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Here you can define the transparency. If the material has a color, the color is automatically reduced with increasing transparency. The equation is: color percentage + transparency percentage = 100%. So a white material with 0% transparency is white (100%). A white material with 50% transparency is 50% white (gray). A white material with 100% transparency has no color.
You can load a texture as a transparency map using the three dots button. The brighter a pixel in the transparency map, the more transparent the corresponding region of the material. A transparency texture is similar to a photographic slide: Red parts of the slide allow only red light to pass through; white parts allow all light through. With black, no light can pass through the slide.
You can use a transparent material with a light source to create a light map or gel (look up gels). If a transparent texture is assigned to a light source, the light will be filtered according to the texture's coloration, just like a real gel.
You can specify a color on most of the material channel pages using a color chooser.
The Brightness value defines the brightness of the above-mentioned color and thus its transparency.
Here you will find numerous refraction presets that automatically apply the correct Refraction value. These are the same presets that can be found in the Reflectance channel's Fresnel function.
Objects that are not closed, such as a hemisphere without a cap, can give unexpected results with refraction. See Figures 1 to 3. In the figures, the Refraction value is represented by the character n.
When a ray hits a closed surface (Figure 1) with transparency and refraction, the ray is bent to simulate refraction. The bent ray is considered to be inside the object. When the ray reaches another surface of the object (the exit side), it is bent back as in real life.
However, if the object is open, the ray may not hit a second surface of the object (Figure 2). Thus the ray may not be bent back and the refraction effect may be inaccurate.
For this reason, ensure that all transparent surfaces in the scene are closed (Figure 3).
If the Fresnel Reflectivity value is larger than 0% the viewing angle — the angle between the camera and the surface — will be taken into account. If you observe a real pane of glass with your eyes parallel to the pane (i.e. with a 90 degree viewing angle), you will notice that the pane barely reflects, almost all light passes through. However, look at the pane from a narrow viewing angle and you will see that it reflects much more of its surroundings. The transparency and reflection values are dependent on the viewing angle.
The Fresnel option simulates this phenomenon for you.
Note that the reflective properties (Roughness, Anisotropic, etc.) can be fine-tuned using the Reflectance channel's * Transparency * setting.
For example, provided Fresnel Reflectivity is set to 100%, if you set transparency with RGB values of 80%, 80%, 80%, the material is 80% transparent and 0% reflective when the viewing angle is 90 degrees. With a very low viewing angle, the material is approximately 0% transparent and 80% reflective. If you have entered a reflection value in addition to transparency, the reflection value is added to the angle-dependent reflection.
If the Fresnel Reflectivity value is larger than 0% the transparency and reflection values are used as they are irrespective of the viewing angle.
As soon as a reflection meets a surface after being refracted through glass one of two slightly different reflections can be calculated - ones that result when they enter glass and those that exit the glass. A single reflection is often visually the most appealing one (even if it is in fact false). To achieve this effect, disable the Exit Reflections option.
Fresnel Reflectivity [0..100%]
The Fresnel Reflectivity controls the strength of the Fresnel reflections (see Figure 4).
Note the Fresnel Shader, which offers additional settings.
Usually, if the material has a color, the color is automatically reduced with increasing transparency. This can help to ensure a realistic effect. However, if you don't want this automatic behavior to take place, you can enable the Additive option.
Here an image texture or a 2D shader can be defined. Refer to the Textures chapter for details.
Use these parameters to mix the color and texture panes using one of four modes. The default mode for all channels is Normal, except for the Environment page, which uses Multiply as the default mode. Not all channels have Mix settings. If you load a texture or a 2D shader, it is placed on a layer above the color (i.e. the texture is placed on top of the color).
In normal mode, the Mix Strength sets the opacity of the texture. If the value is set to 100%, you will see the texture only (remember, the texture is the top layer, so if it is opaque you will not see the color underneath). If the value is set to 70%, the result is 70% of the texture and 30% of the color.
For example, if a texture pixel of RGB 255/0/0 (red) is used with a color value of RGB 255/255/0 (yellow) with the Mix Strength set to 50%, the resultant color is 255/128/0 (orange).
The texture's RGB value is added to the color's RGB value.
No values will be clamped (e.g., to 255/255/255)
The color's RGB value is subtracted from the texture's RGB value. Thus if a texture pixel is RGB 255/255/255 (white) and the color value is 255/0/0 (red), subtracting with Mix Strength set to 100% gives the result 0/255/255 (cyan).
The RGB value of the texture is multiplied by the RGB value of the color. For example RGB 255/128/0 (orange) multiplied by RGB 0/255/0 (green) results in RGB 0/128/0 (dark green).
Mix Strength defines the mixing proportion between the texture and color panes or between the brightness and transparency (depending on which mode is selected) of the texture to be mixed.
When light enters a transparent medium it weakens and changes color to one degree or another (glass is very rarely completely colorless). The thicker the material the weaker the light becomes as it passed through (glass is not completely transparent). These effects can be emulated in Cinema 4D using the following two parameters. In the following the term Color refers to the Color parameter at the top of the Transparency channel.
The Absorption Color is the color that is multiplied by the Color when a "ray of light" has travelled the distance defined in the Absorption Distance (next parameter) parameter.
The Transparency channel then has two colors. These are defined as follows:
When creating glass you will almost always set the Color to white, but not always:
Modeling glasses filled with fluid
The best way to model glasses filled with fluid in them is to model the fluid and the glass separately. The fluid object should extend slightly into the glass object. In the case of normal, off-the-shelf glasses (modeled using Splines, each placed into a Lathe object) this would look like:
Absorbing, concave objects can be created without using the Boole Object by making the concave object a Child of the larger object and assigning it an absorption material.
Use this setting to define the distance rays of light have to travel before Absorption is completely multiplied with the Color. The lower the value the more intense the Absorption Color will be, even for thin glass. A value of 0 will turn Absorption off completely.
You can blur the transparency using the Blurriness, Min Samples, Max Samples and Accuracy settings. The Dispersion value defines the strength of blur for the transparency. 0% means no blur. Increase the value to increase the strength of blur.
If you're wondering why transparent regions are still displayed so clearly despite the activated blurriness effect (i.e., when Total Internal Reflection is enabled), the blurriness effect can be defined for total reflection in the Reflectance material channel without this channel having to be activated.
Min Samples [1..10000]
Max Samples [1..10000]
These parameters will only be available if Blurriness is set to a value higher than 0%.
Increasing Min Samples and/or Max Samples gives a higher quality blur, but a longer render time also.
Cinema 4D uses samples to create the blur effect. Rather than take samples at even distances, the samples are concentrated where they are most needed. Max Samples defines the number of samples used for the most important areas. Min Samples defines the number of samples used for the least important areas.
If you see black areas when rendering overlapping transparency objects, increase the Ray Depth value on the Options page of the render settings. If you can't see weak reflections in the render, ensure that Threshold is set to 0%. You will also find this parameter on the Options page of the render settings.
This parameter will only be available if Dispersion is set to a value higher than 0%.
Increasing the Accuracy value gives a more accurate blur, but a longer render time also.
Affects the accuracy of the blur effect by controlling the number of samples per shading point. With a value of 100%, the maximum number of samples defined under Max Samples will be used in critical areas. Lower the value to reduce the number of samples used.


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Hazel Hutchins. Illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Volume 19 Number 1
It was a rainy day and Nicholas, instead of having twenty-three friends over to play with, went to the library with his mother. Nicholas liked libraries. Where else could he find enough books to build his forts?
Today, however, was different. Hiding behind the O section was a chimpanzee - "the lost-story kind of chimpanzee." Together with the head librarian, guided by the Head Librarians' Manual and wearing the librarians' emergency ring, Nicholas searches through every book in the library for the chimpanzee's home. With difficulty, Nicholas returns the chimpanzee to his story and discovers the joy of reading.
This coming-ofage book is for "everyone who ever read a child a book." There is a magic moment when children discover that books and reading are an adventure rather than a chore to be endured. Hazel Hutchins has captured this moment in a whimsical book appealing to the reader and the listener. Ruth Ohi's water-colour illustrations, as bright and imaginative as the story, contribute to the enjoyment of the reader and listener.
An unfortunate error in the text is somewhat jarring, but did not lessen either my or my children's enjoyment of the book.
Highly recommended.
Marsha Kaiserman, Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information, Ottawa, ON.
1971-1979 | 1980-1985 | 1986-1990 | 1991-1995
The materials in this archive are copyright © The Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission Copyright information for reviewers
Young Canada Works

subset: commoncrawl


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My little list of how to get that motivation back on track! :
1. Motivation posts! Look in Weheartit, Pinterest (not really a pinterest fan, I'm more weheartit haha), or just simply google "motivation quotes" or "motivational photos". you can also look in instagram to get inspiration! I love this. I do it very rare today, but before I could sit hours and look and inspirational and motivational posts to get my mood back up again!
2. Motvation videos! There is a lot of good videos on youtube, where you can find nice videos that gives you a lot ofgood thoughts in your head. And that gives you really something to think about! Just google motivation videos.
3. See a friend! I mean. How nice isn.t it to just see a friend over a dinner and then to talk about things like this? About how to get motivated, how to make school better, your work better, how to manage to do the things you need to do when you really feel like not doing it?
4. Brainstorm! Start brainstorming and write down things that makes you happy in life. And like this you will see what things are maybe missing in your life, or what things you can put more time in to doing.
What d oyou do when you want your motivation back?


