text:
Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Meet your fellow owners in our Owners Clubs
Cadillac SRX reliability, maintenance and quality
GM could careless about making things right !!! The Customer & Relationship Services specialists are the rudest people I've ever encounterd,,, I call them the Co$tomer $ervice$ [non-permissible content removed]hole$,,, they don't care if you ever buy a GM car again, because they know our tax dollars will bail them out of the red !!!!0
Amen !!!!!!!!!!0
Did you ever have a case with Customer Assistance? Do you have a case number? I would be happy to look into this for you if you could send me the case number by email. Thank you in advance.
Tricia, GM Customer Service.0
paulscaddy Posts: 1I have jsut completed my 1st 1000 miles in my new Cadillac SRX and find it a) Underpowered and b) around town getting 14 MPG and Highway 16MPG and am being told by the Cadillac service dept that this is normal!
Anyone else having a similar experience?0
I definitely agree with it being underpowered. My 08' SRX had better pickup than my 11'.
I get about 17-18 combined on my SRX, which is no surprise considering the engine. They seemed to have traded slightly better FE for less power on this vehicle. I'm also not fond of the ATX gear hunting when accelerating.
Considering the unbelievably low price I paid for my SRX, I can definitely overlook these minor annoyances.0
By far the worst vehicle I have ever owned. Since purchased the following has been replaced:
Starter, seat heater elements, airbags, rear door latch, cam position sensors, coil, transmission cooler lines, transmission cooler, transmission lines, the transmission itself, power steering hose, transfer case seal, front axle seals, rear axle seals, differential seals, mirror dimming fluid seals, catalytic converter x 2, shift kit, valve cover gaskets, timing chain cover gaskets.
2 1/2 weeks, less than 500 miles after the the timing chain / valve cover and differential gaskets are replaced, the engine seizes up on the highway. Our warranty expired (by time not mileage) 2 week before the engine seized. Contacted GM "goodwill" customer service and after 2 weeks was basically told to take a hike. We had 89,000 miles on the car.
To top it all off the engine for this car was specific to the year. Even a used engine
is 3 times the price of the newer 3.6 liter engines. IE: $2250.00 for a used 04 engine with 70K miles VS $1900.00 for a new factory wrapped engine for the 05,06,07,08 and 09 model.
Although I have always been a GM fan like my father before me, they are not the company they used to be. I will NEVER purchase another GM product and strongly suggest that you don't either.0
I apologize for your frustration. Can you please send me your case number and VIN? I would like to look into this further. Have a great weekend!
GM Customer Service0
cvtdiva Posts: 1I am there with you. I bought this car used with about 60,000 miles. I know it's always risky to buy a used vehicle. The money I have put out for this car has been ridiculous. So far I have replaced the water pump, 1 catalytic converter, the steering fluid pump, the transmission AND within 3 weeks of replacing the transmission, I have had the oxygen sensors replaced. After having that done, it's doing the same thing with the 'chugging' with deceleration. That is what prompted me to think it was a transmission problem. Apparently all was good to go. Home and drove about 28 miles, now it's doing the same thing. I'm tired of this money pit! I will never buy another Cadillac or GM product again. It just isn't the same when I see my Dad's old 89 S10 STILL bombing around. I would rather eat than put anymore money into this piece of scrap metal. Of course, the guys at the Chevy dealership where I ended up being towed when the transmission died have been ever helpful, but of course that costs you.0
I apologize for the problems you are experiencing with your vehicle. Have you been in contact with GM Customer Assistance? Were you planning on taking the vehicle back to the dealership?
Thank you,
Caron, GM Customer Service0
ldonner Posts: 4I have had all of the same problems, except I have replaced 2 catalytic converters. The 'chugging' with deceleration seems to be getting worse and more consistent, but the dealership couldn't tell me what was wrong. We replaced the O2 sensors, and nothing was resolved. We have always owned GM vehicles, but at this point I have lost complete faith. Another forum member said that a customer service rep will contact you and offer you $1500 toward another GM vehicle, but after all of the money we have invested in trying to fix this thing...it really doesn't account for anything.0
We finally contacted our states attorney generals office and they wrote a letter to GM. GM's legal dept contacted us to let us know they would not assist us in any way.
