes or need for such protection transcends national boundaries.
ACPF, together with UNICEF and other partners, including the Hague Conference on Private International Law, may wish to encourage African States to join these instruments, and to assist them in the practical implementation thereof. The international, indeed global, dimensions of the legal protection of children present new challenges to Africa and, therefore, to the ACPF, but also offer new hope for greater awareness, in Africa and around the globe, of the plight of Africa´s children.
Bon courage, ACPF, for the next decade of raising awareness and promoting effective legislation, policies and practices throughout Africa for the well-being and protection of children!
The ACPF promotes in its work the four pillars of the United Nations Charter, namely Peace, Justice, Freedom and Human Rights, and reflects the conclusion by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that the realisation of human rights is a necessary condition for the achievement of the first three. The ACPF therefore contributes to the work of the United Nations in Africa and the world.
It was by pure chance that DCI thought of involving ACPF in the preparation and realisation of the Kampala Conference in 2011. We knew the organisation very well and were aware of its impressive work, but it was only during an expert meeting in Geneva, late 2010, where we met with ACPF's former director and considered joining forces. Little did we know that our joint collaboration would go on to be a major engagement and challenge: trying to raise-awareness on children being deprived of liberty in Africa, making their situation known internationally; and engaging national, regional and international relevant stakeholders in defining child-friendly justice systems for Africa. This initial joint collaboration proved to be a real success, and also strategic for both organisations; also demonstrating how our child rights agendas very much coincided, particularly with regard to Justice for Children.
Since then, we have worked hard to bring together our different experiences and expertise in the area of juvenile justice. The Guidelines on action for children in the justice system in Africa - the most important output of the Conference – may well be considered a critical tool in guiding states in their implementation of juvenile justice systems adapted to the specific needs of children.
DCI's collaboration with ACPF was subsequently sealed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, which is particularly enriching for DCI considering its important presence through its national sections in Africa.
ACPF continues to prove itself a wonderful and reliable partner within the African continent.
There is still a long way to go after these first ten years of work, and we are sure ACPF will continue ensuring that the children of Africa and their human rights are not forgotten or neglected.
Long life to ACPF!
Reflecting on what to say about ACPF, took me down memory lane and back to the time when I first interacted with ACPF. Just to put my reflection in context, organisations, though they are entities on their own, only remain vibrant and relevant because of the individuals that work there. This to me is what cut the edge for ACPF. The individuals, the passion, charisma and love for making a difference in the lives of children on the continent is the air around ACPF from the top Director down to the support staff. It just takes one interaction at any level vibe is on. If I am to describe the contribution of these individuals within ACPF this is what I would say: "Ordinary people doing extra ordinary things for children". African people driven by the spirit of pan-Africanism, leveraging opportunities and networks acquired overtime to create an African centre of excellence for policy action. The Uganda Child rights NGO Network got hooked to ACPF through the individuals in 2004. From then on, the benefits have been wide ranging from participating in policy dialogues, knowledge generation, networking opportunities, creating platforms for pursuing a collective agenda…etc. Through these opportunities, UCRNN gained knowledge and its visibility and profile at the pan African level grew tremendously.
As we look back at the decade of action and count the gains, there is need to keep and institutionalise the culture that defined the agenda, the people drive, passion and charisma. The current societal, economic and technological developments raise the stake even higher for organisational interdependency. The coming decade should therefore be informed by these experiences and guided by the notion and conviction that the challenges facing Africa's children are enormous and given that these challenges can take a geopolitical dimension, the role for ACPF cannot be over emphasized. As a leader in the pan African scene, ACPF has to continue steering the course and being the lynch pin for actors in the region. What should stand the test of time is the people culture that has been the driver in the past decade.
The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund seeks to change the way society treats its children and youth. A key strategy in our implementation is building partnerships with like minded institutions locally, nationally, regionally and continentally. For strong partnerships to be established, the willingness of the organisations is critical. ACPF has developed key analytic reports on child wellbeing in the region as well as strong monitoring tools for children's rights and wellbeing for the continent and this makes them a critical partner for any child rights organisation especially the Fund.
ACPF has been a very supportive and receptive partner of the Fund from initial contact. ACPF has been educating the continent and the globe with regards to the wellbeing of children and providing great recommendations through its numerous reports. ACPF gives a true African perspective and puts a face to the problem of children in the continent through its research and policy work. These reports constantly attest to the fact that the challenges we face in South Africa is not unique to us but similar across borders.
ACPF constantly engages with other NGOS and regional organisations like the Regional Advocacy Network for Children (RANCH) hosted by the Fund to support and strengthen the civil society's response to children's issues. Their support and willingness to share the work that they have produced continentally with the region including tailoring this work for the Southern African civil society working on children's rights is commendable.
In 10 years time it will be great to see ACPF's research and policy recommendations being used by child rights organisations all over the continent as well as policymakers. ACPF should continue to be the voice of the African child and continuously pull evidence on issues that are not being spoken about.
ACPF to me is about passion. A passion for African children and passionate about making a difference. ACPF is about being seen and heard and persevering even when the going gets tough. ACPF is definitely not about security (given their registration-less period); nor about routine work (given the abundant flow of ideas and publications); and it is not about being average (given their high self-imposed quality criteria).
I have always been impressed with the constant flow of creativity which the organisation managed to produce – let me correct that: which ACPF's staff managed to produce. Always remaining positive and open to discuss any challenge which came their way. While I have known ACPF ever since its start-up, my most intense interaction was when building a strategic partnership between ACPF and Plan International around 2010. Plan International was the seemingly 'bigger' partner and could therefore be perceived as more 'powerful'. But ACPF equaled (if not outsized) this international organization in terms of its political influence and the power to change things. And reflecting back, after all these years, what stays with me can only be expressed in the words of Margaret Meade: "Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."