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Tree Fruit
Time of Application
Lime and fertilizer materials, except for N, may be applied anytime during the year. Apply N four to six weeks before bloom. Additions of manganese, zinc, or copper may be applied as dormant sprays and boron sprays may be applied during bloom or petal fall or after the fruit has been harvested but while the leaves are still active.
If soil test is for a pre-plant situation, the pH should be adjusted to a minimum of 18 inches. This means it will be necessary to take a soil sample at the 8 to 12 inch depth and one at the 12 to 18 inch depth.
To obtain the maximum benefit from a soil testing program in your orchard, it is best to take soil and leaf analysis from the same block during the same year. The comparison of both results will give the best picture of nutritional status of your orchard. Contact your local county Extension office for information on the proper method and timing of leaf analysis.
Soil nutrient levels exceeding crop needs can be as bad as deficient levels. High soil nutrient levels not only might represent an economic loss, but they may also result in crop, animal or environmental problems. Very high P levels (above about 310 lbs P2O5/acre or 140lbs P/acre) in the soil may lead to nutrient deficiencies, especially of iron and zinc. If K, Mg and/or Ca levels are high, serious nutrient imbalances can occur. When K levels are above about 5% saturation; Mg levels 15%; and Ca levels 80%, soil nutrition is beginning to get out of the optimum range. Use best management practices to avoid increasing nutrient levels that exceed crop needs.


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Now wey the Red Devils dey prepare to face Sevilla on Tuesday night for UEFA Champions League, the thing wey dey everybody mind na whether Marcus Rashford fit continue hin mad form.
The English international bin turn the mighty Liverpool to pit latrin as e score two goals against dem. Now wey Pogba and Martial still dey injured, Rashford don step up as e dey carry the team on shoulder. We dey pray make e pieces Sevilla, so Manchester United fit advance to the UCL quarter-final.


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Elephant Ferociously Charges Man On Bike To Protect His Family Passing Through
protective of their families. They travel in herds and the older elephants are responsible for looking out for the little ones, which they do at any cost.Elephants are kind, gentle giants, and in most situations, these herbivores wouldn't hurt a fly. But for as sweet as these creatures can be, they are extremely
Given that we know how gentle they can be, it is pretty darn hard to imagine one of these gentle giants chase down a man down a street, but when it comes to the safety of the herd, being in an elephant's path is the last place you want to find yourself in. That might be why this terrifying footage from photographer Jasoprakas Debdas instantly went viral because that's exactly where this poor soul found himself.
The clip shows a man riding his bicycle on a road somewhere in India and a massive elephant right at his tail, chasing him down. The man is furiously pedaling the bike, peeking over his shoulder to see how close his "attacker" is. Luckily, just as he zooms out of the frame, the elephant slows down on his charge and the man escapes the frightening situations safely.
So, what exactly caused a usually friendly creature to charge and potentially injure this cyclist? After the elephant has made certain that the coast is clear, he turns back around and walks back towards the bushes, where a group of females and their young emerge, to cross the road.


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Our amazing fashion week photographer Mark Leibowitz is having an exhibition in NYC this week that features some of his stunning shots from backstage at the John Galliano runway show. The shots are electric, moody and filled with candy-colored hues--as every fashion day dream should be. Since his work allows him an up-close-and-personal perspective on those glitzy, high-fashion moments, we asked him to talk about what it's * really* like to work with runway models, season after season. Trust me, some of his insights may surprise you...
Plume__5 Things You Might Not Know About Runway Models (Courtesy of Mark Leibowitz): __
1. While their lives may seem glamorous, models get homesick sometimes too.
*Most models at the shows are between 15 and 23 years old. For many, it's their first time away from home and while mom or dad may join them on the road (Chanel Iman's mother went with her to almost every show this season), it's a long time to be away from your own bed and a home-cooked meal. As for me, I'm 32 and still miss my mom, dad, sister and dog when I'm on the road (a month straight) for the shows. *
__2. Models have names--and it's not Honey, Sweetie or Lovely __
This may seem obvious but in the backstage scene, some people overlook this. I'd actually say that well over 50% of the time, models are just referred to as "sweetheart," "darling," or some variation. I make an effort to learn everyone's name. After all, which would you prefer: "Charlotte, may I please take your picture" or "Hey sweetie! We're gonna shoot some pics of you now, K?"
3. We might think they're flawless, but they've got insecurities like the rest of us.
Backstage at Paul & Joe several of the models were in cute, but short skirts. They tugged self-consciously every thirty seconds as the hemlines refused to stay down. And I've seen more than a few models—after scraping off their thick runway makeup—apply a little zit-hiding concealer or foundation before going out in public.
4. Modeling is really hard on your feet but they take it in stride.__
While I personally have not tried walking down a lacquered runway in 5-inch heels that are two sizes too small for my feet, I can image it must be pretty painful. At a recent show here in Paris the factory made a "small mistake" and all of the girls shoes were cut two sizes to small for them. Watching them run to the closest chair to take the shoes off afterward, I could see the anguish on their faces.
- It's not as catty and competitive as it's portrayed.__
Most of the models I know develop a quick camaraderie with each other and welcome new girls to their ranks---and there's no mean-girl hazing involved. I believe most models remember the feeling of their first season and take the newbies under their wings. During the chaos and frenzy of fashion week it's nice to see them support and care for one another.
*Revolution *
See, told you they were refreshing! And speaking of...the proceeds from Mark's gorgeous shots will go to benefit The African Millennium Foundation, a non-profit which supports social and economic empowerment strategies for African woman, and B Lab, a corporate accountability organization. Mark's exhibition travels to San Franciso next, so West Coasters should keep an eye out! For more info, check out Mark Leibowitz Backstage.
Which shot do you like best? Do any of the factoids about the backstage scene surprise you? Do you get a kick out of seeing backstage photos? (I do!)


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Representatives from the four partners of the MOSAIKON initiative—the Getty Conservation Institute, the Getty Foundation, ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property), and ICCM (International Committee for the Conservation of Mosaics)—convened at the Getty Center in January 2017 for a three-day meeting to discuss the initiative's achievements to date and the progress made toward its goal of improving the conservation and management of archaeological mosaics in the southeastern Mediterranean region. The MOSAIKON partners also engaged in strategic planning, identifying follow-up activities to solidify gains made in the last eight years.
Since 2008 MOSAIKON has directly engaged and impacted over two hundred practitioners and cultural heritage professionals from the region. Activities have included multiple training programs for conservation technicians of both in situ and lifted mosaics, archaeological site managers, and museum professionals, at both national and regional levels. These courses offered practical approaches to the conservation and management of archaeological sites with mosaics and helped create a robust and dynamic community of practitioners.
Additionally, a model field project and research into improved backing techniques for lifted mosaics have provided sustainable methodologies and an approach to practice focused on the use of locally available and affordable materials and resources. Further research, centered on protective sheltering for archaeological sites, will result in publication of a technical handbook to guide practitioners through the sheltering process.
Grants from the Getty Foundation have allowed ICCM to broaden its geographical reach and deepen its impact in the region, thus reinforcing the regional professional network and creating stronger links to the international community of mosaic heritage and conservation practitioners. MOSAIKON has also expanded access to conservation resources by making ICCM conference proceedings available online for free and undertaking Arabic translations of seminal conservation literature. Forthcoming online didactic course materials will further increase dissemination of MOSAIKON's work and encourage information sharing.
As the MOSAIKON initiative draws to a close in 2018, its partners are focused on measures to ensure the sustainability of these achievements into the future.


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Johnston High (JHS) Class of 2009 Alumni List
Help us Update the Johnston High 2009 Class List by adding any names missing from the list below:
Registered Alumni
2009 Class List
Know Johnston High Class of 2009 graduates that are NOT on this List? Help us Update the 2009 Class List by adding missing names.
Reunions and Johnston High School News
More 2009 alumni from Johnston HS Johnston, RI have posted profiles on Classmates.com®. Click here to register for free at Classmates.com® and view other 2009 alumni.
If you are trying to find people that graduated in '09 at Johnston HS in Johnston, RI, check the alumni list below that shows the class of 2009.
If you are a Johnston alumn, we encourage you to register and be sure to sign up for the alumni newsletter.