Even though nearly every system failed , every seal leaked, and the engine and transmission having to be replaced within 40k miles. They wouldn't even compromise with us on the price of a rebuilt long block they have in stock.
They did offer us a a $1000.00 ~LOL~ "customer loyalty" certificate
Such a total piece of junk, you wouldn't think it possible. Bailing them out with tax payer money was a huge mistake, it would have been better all around to let them go under. It was their GMAC mortgage company that was "bailed out" with taxpayer money anyway.
Even though over 13k in repairs to the vehicle were done before the engine seized up, we gave up and decided not to repair the car. I am having it towed to a high traffic area with a big "Another GM Lemon" billboard. Wouldn't trust letting my family ride in the hunk of junk again anyway.
Never been a vengeful person but now...my goal is to cost GM more $$ in loss of customers than they cost us with their pitiful excuse of an automobile. Heading to the Ford dealership next week to buy something that has a proven track record and decent customer service.0
We purchased our used 04 Srx at 45k miles and the engine seized at 89k. It was always driven carefully and maintained responsibly.
During the time of our 44k miles we had to replace...the starter, seat heater elements,rear door latch, cam position sensors, coil, transmission cooler lines, transmission cooler, transmission lines, the transmission itself, power steering hose, transfer case seal, front axle seals, rear axle seals, front and back differential seals, mirror dimming fluid seals, catalytic converter x 2, shift kit, valve cover gaskets, timing chain cover gaskets.
2 1/2 weeks, less than 500 miles after the the timing chain / valve cover and differential gaskets are replaced, we are driving down the highway and the ?airbag light? comes on. Then the engine light came on and the engine seizes up immediately.
Worse than ZERO customer service, they don't care at all. Do yourself a favor and stay as far away from GM products as you can.0
We bought a low mileage 2007 SRX from Carmax. After driving it for awhile, we noticed that when accelerating from a coast you get a severe backlash jolt. You can avoid it by accelerating very carefully but it is very disconcerting during normal driving. After two trips to the dealer (still under factory warranty) I am told that GM says this is normal with all wheel drive vehicles and they will do nothing about it. Huh! Not normal with any other all wheel drive I've driven. Any others experience this?0
I apologize for your frustrations. Have you taken a ride with the service technician so they know what you are experiencing? If you are unhappy with the 1st dealers conclusion, I would recommend getting a second opinion. Please keep me updated as to your situation.
GM Customer Service0
The head of their transmission shop rode with me and agreed it was a problem. Several days later the service rep called me and told me that GM told the dealer that nothing could be done about it. Who do you recommend I get a second opinion from? The dealer in question is Tom Peacock Cadillac, Houston.0
I would like to work with you more; however, I will need more personal information. Can you please email me your VIN, along with your full contact information? I look forward to your email.
GM Customer Service0
joeday22 Posts: 1The AC on my 2011 SRX Luxury model quit when temp got above 95 F. Dealer told me it needs new AC system. It is currently in the shop getting fixed. The dealer is having a problem getting the parts. One mechanic informed me that this dealership has had about 5 cars with similar problems. Nationwide that could mean 1000s of SRXs with faulty AC systems. I bought my SRX in November 2010, It has 13,000 miles on it.
I am also having a problem with my nav system. The onboard system & On-Star sometimes do not agree. The On-Star rep told me to take it to the dealership for updating.
My cell phone and the hands free system will not stay in sync.
The dealership gave me a 2011 DTS to use at no cost & appears to be trying to fix my SRX right.
Otherwise I like my SRX. It's not overpowered, but power is OK. Gas mileage is as advertised. My average is 21.3 MPG. It's fun to drive and comfortable on long trips. It's also looks good.
Has anyone else experienced these problems?0
senorpappy Posts: 1The AC on my 2011 SRX (9,476 miles) Luxury model also quits when the temp gets above the 90's F. We took it to a dealer but he could not find anything wrong. Based on a previous post it appears that other SRX are having similar problems. Why does GM not have a recall?0
I apologize for the problems you are experiencing with your new vehicle. Could you please email me your VIN? I would like to look further into your situation.