text: As I'm getting ready to head to Harriman State Park in NY tomorrow morning for some winter landscape images, I found this from my trip to Promised Land State Park in PA last fall. I am excited with anticipation of what I might find at Harrimon and the seven lakes there. And this image is warming my spirit after knowing tonight's low is forecast to be in the single digits… so I might find some great frozen water opportunities tomorrow!


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"All of sudden, I was getting downloads; I would look in someone's eyes and get a download of information."
-Michael Combs, Author
Bouncing Back From a Near Death Experience
When Michael Combs was 36 years old, his heart literally stopped. He clinically died and came back to life twice in three days. Though perhaps the most miraculous thing that happened was that he gained the ability to communicate with people who have passed away.
In this episode of Resilience Radio, we explore:
- How Michael's life changed after flatlining and coming back to life.
- How he is able to communicate with departed souls.
- The 6 world records that he currently holds.
- How to find the courage to express your truth.
- How to overcome regret.
Michael Combs is an author, adventurer and artist. In 2003, he had a serious heart problem and he clinically died. The doctors told him he would not survive. But after two tenuous years of recovery, he came back with a fervor to live his life with no regrets, and a passion to encourage others to do the same.
Take a Listen!
If you like what you hear in this episode, please rate, review & subscribe on iTunes!
To assess how to leverage your thinking to overcome your obstacles, click here to take the Frame of Mind Coaching™ Assessment.


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M-CASTL Transportation Research and Education Conference
February 10, 2010
Save the date!
The 2010 Transportation Research and Education Conference, sponsored by the Michigan Center for Advancing Safe Transportation throughout the Lifespan (M-CASTL), has been set for Wednesday, April 7, at the University of Michigan.
Proposed conference sessions include the following:
- Law enforcement
- Emergency department interventions
- Medical conditions
- Commercial driver issues
- Mobility management
- Access and disparities
- Technology
- Gender differences
The conference will take place at the Michigan League, 911 N. University, Ann Arbor, Michigan. For more information, visit the M-CASTL website.