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What to look for in a Real Estate Agent. How do you select the members of your team who are going to help you make your dream of owning a home a reality? What should you be looking for? How do you know if you've found the right agent or lender?
The most important characteristic that you should be looking for in your Real Estate Agent is someone who is going to take the time to really educate you on the choices available to you and your ability to buy in today's market.
As Dave Ramsey, the financial guru, advises:
"When getting help with money, whether it's insurance, real estate or investments, you should always look for someone with the heart of a teacher, not the heart of a salesman."
Do your research
Ask your friends and family for recommendations of professionals whom they have used in the past and have had good experiences with.
Look for members of your team who will be honest and trustworthy; after all, you will be trusting them with helping you make one of the biggest financial decisions of your life.
Whether this is your first or fifth time buying a home, you want to make sure that you have an agent who is going to have the tough conversations with you, not just the easy ones. If your offer isn't accepted by the seller, or they think that there may be something wrong with the home that you've fallen in love with, you would rather know what they think than make a costly mistake.
According to a Consumer Housing Trends Study, millennials have already started to prefer a more hands-on approach to their real estate experience:
"While older generations rely on real estate agents for information and expertise, millennials expect real estate agents to become trusted advisers and strategic partners."
Look for someone to invest in your family's future with you. You want an agent who isn't focused on the transaction but is instead focused on helping you understand the process while helping you find your dream home.
Bottom Line
In this world of Google searches, where it seems like all the answers are just a mouse-click away, you need an agent who is going to educate you and share the information that you need to know before you even know you need it.
About the author:
"What to Look for in Your Real Estate Team": was provided by Art Di Segna, a recognized leader in his field. Art can be contacted via email at firstname.lastname@example.com by phone at (281) 415-5888 or Contact Me on this site. Art has helped hundreds of people move in and around many Houston towns for the last 14+ years.
Thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!
I specialize in working with buyers in the following areas: Houston, Cypress, Tomball, Magnolia, Conroe, Huntsville, Point Blank, Lake Livingston area, Onalaska, Cape Royale, Cold Spring, Blanchard, Trinity, Woodville Texas.
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To our valued partners,
In an effort to say thank you for your valued loyalty, Vijilan is offering a unique referral opportunity to the benefit of both the referrer and the referred.
As one of our partners, if you refer another MSP Vijilan will credit your account to the value of $200 which may be used against your next invoice. For the referred MSP, Vijilan will offer a credit which will provide one month's free access to our world-class 24/7 monitoring and security service.
Please note that if you refer an MSP no other partner can refer that MSP. Thus, if you refer an MSP, no one else may refer the same MSP.
Please contact us if you have any further enquiries.
2400 E Commercial Blvd Suite 430 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
Copyright 2017 Vijilan Security, LLC. All Rights Reserved.


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Read this in: 3 minutes
The bleak mid winter is the perfect time to give your skin some much needed TLC
After a tireless round of over–indulgence, late nights and one too many glasses of Champagne, it's no surprise that the stresses and strains of the festive period start to show. We asked the beauty team from Harvey Nichols Birmingham for their best resolutions to help us recapture our glow.
1: REMOVE YOUR MAKEUP: Beauty's golden rule – take everything off at the end of every day! Go to bed with left over makeup still on your face and those clogged pores create the ideal environment for a breakout.
We love: Sisley Eau Efficace makeup remover, £73.
2: EXFOLIATE: Get deep down and dirty with a powerhouse cleanser. Exfoliating helps to not only remove dead cells but also allow new ones to appear, leaving you with skin that's as soft as a baby's proverbial.
We love: Natura Bisse C+C vitamin scrub, £55.
3: MOISTURISE: Ploughing hydration back into your skin is essential, especially at this time of the year. As well as making sure you drink copious amounts of water, look for products that offer plenty of fluid as well.
We love: Dr Jackson's Skin Cream 01, £80.
4: FIGHT THE WRINKLES: As the cold weather leaves our skin more dried out, it's easy to spot wrinkles and fine lines …. ones that no amount of makeup can hide. Opt for an innovative anti-ageing formula that reduces the appearance of wrinkles while smoothing and plumping skin.
We love: Estee Lauder Perfectionist [CP+R] wrinkle lifting serum, £76.
5: SHOW YOUR HAIR SOME LOVE: Your crowning glory may well be looking a little lacklustre as you kick start the new year – signs that your skin isn't the only victim of the cold weather. Look for products that will boost your barnet, rejuvenate brittle and damaged hair, and leave you with a silky smooth finish.
We love: Dr Hauschka Revitalising Hair & Scalp Tonic, £18.50.
6: UPDATE YOUR BEAUTY REGIME: Perhaps you've been using a favourite moisturiser for the last couple of years, but as your skin ages you do need to try out new formulas more suited to your age group.
We love: Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50, £61.30.
All the above products are available from the beauty department at Harvey Nichols Birmingham.


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Robert Douglas Spedden (November 19th 1905 - August 8th, 1915) was a first class passenger onboard RMS Titanic. He was portrayed in the movie by Thomas Fiss in an uncredited performance.
When Jack Dawson snuck onto the first-class deck in search of Rose, he sees a young boy playing with a top as his father looks on. This scene is based on a famous photograph taken aboard Titanic by Father Francis Browne. While they are distracted, he seizes the father's coat. After the ship is hit by an iceberg, it is revealed the coat was reported missing by the trio, inadvertently condemning Jack to be detained on E deck for his crime despite pleading he was only borrowing it.
Douglas and his father Frederic O. Spedden survived the sinking in Lifeboat 3, but the boy died three years later in an auto accident in Maine, one of the first recorded in the state.
His story became the subject of a 1994 book called Polar the Titanic Bear, told through the eyes of his beloved Steiff bear, Polar.


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The GlassFish 4 server bundled with NetBeans is automatically configured the first time you run the project. This means any required resources are set up dynamically based on the current state of the project. All such properties are copied to the
glassfish-resources.xml file in the
setup directory, as shown in the following screenshot:
glassfish-resources.xml file was modified during the database reverse engineering process to include the database connection pool and JDBC resources required by JPA. As a result, the contents of this file define the required GlassFish connection pool details.
It is important to understand ...
No credit card required


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Hayley Williams voted rock's hottest lady
Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams has won the Sexiest Female award at the Shockwaves NME Awards in London tonight (February 25).
The award means that Williams has been voted officially more sexy than the likes of former Long Blondes singer Kate Jackson and The Kills' Alison Mosshart.
The full list of nominees for Sexiest Female were:
Hayley Williams
Kate Jackson
Alison Mosshart
Lykke Li
Stephanie Dosen
For complete coverage from this year's Shockwaves NME Awards, including news, photo galleries, video interviews and live blogs straight from the ceremony at the O2 Academy Brixton, head to our awards index at NME.COM/awards now.
Plus NME Radio is broadcasting live straight from the awards – tune in via Sky Channel 0184, Virgin Media 975, Freesat 727 or NME.COM/radio. NME TV will also have highlights and interviews from the awards, head to NME.COM/nmetv for the full schedule.
There will also be a highlights show on Channel 4 on Friday (February 27) at 7.30pm (GMT) and on Saturday (28) at 10.55am.
Meanwhile, get this week's issue of NME – on UK newsstands now – for an exclusive covers CD featuring this year's Godlike Geniuses, The Cure. The awards review issue itself will be on the shelves from next Wednesday (March 4), boasting exclusive interviews, photos and more.
The Cure will headline the Shockwaves NME Awards Big Gig at the O2 Arena in London on February 26, with NME.COM again bringing you full coverage.