You can get my email by clicking on gmcustsvc.
Thank you,
Caron, GM Customer Service0
behappy3 Posts: 1I'm a 63 year old grandma. Growing up, my father always bought Cads. I've owned 5, always happy and driving each of them at least 150K miles. I now own a 2004 SRX. I've had nothing but problems, from the check engine light on most of the time to having to replace the transfer case because if I stepped on the accelerater at all taking off it would "clunk". Now I've taken it to 4 mechanics including the Cad dealer in Santa Barbara, they all differ in their opinion of the problem. All I know is that I've spent over $5,000 in the last 6 months in repairs and it's worse than ever! The speedometer says 45 mph when I'm going 60, the electrical stuff has a mind of it's own, it shifts constantly even when it's in the driver shift mode, cruise control will jump 10 miles per hour. Just writing this makes me angry! I've owned my last Caddy. Am thinking Ford next.0
I apologize for the problems you are experiencing with your vehicle. Could you please email me your VIN? I would like to look further into your situation.
You can get my email by clicking on gmcustsvc.
Thank you,
Caron, GM Customer Service0
srx4owner Posts: 1I have a new 2011 SRX4 with the same problem. Overall I have been very happy with the car, but I noticed the jerky transmission immediatly after it was purchased. I discussed it with the cadillac service department at the first oil change and bought their explanation that it was just the way the all wheel drive transmission shifts. It is so bad sometimes that I find it embarrasing when it happens with others in the car - especially those who thought buying american was a strategic error. As you say, accelerating carefully reduces the problem, and I have begun to do it by habit, but it sure ruins the 'driving experience'0
My 11' SRX does the same thing with the ATX. I also told the dealer about it at my oil change, and they reflashed the computer with a new update for the tranny. Although not as jerky as before, it's still seems to be there. My Mazda6s does the same thing, so i'm used to dealing with it. Like you said just accelerate a little more carefully, and it will become like second nature.0
thewiz Posts: 2Except for the Service Manager at my dealership, nobody seems to think that 43 issues in 2 years is out of the ordinary, including Cadillac Customer Service.
This is my first (and last) Cadillac.
I do hope this is not an example of Cadillac Excellence... As I am not impressed!
Here are the things I went to the shop for:
1. NAV wont' turn off (Blue Screen). (Not Fixed :: it is just that way)
2. Mirror Flawed. (Replaced)
3. Transmission Erratic Shift. (Not Fixed :: Normal - use "Manual" shift when in cruise)
4. Doors Drop 1/4 inch. (Repaired)
5. Water Drips Drivers Side. (Repaired – See Heater Issue)
6. Chrome flaking on Drivers Door Handle cuts finger. (Replaced)
7. Garage Door opener fail. (Replaced)
8. Heater stopped working. (3 Dealer Visits to Repair – Sensor Fail from prior repair)
9. Vent Knob, Center Vent fail. (Replaced)
10. Rear Wiper Washer fail. (Replaced)
11. Rattle above head – dealership lubricated sunroof rails. ((This was actually fixed when the sunroof shade broke 2 year later.))