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Here are some of my favourite pieces from my wardrobe for our recent holiday to Antigua. It was pretty hot out there and we spent most days by the pool or beach. So easy throw on dresses, shorts and colour made up most of my wardrobe. We had the odd lunch out and we even managed to squeeze in a date night! I've also included swimwear…Read More
Who Made My Clothes? Fashion Revolution Week
As a fashion lover who is making more of a conscious effort to be an ethical consumer, I am beyond excited to share an exciting campaign I've been working on with Karen from @n4mummy this month! On the 6th anniversary of the Rana Plaza Bangladesh factory collapse, which killed 1,138 people and injured many more in 2013, we have been demanding greater transparency from brands.Read More
Kids Swimwear Edit
There are some amazing kid's swimwear pieces out! Yay to holiday season, beach days and sunshine! With an upcoming hot trip away I've been doing a lot of research (independents and high street) and my favourite kid's pieces this season are from M&S, Pluunge, Liewood and Cos. Bright colours, leopard print, bows and ruffles make up some of my top picks.Read More
My Next SS19 Picks
I know what shopping at Next can be like - a bit overwhelming! They do have some great pieces but they have a lot of product which means you have to sift through it all to find the gems. I hope this blog post helps share some of the 'goodies' as there are some really well priced pieces for holiday and beyond.Read More
Women's Swimwear Edit
Swimwear has started hitting the stores and websites so I thought it was time to start doing my annual round up of my favourite swim pieces. With an upcoming beach holiday (sorry) I've been on the hunt for some pieces and I'm sharing my findings with you lovely lot. It seems that belted swimsuits, textured fabrics, lace up fronts, leopard print…Read More
Spring Jackets Edit
Spring jackets - a bit of an essential in this in between weather as we wait for warmer days but maybe don't want the extra warmth of a lined wool coat still. I've been asked a few times to share some nice Spring jackets so here it is, my high street finds.Read More
Spring Dress Wishlist
Dresses, always my must have item as they are so easy to chuck on and wear, plus you can transform it with different footwear and accessories so are always a great investment piece. My number one criteria for my dream dress is one that is comfortable, secondly it must make my heart sing…Read More
5 Outfits I'm Loving in February
So February may still be pretty chilly here in the UK but I'm definitely dreaming of warmer days and choosing outfits that can work with tights and layering for now. Rainbow knits, playful accessories, animal print, sustainable denim and vintage pieces are what I'm loving in my wardrobe right now.Read More
A Quick Valentines Edit
Love is in the air! Valentines or not these pieces are for all year round so if you want to drop a hint to your loved one or simply treat yourself these are my valentine picks that bring me joy and I wanted to share the love….Read More
My Top M&S Picks for SS19
Marks & Spencer is still my favourite go to high street store and a website I look at nearly every day! I think they make good quality stylish clothes at a reasonable price. For me they always nail everyday dressing with the right level of fashion and more recently have been my favourite place for dresses and shoes. The press days they put on are always a highlight and it's so exciting to see what will be coming into stores and online in the coming months.Read More
Manifesto Woman: Sustainable Shopping
I used to do so much second hand and vintage clothes shopping when I was younger and had more time on my hands but stopped after having kids. With a new perspective and awareness on the impact of our current shopping habits it's something I'm really keen to get back into this year.Read More
5 Small Steps I'm Taking to Become a More Conscious Consumer in 2019
With a new year and a new start I wanted to share with you how I plan on working towards being a more conscious consumer this year. With our love of readily available clothing putting such a huge strain on our natural resources there are some scary statistics about the fashion industry that are really eye opening and hard to ignore.Read More
More Gorgeous Christmas Gift Ideas...
I wanted to share some more beautiful design conscious gifts for the whole family that I've had my eye on recently. I've tried to cover off as many different areas as possible - from kids to home and fashion across a variety of price points and brands. I hope this inspires you with some ideas for your Christmas shopping. I know I still have plenty to do!Read More
How I'm Styling The Sequin Skirt This Season
With party season creeping up I thought it would be a good time to share this blog post - styling a sequin skirt 5 ways. Not all of us will be brave enough (I encourage you to try it!) but you can wear a sequin skirt in the day - it can be dressed up or down which is why I love it. It's fun and versatile and has endless options in how to wear it!!Read More
Christmas Gifts: Caroline Gardner
I'm excited to announce that I recently became a brand ambassador for British boutique brand Caroline Gardner. Maybe better known for her cards and stationary, she has also more recently ventured into bags and gifting and is now a full lifestyle brand. What I love is her ethos of quality over quantity and her eye for detail and colour.Read More
12 Best Kids Unisex Christmas Pyjamas
Nothing beats a gorgeous set of kids Christmas pyjamas, so much that we wear ours all year round. I've done a round up of my top unisex festive pyjamas which I always recommend to size up to get the most wear out of then pass down to siblings or friends. I know lots of families who now have a tradition of…Read More
Christmas: My Top 10 Scout & Co Gifts for Kids
Scout & Co is one of my go to websites for beautiful design-led kids clothes and gifts. Set up by 3 mums who really know their stuff, they always deliver a lovely selection of ideas for Christmas gifts and I wanted to share my top 10 picks right here on the blog. OK, so I'm trying to not get distracted and order all the beautiful clothes but trying to think about what the kids will enjoy opening on Christmas Day…Read More
Christmas Gifts: The Slipper Edit
It's here! After many requests this is my slipper edit. Slippers make the perfect gift and yes, to open these Baboosha ones (in pic below) would be a pretty special moment… hint hint. One of the best things about this time of year is getting home and getting your comfy slippers on. I've rounded up my favourite styles…Read More
The Mamahood Christmas Gift Guide, Part 2
I'm very excited to share with you the second part of my Christmas Gift Guide in collaboration with The Mamahood - a directory of creative small brands across the UK. I hope this will bring lots of original ideas for presents for the family and encourage you to do some thoughtful planning and early purchases. Please try to avoid those last minute Amazon rushes as you never end up with the good stuff!Read More
The Mamahood Christmas Gift Guide, Part 1
Yes I know, a Christmas gift guide already! But it is November now so the countdown is on and some people do like to be organised on the present planning and buying front... So here it is my first in a series of gift guides over the next month or so. I'm very excited to be collaborating with The Mamahood and some of her talented makers on this blog post.Read More