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Dressing up in costumes is always fun. But dressing up in homemade peacock costumes for girls and women is even more fun. Especially since when you make peacock costumes at home, you get dressed in a unique attire. DIY peacock costumes are the only way to ensure that nobody else will wear one fancy dress like yours.
Homemade peacock costumes for Mardi Gras masquerade party
Table of Contents
- Homemade peacock costumes for Mardi Gras masquerade party
- Corset homemade peacock costume for women
- Homemade peacock costume for girls
- Handmade peacock dress costume out of cardboard
- Peacock masks and costume accessories
- Shop for more peacock accessories for homemade fancy dresses amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "holly-day-new-20"; amzn_assoc_search_bar_position = "top"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_title = ""; amzn_assoc_default_search_phrase = "Peacock accessories"; amzn_assoc_default_category = "All"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "3a5f94f6d8594c3eefc5fbf1526ba52f";
Of course, everyone dresses up at Mardi Gras and that's where some of the costumes could get very interesting. DIY peacock costumes have become more popular and homemade peacock costumes for girls and women are definitely easy to make. All it takes is a bit of imagination and sewing/gluing skills. There are many variations on how to make your own peacock costume at home, so let's look at some here.
Corset homemade peacock costume for women
One first option is for you to make peacock costumes for women. In order to make this fancy dress, you'll need some elements that you can find in any good online store. These will enable you to create a homemade peacock costume out of a corset and a tutu skirt. Here are the elements you need this craft:
- Peacock feathers (they're available in so many different colors: pick up your favorite one),
- 1 black corset that fits with your size,
- Colored pearls or crystals,
- Colored boas (blue, green),
- 1 black tutu skirt – if you find one in peacock colors, you can avoid the boas,
- A peacock headpiece, black thigh high, black shoes,
- Sewing thread, needles and glue.
- Take the corset and sew the peacock feathers all around it.
- Sew the crystals or glue the pearls on the corset as well so as to add more sparkle to the costume.
- For the skirt, if you haven't found a peacock tutu skirt, then you just have to sew or glue the boas around it.
Optional: if you're really skilled, you can choose to opt for a peacock applique feature instead. This can be applied on the front of the corset and the skirt – provided that you sewn the skirt to the corset. A good alternative is also to sew the applique to that little black dress you never wear.
Black Satin Sexy Strong Boned Corset Elastic Ballet-Style Adult Tutu Skirt100pcs Natural Peacock Feathers with Eye HighTouch of Nature 36823 Chandelle Boa, Teal30pcs Crystal Aqua Blue Dotted Peacock Vitrail Flat Square Paillettes Squarelet One Hole400 Pcs of Assorted Pearl Finish, Irridescent Flat Back Tear Drop Beads Cabochons
Homemade peacock costume for girls
Here is the perfect homemade peacock costume for girls, but it is also a fancy dress suitable for Moms. Making two attires will make you and your daughter able to have fun dressed in similar costumes this Mardi Gras. For such a fancy dress you will need – in kids or adult sizes (or both):
- 1 black off-the-shoulder body leotard for you,
- 1 black long-sleeved body leotard for your daughter,
- Peacock feathers (choose the color you like the most, here I chose bleached blue),
- Peacock pearls,
- A pair of black thigh high, a headpiece, black shoes,
- Sewing thread and needles, and glue.
- Sew or glue the peacock feathers all around the bottom of the body leotard so as to form a natural peacock skirt.
- Sew feathers also on part way up the back of the leotard.
- Glue the pearls on the front of the leotard and the sides of the high tights.
- For your little one, glue pearls and feathers along the sides of the leotard sleeves.
Optional: The things you could easily forget about when it comes to homemade peacock costumes for girls and Moms are the accessories. So you will need a DIY peacock headpiece. This craft is quite easy provided that yo have a headband on hand. If you don't, get one from the store. Glue some peacock feathers and pearls on the headband. You can even go further and add some ribbons, gemstones, and so on.
Girls Walk Women's Plain Plus Size Off Shoulder Stretchy Bodysuit Leotard TopArshiner Kids Girl's Classics Long Sleeve Camisole Leotard ,BlackPeacock Feathers, Peacock Tail Feathers; Dyed Turquoise Peacock Feathers; 5 Pieces Per PackVelice Womens Winter Knit Over the Knee Socks Leg Warmer Thigh High Boot Socks (Black)
Handmade peacock dress costume out of cardboard
Here you have a third option: making a peacock costume accessory out of cardboard. For the purpose you will need a piece of cardboard. Cut it into the shape of the peacock's tail (closed or opened, the choice is yours). Glue or staple peacock feathers all around it. Get a wire hanger and unbend it. Shape it into the form of an arch. Attach the peacock feathers to the arch and secure the top of the wire arch to the back of your shirt. Secure the bottom of the cardboard tail to the bottom of your shirt or the top of your pants. A good idea is to get teal blue jeans or a skirt of this very same color.
Peacock masks and costume accessories
These peacock mask and costume accessories will enable you to finish up your look. These range from headpieces and makeup to peacock eyelashes and nail decorations. Get the ones you like and actually need so as to turn one of these lovely homemade peacock costumes into one of a kind fancy dresses.
2 pairs Real Feather Deluxe Party False EyelashesL'asher Green Feather False Eyelashes (1 Pair)Peacock Teal Green Blue Long Lasting Waterproof Gel Cream EyelinerWaterproof Autograph Pencil Kat Von D 0.028 Oz Proud Peacock – Deep Gray GreenMoYou London Stamping Nail Lacquer – Peacock BluePeacock feathers Nail Stickers Water Transfers Decals20's Vintage Retro Flapper Feather Headband SequinHandmade Peacock Feather Fascinator HeadpieceOh Lucy Handmade BALEY Blue Peacock Feather Shoe Clips with Crystal Jewel or PearlOh Lucy Handmade SERENA in Peacock Blue Feather Earrings in Natural Peacock
Shop for more peacock accessories for homemade fancy dresses


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Wealth takes many forms. But for the sake of argument, let's think in terms of different types of capital.
The traditional definition of capital is "accumulated wealth in the form of investments, factories, and equipment" (Hawken et al, 2000, p.4).
From a Green Economic perspective, however, four types of capital are necessary for a healthy and prosperous economy.
These are outlined by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins and L.Hunter Lovins in their book, Natural Capital: Creating the next industrial revolution (2000):
Human capital: Beyond labour and intelligence, this includes the social capital of networks and organization, as well as the cultural capital of identity expression and the arts;
Financial capital: This is often confused as "real wealth" when wealth is viewed in monetary terms only. This type of capital consists of cash, investments, and various monetary instruments;
Manufactured capital: This is the human-made capital found in infrastructure, machines, tools, factories etc;
Natural capital: The bounty of the natural world, this includes the resources, livin systems and ecosystems services that make up life on Earth.
Promoted as the lynchpin of modern wealth, capitalism as we know it tends to focus on the financial and manufactured capital. It can therefore be thought of as two-fold:
1. Financially profitable; and
2. An unsustainable aberration in human development (Hawken et al, 2000).
"What might be called "industrial capitalism" does not fully conform to its own accounting principles. It liquidates its capital and calls it income. It neglects to assign any value to the largest stocks of capital it employs – the natural resources and living systems, as well as the social and cultural systems that are the basis of human capital" (Ibid, p.5).
So why don't we assign a financial value to the resources and systems of the natural world? Why don't we assign a monetary value to our social capital (beyond wages and on-costs)? Put simply, the valuation of capital that is non-financial or not made by humans is no small feat.
As highlighted by Hawken et al (2000), there are three reasons for this challenge:
Most of the eco-system services we receive from the living world have no known substitute (at any price!). Consider, for example, oxygen production by green plants. In short, unless an alien super-species beams down and invents superhuman globally transformational technology, no amount of ambition and industrial know-how can replace the planet's life-support systems.
Despite efforts in recent years, valuing natural capital is difficult and imprecise. What financial value (no matter how high) can we assign to a child? An old-growth forest? The humble bee's pollination of life-giving plants?
Technology cannot replace the planet's life-support systems. Nor can machines provide a meaningful substitute for human intelligence, creativity, knowledge, wisdom, organisational abilities, or culture.
Despite these shortcomings, value assessments of natural and social capital have occurred in recent years. According to Hawken et al (2000):
"Recent assessments have estimated that biological services flowing directly into society from the stock of natural capital are worth at least $36 trillion annually [USD]. That figure is close to the annual gross world production of approximately $39 trillion – a striking measure of the value of natural capital to the economy. If natural capital stocks were given a monetary value, assuming the assets yield "interest" of $36 trillion annually, the world's natural capital would be valued at somewhere between $400 and $500 trillion – tens of thousands of dollars for every person on the planet" (p.5).
Even as conservative figures, these stats highlight an important fact: Anything we cannot live without and cannot replace (at any price) can be viewed as priceless. They have infinite value.
Likewise, in the realm of social capital, efforts have been made to ascertain a financial value for human effort, energy and ingenuity.
"The World Bank's 1995 Wealth Index found the sum value of human capital [labour only] to be three times greater than all the financial and manufactured capital reflected on global balance sheets" (Ibid, p.6).
So where does all this leave us? How can we transition to a Green Economy that values all forms of capital when all forms of capital cannot be financially valued?
Well, irrespective of the accounting shortfall, one thing is certain: We can no longer behave as though the natural world and the people of this world have no value. Treating them as "valueless has brought us to the verge of disaster" (Ibid, p.6).
The question we need to answer is one of decision-making.
How can we – consumers, governments, business – make responsible decisions in the interest of economic growth, environmental health, and social well-being? How can we do so if we have limited means to value the whole equation?
If you read this far, we assume you found this post interesting. Please help Blackle Mag thrive by sharing it using the social media buttons below.Tweet
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Journeys IIIBlack Faun Gallery, 2017
(Swipe Left And Right To View All)
2 Huts 12 feet x 16 feet x 8 feet
Two hut like structures made from Cotoneaster branches, handmade kozo paper, and kakishibu.
Two Huts, view 2
Red Wall rearranged 8 feet x 36 feet
Handmade paper of kozo, hemp, flax, encaustic, red dye and silk threads
Round reed, unbeaten Kozo, indigo dye
Hut #4 40 Inches diameter
Round reed, handmade kozo paper, red silk thread.
I have had many transformative journeys in my life. I have traveled, hiked, and liven in wonderful place. I am fascinated by process: I want to know how the roof is thatched, how the hut is made, what the cord or thread is, where the natural dye comes from, how the hive or nest is constructed. These basic constructions are at the root of who we are and what we can do. They are all so very sophisticated in their simplicity. These forms also speak of community, of building cooperatively using indigenous materials.