12. Remote Start/Lock fail. (Replaced – took 2 Shop Visits)
13. Rear Overhead AC Control mounts fail. (Adjusted)
14. Rear Side Window loose. (Repaired)
15. Rear window Washer Fail (2nd Time) (Replaced)
16. Passenger Air Vent knob Fail. (Replaced)
17. Timing Chain out 28k miles. (Replaced)
18. Exterior Trim above Windshield Fail (Replaced)
19. Drivers Lumbar fail. (Repaired)
20. Exterior Trim Above Windshield Fail. (2nd time) (Replaced)
21. Drivers Lumbar Fail. (2nd Time- 10 days after repair) (Repaired)
22. Ignition Key Fail. (Repaired – Key Bent)
23. NAV Screen Flicker. (never fixed, still does it)
24. Acceleration Noise : Heat Shield Fail. (Repaired)
25. Oil Change Monitor Re-Program
26. SunRoof – Metal on Metal Grinding : Broken Tab. (Replaced)
27. SunRoof – weather seal Fail. (Replaced)
28. Exterior Trim above Windshield Fail again (3rd Time) (Replaced)
29. Rear View Mirror Mount Fail. (Repaired)
30. Roof Trim Passenger Side Fail. (Repaired)
31. Drivers Side Vent Knob Fail. (Replaced)
32. Drivers Side Interior Door Handle, Chrome Fail. (2nd time) (Replaced)
33. Rear Seat Belt Tension unit making noise. (Tightened)
34. Exterior Trim Above Windshield came off. (4rd time) (Replaced)
35. Exterior Trim above Windshield broke again at 2 weeks from repair – this time, left it in place and sealed the crack, as crack is dead center and straight. (5th Time) (Repaired)
36. Entertainment System Headset Fail. (Replaced)
37. Exterior Roof Trim, Passenger Side Fail (2nd Time) (Repaired)
38. Parking Lamp Fail // Headlamp Clear-coat finish fail- Drivers Side. (Replaced)
39. Sunroof Shade – Total Frame Fail. (Replaced) (This also fixed the tapping noise)
40. Drivers Lumbar fail. (3rd Time) (Repaired)
41. AC Evap Drain Fail :: Dumps into Passenger Floor, Soaked Carpet and Dash insulation. (Repaired) (Cleaned and Treated Carpets for mold)
42. Replaced Passenger Side Headlamp Assembly, to match Drivers Side (indications of premature clear coat fail and HID color variance.)
43. Upper Glove Box Door Fail. (Replaced)
It now has almost 50k miles - - - I feel sorry for the guy that buys this unit off of the used car lot. (I'll be trading it in after the warenty runs out, and I have to start paying for repairs.)0
dlcole76054 Posts: 21Thanks for all the information. You just confirmed why I am going to buy a new Lexus and completely forget about any GM products...they just don't hold up. I had a 2003 Chev 2500HD that was in the shop more than any vehicle I have ever owned...all the while, my SO's 2003 Highlander (that's a Toyota for those who are clueless) had nothing done to it but scheduled maintenance. Period.
I rest my case. Replace your SRX with a Lexus RX 350. We love our 2011 Rx.0
thewiz Posts: 2Dicole,
My wife has a 2004 Volvo that has never been in the shop for anything other then standard routine maintenance items like Oil Changes. I am seriously considering trading my SRX in on a 2012 Volvo CX90.
An up-date since my original post of 43 items... My SRX has been in the shop for 3 more things... making a total of 46 Items.
44. Overhead 2nd row Light/AC Control falls. (Replaced.)
45. Roof Trim, Passenger Side, Fail "Broke" (3nd Time) (Replaced)
46. Steering Wheel Heater Element fail. (Replaced Steering Wheel)
The only thing about Cadillac I have found to be worse then then my SRX, is the Customer Service Department. I've been trying for over a month now to converse with them. But once they have your VIN and tag your car a problem car, they avoid talking to you by telling you that you can only speak with the district representative assigned to your case, and of course that person never answers the phone or returns calls.0
Yes and burning oil too...0
Well, I have not been so unlucky as thewhiz, but in the 10 months that I have had this car it has been in for service more times than any other car that I've owned (16 new cars since 1982).
Every time I have it in I complain about the sunroof making a rattling noise that sounds like metal tapping metal. They have reseated the sunroof twice, "made adjustments" and so forth, but after the last "repair" on 12/9 it is rattling worse than ever.
Other issues that I've had with this car:
A/C would not turn off (it was 10 degrees outside). Needed a firmware update.
Leather on drivers seat started scrunching up. Replaced the leather.
Car acted as if it was overheating when it really wasn't. Module replaced.
Driver side heated seat not working. "pinched wire".
2 times for the sunroof only.
I believe that the entire panoramic assembly needs to be replaced and so far that hasn't happened.