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Thanks Phill, guess I should've done the trawling myself but I *do* appreciate it. Now it all makes sense. thnx J. > -----Original Message----- > From: Phill Jenkins [mailto:email@example.com] > Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 3:32 PM > To: Scarlett Julian (ED); email@example.com > Subject: Re: summary vs. caption > > > It is explained at http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10-HTML-TECHS/#data-tables > > <Quote> A table caption describes the nature of the table in > one to three > sentences [Phill recommends one or less] > > <quote> A summary of the relationships among cells is > especially important > for tables with nested headings, cells that span multiple > columns or rows, > or other relationships that may not be obvious from analyzing > the structure > of the table but that may be apparent in a visual rendering > of the table. A > summary may also describe how the table fits into the context of the > current document. If no caption is provided, it is even more > critical to > provide a summary.[Phill recommends the summary attribute for > common layout > tables, such as navigation layouts] > > > Regards, > Phill > > > "Scarlett Julian (ED)" <firstname.lastname@example.com>@w3.org on > 12/04/2001 06:47:40 AM > > Sent by: firstname.lastname@example.com > > > To: firstname.lastname@example.com > cc: > Subject: summary vs. caption > > > > In relation to mark up for data tables, can anyone clarify for me what > summary="blah" and <caption>blah</caption> intended to do and > if I need to > have them both. I seem to be using the same bit of text for > both and have > come to the conclusion that either I'm using one of them > incorrectly or I > should only be using one of them (but which one). > > tia > > Julian > > Julian Scarlett > Web Design & Document Management System Officer > PPU > Education Directorate > Sheffield City Council > 0114 2735721 > mob 07904914976 > firstname.lastname@example.com > The information in this email is confidential. The contents may not be disclosed or used by anyone other than the addressee. If you are not the addressee, please tell us by using the reply facility in your email software as soon as possible. Sheffield City Council cannot accept any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of this message as it has been transmitted over a public network. If you suspect that the message may have been intercepted or amended please tell us as soon as possible.Received on Tuesday, 4 December 2001 10:45:15 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Tuesday, 13 October 2015 16:21:15 UTC