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Growing an Herb Garden in Portland
It's no secret that Portland is a foodie town. With summer right around the corner now is the perfect time to save a trip to the local farmer's market and grow your own fresh herbs. Here are a few tips to help your herb garden flourish in the Paci... Read more


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Shizen-kaiki-no-mori Forest 自然回帰の森
Saigo Port
No bus service
Ancient Japanese cedar trees over 300 years old, the endemic Oki rhododendron and other precious plant and animal species make this forest a popular place to explore nature. From the Nakadani Rest Area (accessible by car) you can take trails to Tokage-iwa (Lizard Rock) Lookout, or hike further to the impressive Byobu-iwa.
Important information
There is no bus stop here. The closest shops and places to eat are in the Fuse Area at the bottom of the mountain, so make sure you take food and drink with you.
Chichi-sugi Japanese Cedar 岩倉の乳房杉
Away 1,840 meters
Chōshi Dam, Oki Gneiss 銚子ダム・隠岐片麻岩
Away 2,410 meters
Other Topics
Kabura-sugi Japanese Cedar かぶら杉
Kasuga Shrine 春日神社
April: Renge-e-mai Dance 蓮華会舞
Ushi-tsuki (Bull Sumō) Display 観光牛突き
August: Summer Bull Sumō Tournament 牛突大会 夏場所
Tourist Information Offices
(one on each island)
Okinoshima Tourism Association
Nishinoshima Tourism Association
Ama Town Tourism Association
Chiburijima Tourism Association
More Information about the San'in Region
Oki Islands UNESCO Global Geopark
Shimane Prefecture
Tottori Prefecture
San'in Regional Tourism Office
Oki Islands Tourism Association
24 Shioguchi, Minato-machi
Okinoshima-cho, Oki-gun
Shimane-ken, 685-0015
+81-8512-2-1577 (Outside Japan)
08512-2-1577 (Inside Japan)


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Check out The Grove's Event Calendar!
Looking to go out in the Grove but don't know where to start? We've got you covered! Our event calendar powered by DO314 is updated everyday. Pick your poison here.
Looking to go out in the Grove but don't know where to start? We've got you covered! Our event calendar powered by DO314 is updated everyday. Pick your poison here.
The end of 2016 saw the addition of several new businesses to our growing neighborhood. Stop in and check them out. Lemon Gem (4180 Manchester Ave) – Provisions for Hearth & Home Gezellig (4191 Manchester Ave) – Craft beer bottleshop and tap house Intoxicology (4321 Manchester Ave) – Specialty cocktail supply shop featuring artisan spirits, barware, tastings … Continued
We know holiday shopping can be a daunting and stressful task so let your friends in the Grove be your gift giving guides. Start off with a cold one at Urban Chestnut. Shopping is always more enjoyable with the help of a tasty libation and grab a friend – this is going to be fun! On your way … Continued
The Grove continues to grow! We would like to welcome the following new businesses to the Grove Community: Sauce on the Side (4261 Manchester Ave) Sweet Times at the Mangrove (4270 Manchester Ave) Confluence Kombucha (4507 Manchester Ave) The Urban Research Brewery (4501 Manchester Ave) Curve Junkie (9316 Manchester Ave) Chop Shop (9528 Manchester Ave) … Continued
Mark your calendars! Grove Fest, the fun, independent, wild, eclectic yearly festival in STL's Grove neighborhood will return for its 11th year this October 1st. This family friendly event will feature a kids zone, street performers, live music, and amazing food and drinks from local Grove businesses. If you're in the mood to shop there will … Continued
The Grove Criterium is a competitive bike race that will be back in the Grove this Sunday, July 31. Want to join the race? Registration will be open until Wednesday, July 27th. You can also visit on race day to cheer on the cyclists and enjoy the local food, drinks, and music. For more … Continued
Once again, the Grove will be home to the pre and post party for the World Naked Bike Ride in St. Louis! The festivities take place this Saturday, July 16th, from 5pm-11pm. Below is some important information if you plan to attend the event. A few important things: We encourage you to be safe, wear a … Continued
The Riverfront Times Music Showcase will return to the Grove on Saturday, June 18th for another year of local music and fun! There will be over 80 musical acts performing at 9 different venues in the neighborhood throughout the day and a $10 wristband gets you access to all of it. So mark you calendars … Continued


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When I was five or six years old, my mom, dad, and I occupied the second half of a duplex that my grandparents owned and lived in. As a newly minted training wheels graduate, I would ride a red BMX bike outfitted with checkerboard foam pads (remember those?!) down the side the sidewalk in front of that house, to the apartment complex near the end of the block, and back.
During one of those circuits, at a point where my confidence surpassed my abilities, I decided to attempt some sort of skid out turn. The result of this finesse move was my chin sailing over the handlebars and meeting the pavement with the force of my entire body behind it.
I didn't actually realize I was in pain until I spotted the large red drops forming on the sidewalk below and instantly began to panic. I can still picture my mom sprinting towards me, and I can picture the way she and my grandpa sat me on the kitchen counter, trying unsuccessfully to swab my chin with paper towels.
It quickly became clear that a trip to urgent care was inevitable.
As I recall it, I sat on Grandpa's lap in the waiting room. I must have been in a tremendous amount of pain for a young child, but oddly, I don't remember any pain. I remember my grandfather's voice, low and soothing in my ear. I'm uncertain if it is just be an invention of my imperfect memory, but as I recall it, he told cowboy stories and sang indian songs.
Ray E. Wilson, Jr., son of a train conductor, was raised in the dusty border town of Douglas, Arizona. Perhaps it was the specter of the untamed west that must have been ever-present in that place that gave rise to his faux connection to cowboys and Indians; I can't say for certain. At 17, he was shipped off to World War II, and was rewarded with two Purple Hearts, a Navy Cross, a GI Bill education, and a long career as an aeronautical engineer and math teacher; he was by no means a cowboy, and to my knowledge, has no Native American ancestry.
But that didn't stop him from telling stories and performing for his grandsons—activities he relished—as though he actually had those occupational or ancestral connections.
In that waiting room full of people who were writhing in pain or wincing through illness, I was calm. A caring grandfather softly chanted fictional powwow songs low into my ear. Too young to be bashful about this display or perceive any potential for cultural insensitivity, I simply felt comfort and safety.
My chin ended up requiring five stitches, but instead of grimacing or flinching with each pass of the needle, I was meditative—in fact, nearly asleep—Grandpa's hand holding mine, his voice continuing to hum softly in my ear.
To say my grandpa was affectionate with his family, especially his grandchildren, would be something of an understatement. Well into adulthood, he addressed his three grandsons with all manner of pet names that might otherwise be reserved for an infant daughter or perhaps an orphaned miniature panda: baby, babydoll, honeylove, and any other combination thereof.
As adolescents, we bristled at these expressions. These pet names, especially when used in the third person with waitresses or store clerks, would inevitably cause fifteen-year-old me to want to flee the room to prevent further indignity. At that age, too wrapped up in middle school insecurities and feigned aloofness, I'd forgotten the comforts that his caring nature brought me throughout our earlier childhoods.
As we became adults, we shed that veneer of bashfulness. No longer embarrassed by public expressions, we saw our grandpa's love for the asset that it was. By no means were we alone. The loving and nurturing qualities my grandparents expressed drew to them a collection of surrogate children and grandchildren—people of no relation whose pictures were kept on refrigerator as if they were extended family.
Grandpa passed away in Janurary, 2014. The family felt funeral didn't befit his spirit, so instead, we threw a memorial party. All of those varyingly lost and found souls that discovered comfort and warmth in the presence of my grandparents poured into the now empty home. From the outside it may have looked a motley crew—hippieish handymen who they'd help support with business over the years, school teachers whom they'd befriended 40 years ago when they made the decision to move to the rougher district on the other side of the city, even the beachbum kid from the apartment next door who'd never really met them but enjoyed listening through the window to my grandpa holding court on the front patio—but that diverse outpouring provides evidence of the indiscriminate nature of my grandparents' affection.
As a family, we were consoled and proud that, at least for a night, the affection that Grandpa was famous for was, on this occasion, overwhelmingly directed back at him.
Grandpa's spaghetti with meat sauce
Meat sauce adapted from Mario Batali's Neapolitan Meat Sauce
Neither Grandpa nor Grandma were what you'd describe as skilled cooks. Especially as they got older, our favorite pizza place would provide the vast majority of our meals for family visits. But I have a strangely strong recollection of being a youngster and us heading over to the Wilson household to eat Grandpa's spaghetti. I can't recall if it was just my mom's recipe that Grandpa adopted or vice versa or how exactly it all came about—as far as I know, Grandpa could otherwise cook toast and literally nothing else—but I have some recollection of spaghetti.
It was a very no-nonsense spaghetti. It was meaty, with mushrooms (which seems somewhat unorthodox but it's what the Wilson's have always done with our inauthentic spaghetti) and that serious umami that comes from the addition of tomato paste.
There is no Wilson family spaghetti recipe that has been passed on to me. My mom may have been able to provide insight, but I wanted this concoction to simply be the result of my attempt to coax out flavors that I remember. It's my riff.
It's also important to note that this is my first ever attempt at fresh pasta. I'm loathe to admit I had general cluelessness working against me, in addition to a "pasta maker" that is really not up to the task.
But! Fear not; it all turned out quite lovely. I encourage any newbie with crappy equipment to dive right in and see what you can do. The worst that can happen is you'll need bust open a 99-cent package of the dry stuff.
For the pasta
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
For the meat sauce
- 1 pound Italian sausage (recipe below)
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3/4 cup red wine
- 1 (28-ounce) can peeled San Marzano tomatoes and juices
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed San Marzano tomatoes and juices
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Pinch hot chile flakes
For the sausage
- 1/2 pound beef chuck, cubed (pre-ground may be substituted)
- 1/2 pound pork shoulder, cubed (pre-ground may be substituted)
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1/2 tablespoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon ground fennel seed
- 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
Preparing the sausage
Combine all spices into a small bowl, mixing together.
Using a meat grinder with coarse plate attached, coarsely grind beef and pork. Place into a large bowl and sprinkle evenly with seasoning mixture. Massage spices into ground meat thoroughly.
Pass ground meat through grinder with coarse plate once more to distribute spices and ensure good texture. Place into bowl and cover with plastic wrap, refrigerating until ready to use.
Preparing the sauce
Set a dutch oven over high heat. Combine sausage, mushrooms, onions, and oil over high heat, cooking until mushrooms release their liquid and meat juices begin to evaporate. If necessary, use a spoon to discard extra juices more quickly.
Add wine, pouring evenly over meat mixture. Cook until meat darkens and liquid is mostly evaporated, about 5 minutes.
Add tomatoes, salt, and chili flakes, breaking up the peeled tomatoes with a large wooden spoon. Simmer on a medium-low heat for 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
Preparing the pasta dough
While meat sauce is simmering, fit the bowl of a food processor with a metal blade attachment, add flour and salt, then pulse to combine. Crack eggs into a measuring cup and add olive oil. Slowly pour egg mixture over the top of flour mixture in food processor. Process the egg and flour mixture until evenly combined, approximately 15 to 20 seconds.
Transfer dough ball to a lightly floured surface and knead until texture is pliable and no longer sticky, approximately 6 to 8 minutes. (Note: I tried this a couple of times since I'm a newbie. One time I kneaded for no more than about 30 seconds and, at least for my purposes, the dough was much more difficult to get to cooperate. I recommend kneading longer, at least five minutes, so that it's more elastic. But to reiterate: I'm clueless.)
Shape dough into a rough ball and cover with a large bowl at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
After dough has rested, use a dough knife to cut pasta dough ball into smaller pieces. Run small pieces through pasta maker of your choice. (Hopefully it works better than mine. Mine seems to require a lot of labor pulling the pieces apart and dusting them with flour so they don't stick together, then making a big messy pile. Maybe my dough just needed more flour? Not sure. Isn't that half the fun?)
Putting it all together
When the meat sauce is ready, bring 5 or 6 quarts of water to rolling boil in a large pasta pot. Add fresh pasta and cook for 2-3 minutes to al dente. Strain in a colander.
Combine pasta and meat sauce, mixing thoroughly, and plating. Pour a large ladle of meat sauce over top of each pasta mixture.
Serve garnished with fresh basil and fresh grated parmesan.