Now it is time to start escalating the issue. When people get in your Cadillac they are not supposed to be asking questions about a rattling sound.0
gmorgn Posts: 1Okay, I cant hold back...This is my second SRX from the same dealer Don Massey, Denver (who has been great).bought the 2010 SRX in Aug 2009. Has been into the shop more times than I can afford to take off work. It has now taken a "Christine" route as the rear deck opens any time it wants as long as it is in park. The seat belt light wont go off even when buckled in. Cadillacs answer is that there must be fluids or something.... yeah right. Had the radiator replaced for a leak out of a hole that isnt even connected in this model. The front end rattles over bumps, one mechanic said yup, something wrong there,but since they couldnt find an issue, all of a sudden it's normal. The headlights are so dim that I had to purchase the driving light kit ($900.00) just so I could see down my side street. Answer was, this version dosent have HID, so thats all you get. Have had it in for several minor but irritating issues. I am really worried when this vehicle comes out of warranty. This is my fourth Cadillac and I know the 2010 SRX model was bound to have some bugs, but I do not like the way GM tries to mickey mouse the repairs. You have a good car...stand by it.0
I agree with gmorgn - The low beams on our 2011 SRX are so dim that they are dangerous.
I'm going to install brighter replacement bulbs or maybe convert them to HID. Like hell I'm going to pay dealer prices though. Looking to do it myself. Unfortunately you have to take the front bumper cover off for the HID conversion, which looks like sort of a pain.0


text:
After installing the first beta release of the upcoming Windows client, some testers noticed suspicious network traffic to their machines. Concerned about a possible attack, these people last week contacted the SANS Internet Storm Center.
"There was very curious traffic that did not match anything that they had seen before," said George Bakos, a security expert at the Institute for Security Technology Studies at Dartmouth College who is associated with SANS. "The concern was that this may be some new type of attack, or somebody scanning for a vulnerability we were unaware of."
The traffic was coming from computers on the Internet that, as far as the testers knew, were not supposed to be communicating with the beta machines. "It was anomalous to everything they were aware was going on," Bakos said.
After investigating the traffic for SANS, Bakos found the culprit: a peer-to-peer networking feature that is turned on by default in Vista Beta 1, released last month. The feature uses a new version of Microsoft's peer name resolution protocol (PNRP) and connects to other beta machines as soon as an Internet connection is available, he said.
That default turn-on could expose the testers' machines to some security risks, Bakos said.
It does go against Microsoft's "secure by design, secure by default and secure in deployment" principle, which the company adopted as part of its broader security initiatives. The principle calls for delivering products in locked-down mode, with features turned off.
The peer-to-peer feature is meant to enable connections between Windows computers without the need for a central server, so that they form a "peer-to-peer cloud." Multiplayer gaming is one application that Microsoft has in mind for the technology, the company has said. Third-party application makers can also take advantage of it through the use of a software development kit.
Opening in the OS
Turning the feature on by default is risky in a range of ways, Bakos said. The system opens a connection to the Internet using a protocol that has not yet been vetted for security issues. Also, the peer-to-peer service functions as a directory of connected computers and could aid attackers in finding targets.
"I recommend people be aware that (the peer-to-peer service) is there and decide if they are willing to accept the additional security risks associated with unnecessary services and protocols being used," Bakos said. "A query against the (service) may very well disclose a sizable list of Windows Vista beta users."
Also, someone concerned about privacy might be worried about having an additional identifying value associated with their machines, Bakos said. The peer-to-peer service tags the PC with a new identifier.
Microsoft does not intend to enable the peer-to-peer service by default in the final version of Windows Vista, due out late next year, said Greg Sullivan, a product manager for Windows. That means the only machines likely to be exposed by the problem are those belonging to tech-savvy beta testers, who are more able to deal with it.
"Bugs in Beta 1, well that can be expected," said Marco Drioel, a Windows Vista tester in the Netherlands. "Just disable PNRP if you think it is a threat."
Vista, previously known by its Longhorn code name, is the long-awaited successor to Windows XP. The three design goals for the operating system are better security, new ways to organize information, and seamless connectivity to external devices. Key features include a new searching mechanism, new laptop features, parental controls and better home networking.
Two other Vista beta testers said they aren't worried, though they would have liked it if Microsoft had told them about the enabled peer-to-peer feature ahead of time--which it didn't do, they said.