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Download PDF: [S] The Last Person to Enter Jannah
In the Sahih Muslim, Musnad Imam Ahmed from Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas'ud – may Allah be pleased with him – and from Hadrat Sayyiduna Mughayrah bin Shu'bah – may Allah be pleased with him – and Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Sa'eed Khudri – may Allah be pleased with him – it is mentioned that the Holy Prophet – may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him – stated that, "Once Nabi Moosa asked the Allah Almighty, 'O my Lord, the person who will have the lowest status in Jannah what will be his condition?'"
Allah Almighty then explained the state of this person. When he is removed from the Fire of hell, he will look at it and say, "Glory be to Allah that Divine Creator Who has saved me from you and Allah Almighty has blessed me with such grace that no one before or after me has received."
He will then sit on one corner of Hell and will be able to see a tree in the distance. When he sees this tree, he will say, "O my Lord! Please take me close to that tree so that I may enjoy its shade and also drink the water near it."
Allah Almighty will ask him, "O ibn Adam! If I grace you with its shade, then certainly you will ask Me for something else."
He will reply promise that he will not ask for anything more. He will then be placed near this tree. He will then continue to sit under the tree and eat its fruit and enjoy its shade and water. Suddenly, at a distance, he will notice another tree which seems more better than the one under which he is in.
He will then ask, "O my Lord, take me nearer t othat tree so that I can enjoy its water and sit under its shade. I swear by Your Greatness that besides this, I will not ask for anything more."
The Allah Almighty will declare, "O Ibn Adam! Did you not make a promise to Me that after this tree you will not ask for anything else?"
He will say that besides this, he will not ask for anything else. Allah Almighty will then place him near this tree. He will then notice another tree which is near the door of Jannah and obviously, he will not be able to hold himself back. He will then ask Allah Almighty to place him near that tree so that he can enjoy its shade and water and that after this, he will never ask for anything. Again Allah Almighty will ask him that he had promised never to ask for anything more.
When he approaches the third tree, he will be able to notice Jannah in front of him. He will be able to listen to the sounds coming from Jannah and will be able to see the rewards of Jannah. He will be able to see the mansions and palaces and its gardens, etc. He will continue to look at all of these and finally, he will not be able to make Sabr and will ask Allah Almighty to allow him to enter Jannah.
Allah Almighty will declare, "O ibn Adam! What will be able to stop you asking for anything? Are you happy that the entire world be given to you and even more than this is also given?"
The person will say, "O Allah! Are you joking with me even though You are the Owner of everything."
The person will then be ordered to enter Jannah. When he enters Jannah, he will have the impression that all of Jannah is filled with people.
He will then say, "O my Lord! How is this possible that everyone has taken everything and have also taken their share?"
Allah Almighty will then ask him whether he wishes to own the same which a king in the world owns. He will say that this is what he wants. Allah Almighty will then inform him that he has given him so much. In fact, it will be five times more than what he had asked for. Finally, he will say that he is happy with whatever he has received.


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Let your Websphere Liberty profile communicate to TXSeries using CICS transaction Gateway
jitheshmoothoor 27000179DA Visits (4974)
You can use these steps to configure TXSeries with Websphere Liberty using CICS Transaction gateway.
you need to store the IPIC server definitions in the configuration file (ctg.ini).
SECTION IPICSERVER = IPICSRV # Arbitrary name for the server
Description = IPIC Server # Arbitrary description for the server
Hostname = 10.10.11.11 # The server's TCP/IP name or IPv4 or IPv6
Port = 22222 # The listening TCPIPSERVICE port in CICS
TcpKeepAlive = Y # Set the TCP KEEPALIVE Socket option
Ssl = N # Enable Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
SrvIdleTimeout = 0 # Time in minutes to keep idle connections open
ConnectTimeout = 60 # Time in seconds to wait for CICS to respond
SrvRetryInterval = 60 # Connection retry interval in seconds
SendSessions = 100 # Number of simultaneous conversations
ECITimeout = 300 # Time in seconds to wait for CICS to respond
# cat /etc/services | grep 22222
CICSIPIC 22222/tcp