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Archive for May, 2015
The infamous Massachusetts Institute of Technology has released a video of their Cheetah Bot jumping over progressively larger obstacles thrown in its way. Pretty cool….Read more
This may not be a master plan for Skynet to help pick fashion choices for clueless men. It's probably just clever marketing. Unless your fashion…Read more


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Price: $49.95
Product ID : plate_prezhrseplate
Weight: 5.00 lbs
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Handcrafted in beautiful Fine China under the hallmark of WS George, and commissioned by the Wildlife Society, Prezewalski's horse is presented by Will Nelson in a limited Edition of 150, circa 1991. Numbered 4327D, this piece comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. Measures 8" across.
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Who's Toby?
Toby is an amazing little boy in Nebraska who I run for. We were matched in the I Run4 Michael program way back in 2014 if I remember right. Geesh! Time does fly! Toby has Down syndrome so every now and then I will post some Down syndrome awareness posts and you can search for those in the blog's search bar if you want to learn something today. But right now, Hadrian's Wall.
Hadrian's Wall is the third mission I have done through My Virtual Mission. My first was a self-created mission where I ran from Maui to Nebraska for Toby connected our homes over miles and miles and miles. Obviously this mission took some time as 3,614.4 miles is a lot of running! After that I opted to do one of their hosted missions and tackled LEJOG and those 1,083.8 miles seemed like a breeze after 3,614.4 but I kept falling behind time after time. I needed a mental boost - Hadrian's Wall. I will post more on LEJOG later but if you want to do a mission yourself, follow this link and please use the reference code EG276. And yes, if I get enough referrals I get to do a free challenge for my buddy. Just saying.....and being honest.
And now for a little history - what is Hadrian's Wall?
Hadrian's Wall was built in the 120's AD under the direction/order of Emperor Hadrian as he wanted a wall between Scotland and Roman Britain. The wall extended from Wallsend to Bowness and in 140AD another wall was ended further north. The completed wall had 80 milecastles (small rectangular forts usually placed one Roman mile away from the next), numerous observation tours, and 17 larger forts. You can still visit the wall today and see remnants that are still standing in various locations such as Housesteads and Heddon-on-the-Wall.
Here is one picture of Hadrian's Wall (source)
I started my mission on September 8, 2017 to run the 90 mile course. My goal was to complete it in a reasonable amount of time, hopefully by the end of October with how my recent mileage has been.
Take a look at my recent mileage.....
I think you can see how August plummeted and why I wanted to get my focus back on. This graph is from Daily Mile but I have now switched to Strava. You can find me HERE. I made this switch mainly because the Daily Mile app is so outdated it no longer functions on my phone and doing the whole web updating, either via computer or phone, was too cumbersome. I want that time to go to fitness not logging in and other issues.
I completed my mission on October 23, 2017 and immediately received this certificate via email and was prompted to verify my mailing address so the medal could be sent to me, which I always quickly receive and that says a lot for a girl living on Maui.
Daily Gratitude: I am thankful for the kind and loving heart of my daughter who truly shows me the grace and love of God.
Daily Bible Verse: Thus says the Lord God: "Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and raise my signal to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders. ~ Isaiah 49:22


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Hi! My name is Cassaundra Spargur, owner and instructor of Precision Dancesport.
I've been a ballroom dance instructor since 1999. Ballroom dancing has allowed me to live, train and compete all over the world. I absolutely love my career and there's nothing in the world I'd rather do for work.
I have competed professionally in International Standard, International Latin and American Smooth. I'm certified through Silver in American Style. I've also enjoyed competing and performing with my students at various competitions and events. My students have ranged in age from 3 to 85 years old. When I started out I specialized in social dancing. I focused on teaching anyone and everyone to dance in any social setting.
After a few years of teaching and performing I shifted my focus to competitive dancing. There I found a new place to challenge and motivate myself and my students. I love helping people find which part of ballroom dance they enjoy most. You can be a social dancer, a performer, a competitor or all of the above! Whatever your goals are, I look forward to helping you achieve them.
Note: If you prefer a male instructor, just ask me! I have many great colleagues with many different specialties. Tell me your goals and I know I can connect you with the right man for the job.
As an independent contractor, I primarily rent space from The Shapiro Ballroom 1612 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622. This facility boasts 2 large ballroom floors and monthly practice passes are available. It's a beautiful location that's close to public transportation and plenty of parking!