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Hot Young Bloods
The first 2014 Sally approved Korean film has passed by. '12 and '13 ones that hit my chart included A Werewolf Boy, Miracle in Cell No.7, The Thieves, and All About My Wife. Hot Young Bloods attracted me, obviously, because of Lee Jong Suk and Park Bo Young. I mean, after fan-girling over I Hear Your Voice and A Werewolf Boy, who would be able to resist the combination.
Promise no spoilers. #delinquint,#casanova,#meangirls,#highschool,#romance#comedy (set in South ChungCheong Province of South Korea in the 1980s). You get the gist. Anyway, long story short, I loved the movie.
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Cruciflicks Partners With CFDb
Cruciflicks just announced their partnership with us and we thought we would pass along the information as well! Here is what they wrote about us!
We're very pleased to announce that the Christian Film Database is now linking to nearly every film review that we have available. Basically, if you go to christianfilmdatabase.com and search for, say, "Joyful Noise" and click on the "Film Reviews" button, you'll see a nifty little logo that will direct you to our take for the movie.
Eventually, all of our reviews will be shared with their site, but it'll take a little time to get everything sorted out.
If you've never visited the Christian Film Database before, you're in for a treat. Their slogan of "The Most Extensive Database of Christian Movies/Films Ever" is dead on. We have yet to find a web site that features more information about so many different faith-based titles than these guys. Be sure to check them out.
In other news, we're working on adding a few more features to Cruciflicks, so be sure to check back often to see what's going on.
For "Joyful Noise" Review on Cruciflicks!
You'll find their reviews a little different than others! We are hoping you'll appreciate their honesty!
As far as the time it will take to get everything sorted out, the key is the word TIME!
Some of you may not know this but CFDb used to look entirely different, a whole different format.
When we switched over to WordPress, the 1,500 films we had listed basically disappeared. We have had to add all the films from the old database to the new database, one at a time and listing even one film can be quite time consuming. We are still in the process of adding the films from the old to the new and this is what is taking so much time for us. Some of the films that Cruciflicks has already reviewed are still in our old database. We plan on working as fast as we can to get all the films listed that deserve to be listed. We apologize for the inconvenience.


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Click here to see more Bonsai Trees
A classic bonsai tree forest will brighten any room, and will make a great conversation piece. A well placed
bonsai plant will become a focal point, giving the entire room a more relaxed casual feeling. The tranquility of a bonsai
tree will have a calming effect, a great way to unwind after a hard day, or provide a quiet moment of meditation
before bedtime.
Variegated Elm (ulmus 'kimmie')
Alberta Spruce (picea glauca conica)
Coniferous (cone bearing) slow growing pyramidal evergreen, with bushy deep green needle foliage. Hardy
to -40F. Keep outdoors. 3 tree group, each 7 years old. 15"x10"x19". Potted in a 14" ceramic brown oval container as shown.
Suitable 14.5"x10.5" humidity tray is recommended. To purchase add $11.95 (50% off regular price with tree order). Shipped
via UPS ground - $49.95.
Flowering Pink Serissa (Serissa Foetida)
Beautiful pink, rose-shaped miniature flowers. This sub-tropical evergreen imported from Japan, blooms profusely
with pink or double pink flowers. Small foliage. Excellent for beginner. 5 years old 6" tall Suitable 6" x 8" humidity tray
is recommended. To purchase add $2.95 (50% off regular price with tree order). Shipping UPS 2-3 Days: $10.95.


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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of piano lessons?
Because playing piano requires learning both the treble and bass clefs, piano is the perfect foundational instrument for establishing musical literacy for all of one's life. Learning piano helps students become well-rounded individuals who enjoy playing music. In addition, the character of discipline and perseverance, which are developed through practicing piano, are applicable in other areas of a student's life.
Additional benefits include:
- improved academic skills
- development of physical skills
- refines discipline and patience
- boosts self-esteem
What ages do you teach?
We offer piano lessons to students ages 3 1/2 through adult. We enjoy introducing the building blocks of music to very young children as well as guiding and encouraging older students in their musical study.
What music experience do you offer?
At Kristen's piano studio we enjoy offering many opportunities to my students. We often prepare students for ADMTA theory tests, piano festivals, and Suzuki workshops. All our students enjoy performing in a studio recital each semester.
Will Kristen's Piano Studio supply the instrument?
Students must have an instrument available for practice between their lessons. An acoustic piano is preferable over an electric piano or keyboard. Need a piano? Please contact us and I would be happy to assist you.
Do students need an instrument at home?
Yes, students must have a piano at home. We encourage students to practice playing the piano at home.


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Last month I returned to New York for the Architectural Digest Home Show--one of my favorite trade shows of all time. For some of us, the show is partially a writer/blogger/design nut reunion and partially an annual primer in where both practical and aspirational design is headed. To me, this is one of the few large-scale design trade events in the United States that pays proper homage to what really draws each individual in to the pleasures of aesthetics. The corporate conglomerate is on the same floor as the mixed-media artist who is working his or her way through local and regional galleries. It's a perfect and exhausting blend that I hope will keep the same constitution through the years.
Over the next few weeks I'll be highlighting some of the people and brands I scouted in March, but in the meantime here's a visual summary of the show experience.
Lori Morris Design provided a visual display that stopped everyone in their tracks. The display's centerpiece was an amazing floral design by Preston Bailey, which was a testament to "art for the sake of the good and the beautiful," to borrow from George Sand, the 19th century French writer.
The Marys & Mimosas media and blogger event, sponsored by Modenus, has become an AD Show tradition. Writers and bloggers are invited to kick the show off with a cocktail at 10am, before the floor opens to the trade and the public. What a way to start a day!
Veronika Miller (far right), the force behind Modenus, has a way of making everyone feel as though she's known them forever. This unique trait has brought so many design bloggers together into a chain of friendship that spans the globe thanks to the brand's BlogTour, which is currently having a ball in Milan.
Alison Cooley; Luctor Et Emergo; watercolor on paper; 22 x 30 inches. image via thetappancollective.com
If you're looking for resources to build your art collection, bookmark The Tappan Collective, an online platform started by University of Michigan alumna Jordan Klein and Chelsea Neman. The duo has built an impressive reputation for connecting promising emerging artists with collectors who have discerning eyes and intelligent taste.
This year I was introduced to Gaggenau for the first time via an industry party/cooking demonstration the company was kind enough to invite me to. The German kitchen appliance brand celebrates a "return to traditional production methods, linked to a quest for original authentic food is becoming an important influence in the culinary world." The culinary demonstration and tasting by Chef Mark Ladner (Del Posto) was as wonderful to taste as it was to see, and I now have a brand on the brain that celebrates the ways in which many genres of the arts intersect in the quest for quality and careful thought.
Hopefully these images whet your appetite for more to come!
All photographs are my own unless othewise noted


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Download Source file :- CDR V11 | Illustrator CS | WMF | SVG | EPS
Artwork Colors are in CMYK format.
I am not a IT Certified guy, so please excuse my mistakes.
For speeding up WordPress blog you need not to be a IT Guru because we are not going to write codes, only need knowledge and rights for installing software and some straight habit of reading documents is enough.
So how exactly we are going to increase speed of our blog and why we need CirruxCache and GAE, the answer is CDN. Typically our websites are hosted on a single web server with a very few mirror web servers at different locations but mostly mirror servers are used as a backup solution. In case of CDN it have many more servers situated around earth probably one in your city, CDN is a cache server it makes copy's of website's static contents and CirruxCache is a Python application used to Automatically cache static contents of our site to Google App engine to use as CDN server. NOTE:Google App Engine is not a CDN server but we are going to use it as CDN because of its speed and Cloud based System.
When someone visit our website in case single web server visitors computer request/loads all website contents from our central web server and if distance between visitor and server is far across oceans then digital data need to travel through the submarine cables with lots of routes resulting delay in website content loading. (more…)


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Grand Opening Present Ideas
Is the top online organization news and info portal in Kenya owned by Media A single International. I required new stream of earnings rapidly, and did not have time to wait although company got established.Greater off with second job, as although it was good to have a dream, It would not pay my bills way's concepts of successes based on dreams, and not on reality as it existed for me then.
Put and add in the paper for your cleaning business and clarify what solutions you offer and a telephone quantity that you can be reached at. If you are not by your phone all the time, have an answering machine or voice mail with a skilled sounding message.
The enterprise rule that is applied with this evaluation is to accept all projects or investments where the NPV of cash flows is greater than zero – so we're hunting for constructive compares the worth of a dollar today to the worth of that same dollar in the future, taking inflation and returns into account.
Hello, i am really interested in putting equivalent business but my dilemma is how to actually start it. thats why im lookin for a possible supplier and business to whom i could get support from…please send me all packages and information reagrding this organization.
Anyway, moral of the story is, don't what you happen to be signing up for, ask query to individuals who are not part of your prospective upline, from a diverse territory possibly who do not stand to advantage from you signing up. Like I mentioned, every single business like this functions the identical.
IT is an innovation engine of any business in the digital era: To equip folks with the most current technology and details, visionary IT leaders re-think about IT as an innovation hub, but an innovative IT can only come about if IT is regarded as a strategic organization companion and offered the function in catalyzing innovation and driving the business transformation.
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