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Air Duct Cleaning Texas City Texas
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{Professional duct mold removal} is something that we take a lot of pride in. When you've got molds and mildews that just don't make any sense for your system, let us know. These are harmful contaminants that can have terrible effects on you and your setting. We'll help you so you won't have to deal with these troubles anymore.
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[Air vent cleaners] have a reputation of being overpriced and inefficient, and this is one of the greatest travesties in American history. Are you someone who's beginning to feel like you're unable to find an affordable duct sanitation? If you'd like to do something differently, check out our online coupons for the best deals.
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Question & Answer (5)Posted: May 19, 2013 Filed under: Basics, Living in Truthless Truth, Pointers | Tags: Absolute, activism, Advaita, Alan Watts, Bible, brahman, buddha, CG Jung, Confucius, direct pointing, dogen, DT Suzuki, enlightenment, fall, Lucknow, matrix, maya, meditation, mind, money, new-age, nirvana, non-duality, Papaji, ramana maharshi, renunciation, samsara, self-consciousness, tantra, thinking, Yogi, zen 8 Comments
This is the last Q&A part (for the time being)…
What do you mean when you say "we are enlightened by nature"?
When there is fear we see the world through the veils of Maya, the great illusion of separateness. When fear is absent, the veil is lifted, and we see the (same) world through our Buddha-eyes as it really is. So, enlightenment is nothing that can be achieved. It is the falling away of fear.
How to untrap myself from the ego?
You see, the trap and what is trapped are basically one and the same thing. It's called the self or ego. That's why "we" can never untrap ourselves. To try to untrap ourselves is to trap ourselves by believing in a trap from which we can be untrapped. The only thing that will help, is to realize that the self, the trap, only "seems" to exist separately but in reality it is a hallucination. This undermines any urge to do or to not do anything to untrap ourselves and, voilá, we will realize that we were never trapped. It was all an illusion.
What is the Buddha's method to gain enlightenment?
Buddhism is a dialectic process. That means, one does not need to believe in dogmatic statements or follow any rules. The method is a dialogue between student and teacher. The process starts with a departure point, usually a problem. Now, the master will try to make the student intuitively grasp that there is no solution to the problem, because it is illusory. There are several techniques to do that but all have one thing in common: that the student is encouraged to persist in trying to resolve the problem intellectually or experientially until (s)he knows by himself that it can't be resolved because it never existed.
Is humanity crazy?
Humanity is not crazy but ignore-ant of its oneness with what is and, thus, irrationally fearful of itself and its environment. That's why Western man seems to keep getting busier and busier. The more he tries to escapes what is, the busier he gets escaping. The faster he hurries, the slower he goes.
If nothing can be done to enlighten oneself, what is your teaching?
The teaching is to undermine the illusion of "something to get" because the urge to seek it is what keeps us in bondage.
Tantra or renunciation, which method is better?
Both methods work because neither renunciation nor indulgence will bring you peace. But if followed to their respective extremes, you may realize just that and consequently be free.
What's the problem with self-consciousness?
Self-consciousness is a feedback mechanism. It is the self being conscious about itself. The idea of self and consciousness, experiencer and experience, is the foundation of duality. Duality means that there is an (apparent) entity and there is what this (apparent) entity experiences. The more self-conscious we are, the more we feel to be a separate entity "having" experiences. Any feedback loop works like an amplifier. In this case it amplifies our illusory separateness and thus our fears.
Alan Watts once said that being conscious of oneself is like hearing your own ears due to a Tinnitus. Any organ ceases to work smoothly when it gets in its own way. It then becomes the potential source of all kinds of problems and hang-ups.
If that example does not make sense, think of a situation when you just seemed to "flow" with life, even if it was just for a short time, when there was no "you" being conscious about yourself. There was no duality, just what is, moment by moment, a sort of oneness of experience and experiencer. Or in the words of Zen-master Dogen: "to forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten thousand things".
From what has been said it could be argued that the development of self-consciousness marks the "fall of man" as portrayed in the bible (knowledge of good and evil, introduction of shame, etc.). Does that mean, though, that we should strive to perpetually go with the "Truth" of "flow" experiences and "forget" about ourselves? Even if we could (which I doubt), my answer is no. Just as self-consciousness is the source of suffering, it is also the source of great joy, gratitude and appreciation for life. How would you know that you are happy, if you ceased to be self-conscious? Could you be grateful for life if you ceased to know you existed? To wholeheartedly stay with one leg in the "dream"-world of separateness is what makes life worth living. This is the teaching of the middle way. Separateness is samsara is nirvana. If we dropped out of the "dream" completely, we would cease to have a genuine human experience. That's hardly what we want. Wouldn't you agree?
Many Yogi's are saying we should stop thinking. You say we shouldn't mind our thinking…
When the Yogi's refer to thinking they mean the conceptual, evaluative, judgmental function of the mind under the spell of Maya (the illusion of separation invoking fear). This sort of thinking is the source of the duality of "right" vs. "wrong", "me" and "other". By realizing non-duality, this comes to a halt, and there is no more minding of anything, not even our "ordinary" thinking.
Often the Yogi's are misunderstood, though. We think they suggest to stop thinking altogether. That would be like trying to stop our blood from flowing; it can't be done and it mustn't be done.
"The goodie-goodies are the thieves of virtue". What's that supposed to mean?
The quote is from Confucius. It means that prescribed virtue is never genuine virtue. It is a form of hypocrisy which leads to inner conflict if not acknowledged. It also often brings about a "must-save-the-world"-attitude in people as the inner conflict is projected onto the outside world.
History tells us that "righteous" wars are always the longest and most brutal one's (think of religious wars, or ideological wars like WW1 and WW2, etc). If one fights for the "good" it is easier to mobilize people and justify the means of war. The road to hell is indeed often paved with good intentions.
Is money "bad"?
Money is stored energy. You do something and as a compensation for the efforts you get this thing called money that can be exchanged for other people's efforts.
Money is not something that can be experienced. You cannot touch, smell, see, taste or hear it. You can only see a number on a screen or a sheet of paper or cloth representing money. Money is not real, it is a symbol.
Symbols have the power to impoverish peoples lives. Symbols are lifeless, have no "soul" (because they have no experiential value). Thus, if we worship a symbol, turn it into our "God", we, ourselves turn into lifeless zombies.
Wealth is appreciating what money can be exchanged for. If we don't trade money for experiences, we have no wealth. To worship the symbol is to miss what it stands for (that's what Buddha meant when he said that "the finger pointing to the moon is not the moon"). Money stands for wealth and wealth is (the experience of) being alive. So, money is not bad per se. But it is often mistaken for what it is not: a source of life in itself.
Ok, I am not doing anything anymore. I stopped seeking. Why am I not enlightened?
You still want to get it by trying to not get it. You are still seeking. Seeking means expecting results for your actions. You are deceiving yourself.
I am a mess. Will enlightenment settle things for me?
So, you've found out you're a mess. Congratulations! You've already come a long way. Now, there's an important last step to make. Ask yourself: what's the problem with being a mess? Is there really a problem with being a mess or could it be that you only think it is a problem? Who says what is normal and what is messy? Have you ever seen a messy arrangement in nature? Or is nature beautiful exactly because it is not orderly and not all similar? You see "enlightenment" is not getting anywhere else or being anyone else than where and what you already are. There is nothing to be gotten out of it but the abandonment of our illusions.
How does non-objection and activism go together? They seem contradictory…
Non-objection is not becoming irresponsible or stop caring about the world. Non-objection is an internal alignment with what "is". This alignment bestows peace. From this place of peace, activism is actually much more effective because it comes from the heart as opposed to from the mind. What does that mean? Activism which tries to change the world is usually ideological and, thus, from the mind. It purports ideas which are supposed to make the world a "better" place to live. But all ideologies create winners and losers, just as there is no action which is purely "good" or purely "bad", ever. Activism from the heart is concerned with action to alleviate suffering of those who can't handle it (anymore). It is not concerned with ideas on how to make suffering go away altogether. That's a subtle but very important difference. If you want to make suffering go away, you are trying to do the impossible, to find a way of "winning" without "losing". Thus, you keep yourself and all your followers in the wheel of samsara, the endless struggle to always stay up without ever going down.
Which level is real: the relative (personal) or the absolute (impersonal)?
There are no two levels of reality! This separation never took place other than in our minds. The only reality is "this" that you are now experiencing. What you can think of is conceptual and never real. That's the whole teaching of non-duality in a nutshell.
What do you mean by "unknowing"?
Imagine you knew you were so intimately and seamlessly connected with the universe that you were in fact no different from it. And imagine you knew that the universe is the totality of all there is (without exception). How could you know anything about the fundamental nature of the world for certain? That which is everything cannot be identified, classified, observed, measured, etc, because there is no other, outside this totality, who could perform these tasks on it. It is the primordial and eternal (non-dual) subject-object. So, it completely defies logical analysis.
The universe as a whole will forever be ungraspable, just like the eye can't see the eye. Whatever is said about it is speculation. What is it? Where does it come from? Where does it go? Does it have a purpose? Since we are the universe, there is nothing we definitively know about ourselves (our Selves!) either. This is the final frontier, the end of knowledge ("veda" = knowledge; "anta" = end) short-circuiting all seeking.
Your teaching implies an autonomous "I". But there is no "I" who is doing anything!
What do you mean there is no I? IT is I, and I am IT. That's why we talk of "non-duality": no difference between I and other. To say there is no "I" would suggest there is only "other". Everything is "other" is only one side of the coin of "Truth". The other side is everything is "I".
To realize that the "I" is not as real as we used to think is a good starting point, though. The great sage Ramana Maharshi outlined a three-step approach to non-dual realization:
The world is unreal (~the "I" is unreal)
Only Brahman is real (~awakening to the Absolute)
The world is Brahman (~the "I" and the Absolute are one and the same)
All seekers get stuck at level 1 and level 2 for some time. First we need to leave the relative level of reality to be open to awaken to its opposite, the absolute level. Finally, the journey after awakening takes us to consolidate these polar concepts. Non-dual realization is to know that these levels are not different. Never have, never will be. They are one and the same, because there is nothing apart from the totality of "this" reality. Separation never took place other than in our minds. Even to speak of "non-duality" is delusional because there never was a "real" duality ever! Wake up!
By the way, the "there is nobody home" and the "nobody is doing anything" kind of talk is sometimes called the "Lucknow disease" (named after the place in India where modern advaita "guru" Papaji used to teach) or the "advaita shuffle" (jumping to the absolute level at odd times).
What's your opinion on "direct pointing" exercises? Do you think they are futile?
The direct pointing approach tries to facilitate the intuitive experience of a very simple point: there is no individual person separate from the stream of consciousness. The sense of personality is a function of consciousness just as hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, seeing, feeling and thinking is. At the same time the approach tries to clarify who "you" actually are. The "real" you is something which can't be experienced or pinned down for the same reason the eye can't see itself: the source of measurement can never measure itself (in the absence of a reflecting device like a mirror that feeds the measurement back to its source). The fact that there is measurement, that there is seeing, implies a measuring source, an eye. So, the "real" you can never be experienced (or known) because it is that which makes experiencing possible. But the fact that there is experience implies that a "real" you (whatever it is) exists. So, all you can ever know is that you exist because you exist. I am that I am. Full stop.
All "pointing" then ultimately points to this: you are fundamentally that unknown thing which enables/ activates/ vitalizes everything. The social role you are playing in the game of life is not you, it is a mask (that by biological default cannot be removed but only glimpsed through occasionally). This insight is what "individuation" (as understood by C.G. Jung) is all about: you are not your social role, your mask, so don't take it so damned seriously. An individuated person takes himself lightly and thus has an elevated sense of being. Or as D.T. Suzuki said "Satori is like an everyday experience, only two inches above the ground".
Now, whether the pointing approach actually works or not, I have my doubts. As you try to realize the absence of a "you", all you accomplish is a strengthening of the sense of you. Have you ever managed to relax by willingly trying to relax? All your trying will ever do is to prevent relaxation from happening by itself. You are getting in your own way. Thus, in my experience finding the trust to give up control is key to realization, not intellectual exercises in finding nobody (which in a way, though, could be seen as a method to get into your own way so consistently that you eventually give up and finally let "you" go).
What is your take on quantum mechanics, matrix, evolution of consciousness, etc.?
If you like to play around with these things, go ahead, entertain yourself. They won't get you any peace, though. I am always amazed by all these complicated new-age theories. The "Truth" is so simple and yet everybody comes up with so much complicated stuff about it. Instead of reading about these things or watch endless Youtube videos, go out for a walk. It's all always there in front of us. There is nothing "hidden". Fact is that we can't acknowledge reality as it is, as long as our selves feel threatened by it. You see, seeking "more" or "different", is always an expression of fear, of not "good/ safe enough yet".
Even if they claim otherwise, new-age theories are based on ignoring the unity of all things. What's there to improve, develop, enhance, practice, etc. if we knew that we were that which is everything, which by definition is immaculate (because it has no opposite)? The benefit of traditional spiritual practice (like meditation) is that once we shut up for a while, be on our own and make our fears conscious, these new-age theories become completely obsolete. I guarantee you that if you actually had the guts to sit on your own for a few weeks or months, you would come to the same conclusion, that new-age is seeking for the sake of avoiding. Why eat candy when you can get a good meal?
What's your message in a nutshell?
All is well, but our fears and insecurities suggest otherwise. The way to deal with our fears and insecurities is to look at them and to realize that a) they are ok, and eventually, b) they are based on an illusion.
Any last words?
Once you know you are god incarnate, you can relax and finally allow yourself to be a genuine human being. And once you allow yourself to be a genuine human being, you stop struggling to become a god.
End of Question & Answer
Conditio HumanaPosted: December 21, 2012 Filed under: Basics | Tags: brahman, buddha, consciousness, hafiz, happiness, karma, meditation, moksha, non-duality, one, opposites, samsara, suffering 1 Comment
If we take a moment to think about it, the problem most schools of thought are ultimately concerned with is a) how to avoid suffering, and/ or b) how to find happiness (or "meaning") in life.
The way non-dual philosophies deal with these issues is to point to a state of receptive, purposeless "being" (present) as the source of happiness and "meaning" and to the realization that our concepts of "good" and "bad" are responsible for our hang-ups. So, according to non-dual teachings, a) the illusory nature of the duality of opposites and, b) the (conditioned) continuous attempt to be in charge of internal processes are at the core of our existential problems. In conjunction they create the illusion of a separate entity, a tension called "ego", in space and time.
While "being" is relatively easily found in love, the arts, any "flow" activity or meditative practice, the avoidance of suffering is much harder to come by. That's probably the reason why the Buddha put the emphasis of his teachings on suffering and not on happiness. The potential problem with happiness-philosophies is that they inherently create reasons for suffering in that they propagate a striving for happiness and a consequential rejection of states of unhappiness. A philosophy of suffering, on the other hand, will go right at the core of the problem of existential dis-ease: the tendency to judge and reject. It aims at providing peace of mind in whatever state, happy or sad.
From early childhood we learn to navigate through life by means of fear and attraction. It is what drives our actions (or karma), and eventually, our whole lives. The judging attitude inherent in grasping and rejecting agitate our minds and make life seem somewhat murky. Consequently, we lose touch with reality as it actually "is". And instead of gratitude, wonder and awe for life, we are wandering within the narrow boundaries of desire and fear through a world of commonplaces. So, the striving for happiness must create dissatisfaction. This is the ultimate paradox of existence. That by trying to attain something, we create an idea of its opposite and, thus, we forever remain in the cycle of judging and suffering. The world of ideas is the portal to Samsara.
Although our maps of navigation cause our suffering by liking and disliking certain aspects of what is really "One", we cling to them, fearing to get lost without any opinion to hold on to. That's why enlightenment is such an illusive thing, accessible only for those trusting and loving life to the point of complete unknowing. To transcend "good" and "bad" we have to find a way to accept and embrace everything as sacred, as making sense in the grander scheme of things beyond our ego. This is exactly what is happening when we have a mystical experience (or Satori) and get a glimpse at the world through the eyes of the impersonal, the Absolute.
Unfortunately, though, almost all seekers will misunderstand the mystical message at first. They will take the viewpoint of the Absolute (or cosmic consciousness), as the "real" view, dismissing ordinary consciousness. This, again, just keeps the cycle of dissatisfactory existence turning. After all, even if Brahman is the only reality, the world is Brahman, or in Buddhist terminology, form is emptiness. Same thing, no difference. So, cosmic consciousness implies the sacredness of ordinary consciousness.
So then, the ultimate liberation (moksha) according to the non-dual traditions of the East, is to be free of even the concept of freedom. That is, liberation is to have no fundamental objection to what is happening. It is a cleansing of the mind of ideas of right and wrong. That way, we relax and the tension of the "ego" gives way to peace and serenity in times of joy as well as in times of sorrow. All states are seen as equally valid manifestations of this "One" sacred universe. Nothing is never not (part of) IT. Not even our feelings of separateness. No-thing whatsoever.
Now is the time to know
That all that you do is sacred.
Now, why not consider
A lasting truce with yourself and God.
Now is the time to understand
That all your ideas of right and wrong
Were just a child's training wheels
To be laid aside
When you finally live
With veracity
And love.
Hafiz is a divine envoy
Whom the Beloved
Has written a holy message upon.
My dear, please tell me,
Why do you still
Throw sticks at your heart
And God?
What is it in that sweet voice inside
That incites you to fear?
Now is the time for the world to know
That every thought and action is sacred.
This is the time
For you to compute the impossibility
That there is anything
But Grace.
Now is the season to know
That everything you do
Is sacred.
Short Reflections (2): On Wasting TimePosted: October 22, 2012 Filed under: Basics | Tags: Advaita, meditation, Merit, now, Present, Purpose, Vedanta, zen Leave a comment
I am back from a very long walk with lots of interesting observations. Here's one of them. Many people these days are very impatient because they constantly seem to be "losing" or "wasting" time everywhere. Steering one's ship around the whirlpools of time drainers like traffic jams, conference calls, tax filings, etc. and to "save" time has become a fetish of our age.
If we look at it more closely, the very idea of "wasting" time hinges on two premises:
a) the notion that there is a limited amount of time, and
b) the notion that there is somewhere to get to, or something to achieve within this limited time-frame.
I've written about the illusion of time before (here), so in this post I want to focus on the second aspect.
We all know too well that the game our Western societies are founded upon is based on the importance of "doing" and "becoming". Before we pursue something we are conditioned to ask ourselves: "what do I get out of it?", and make sure it serves a purpose. Implicit in this way of evaluating our actions is the belief that there is always something to improve, that it is never good enough as it is. In that logic, doing something that serves no purpose means missing out on the opportunity to create a better future and so sustaining the status quo is considered a waste of time. Not making progress is often stigmatized as failure, laziness or anti-social behavior. Thus, when we "waste" time, we usually feel frustrated or guilty.
The way we are taught to think about life in Western societies is that the future always promises something that the present does not yet provide. Things could always be better. Constantly living for the future, though, means never truly living in the present. And that way, we trade our whole lives for a future that never arrives because it can never be settled into.
How to be more present in the present has been a topic of philosophical discussion and debate for millennia. One of the highest attainments in Hindu philosophy is non-attachment or renunciation of the fruits of one's actions, that is, acting without a particular notion of purpose to gain merit in the future. All spiritual methods of the East ultimate aim at entering this "state". For example, Zen can be understood as the art of acting just for the sake of acting. Accordingly, the Zen method is meditation which, in its strictest sense, is the one single activity serving no purpose whatsoever. In Zen meditation one just sits: not to get anywhere or achieve anything but just to sit. Because of our "doing-to-get" mentality, though, it is one of the most challenging tasks we could ever take up. Boredom, guilt, restlessness, meaninglessness are some of the symptoms of our conditioning that will come up and which need to be overcome to make friends with what is and to live in the present.
Other methods, like Rinzai Zen or Advaita Vedanta, try to induce experiential realizations of the infinite and endless ground of existence. Such insight not only undermines the notion of time, collapsing the future with the "Now", but it also leads one to conclude that there is nothing to get or nowhere to get to in the future that would not always be here now already.
To live truly it is important to realize that any possible future point in time will be the same "Now" when it finally arrives. Our cultural assumption of creating a better future is fundamentally flawed. To make our days brighter we don't need to change the world or ourselves but our internal relationship with the world and ourselves, that is, we need to change the way we "see" things. This is the meaning of "true happiness comes from within".
In that sense, the royal road to a fulfilling life is paved with unconditional acceptance, of ourselves and of the world as it is. When we say yes unconditionally the rat race of seeking happiness elsewhere stops instantaneously and we settle into the present. Then we will realize the "dirty" little secret of our social game that the only way to waste time in life is to think that we could ever waste time.
"The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you are still a rat."
~Lily Tomlin


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Mrs. Adams' Room
Fun Websites
District 301
The Special Education department at North Ward has a few changes again this year. Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Peters, Mrs. Price and Mrs. Hanner are still at North Ward,
but we will have a new Speech/Language Teacher (Miss Hart) and
a new School Psychologist (Dr. Dorner).
This school year, Mrs. Peters will mainly help Kindergarten and 1st graders, Mrs. Price will mainly help 2nd and 3rd graders and Mrs. Adams will help mainly 3rd and 4th graders. We will also "share" students occasionally, so your student may have more than 1 Special Education Teacher this year. No matter who helps your child,
we're looking forward to a great year for learning!
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