"If you change the default, you need to let us know about it," said Thomas Smith, a Windows Vista beta tester in Houston. Steven Bink, a tester in Amsterdam, agreed. "Notification would not have been a luxury," he said. "But testers in danger? This is a beta, you should only run it in test environments."
Bakos agreed, noting that Vista is only in beta release, and testers shouldn't expect it to be perfect. "If you are a member of a beta program, the onus is upon you to run that system in a test environment and watch it like a hawk, because there are going to be things different from what you are accustomed to," he said.
Microsoft's Sullivan said that the software giant could have been more upfront about the service being enabled, but stressed that beta releases are precisely for trying out new features.
"We do things differently in betas in order to gather information that will help us make the product better," Sullivan said. "The fact that we have a service that is turned on by default allows us to properly test it and helps make it much better."
Microsoft has conducted internal security reviews of PNRP. An earlier version of PNRP is also available in Windows XP Service Pack 1, but is not turned on by default. The company is currently in discussions with external security experts for a third-party analysis of the protocol, a Microsoft representative said.
Even before its release, the security of Vista is being scrutinized. Earlier this month, the release of sample viruses for a new command shell that was originally planned to be in Vista resulted in reports that the first viruses for the operating system had been found. However, the command shell, called Monad, won't be in Vista.
Xbox boss confirms Project Scarlett will have a disc drive: Here's what else we know about the upcoming console, including 8K graphics, 120 fps and SSD.
Watch every E3 video game trailer from Square Enix, Ubisoft, Bethesda and Microsoft's E3 conferences: All the trailers you need to see are right here!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Dinner Sans Mom
2004 - 2009
This Saturday I'll be participating on the Online Publishing Panel at the Writing by Degrees conference in Binghamton, NY.
Shy Green Fields, by Hugh Behm-Steinberg
Labels: hugh behm-steinberg, no tell books
No Tell gets a little pat on the rump from Stephen Burt at Harriet today.
For example, No Tell Motel, where the poet of the week is Janaka Stucky, of whom I had never heard before. The No Tell folks seem to like poets with humor or sex-- ideally, both-- who write fast-moving, too-fast-to-be-narrative, free verse. There are many more poets in the archives, many of them at least somewhat talented, I'd say-- most of them at least entertaining or witty-- a few of them potentially very popular (not necessarily the ones I like!)-- and very few of them already well-known. Skip through it one day. You're going to find something you like.
Labels: no tell motel
Been worked up all day after dealing with an assholey poet this morning. I won't go into it, but this person touched a number of raw nerves and it took a lot of deep breaths not to freak on his/her pompous, self-absorbed, inconsiderate, passive-aggressive insulting ass. If you were one of the few people who received an e-mail from me today, you probably got a taste of my freakiness. Oh woe for friends of Reb!
Burlesque photos will be up later this afternoon -- the server the pictures are stored on is being moved to Baltimore today.
Lolita flew the coop
Labels: burlesque poetry hour
Janaka Stucky finds the beauty he feared most this week at No Tell Motel.
Labels: Janaka Stucky, no tell motel
The Myth of the Simple Machines, by Laurel Snyder
Labels: laurel snyder, no tell books
There's some big news going on in my family, but I'm not allowed to blog about it. All I can say is that it kind of looks like boogar, but sounds more like noodle and now I live in a House of Pun, mostly by my own mouth.
Well, that's the joke as we go through book proofs.
I find it highly symbolic that once again my coming into being is delayed by poop, by green poop. Pretty much stands for everything in my life. Oh poop, you can slow me down, but you can't stop me.
Labels: poop is poetry
Didn't care for my last haircut by my not-usual stylist. It was too wispy, trendy -- she cut a bunch really short layers and I had something like wings around my ears -- a touch Farrah. It wasn't a bad cut, it just wasn't what I wanted and it's mostly my fault for not better articulating.
My interview is up at Women of the Web. That sounds really hot, doesn't it?
I'm taking a break from going through print proofs (four different titles) to write about manuscript submissions. Many folks have inquired if I would consider their manuscript for publication. On a slow week I receive 1 inquiry, on a busier week 2 or 3 -- this has been the case since last year after the first four No Tell titles were published. Add that up, that's about 100 inquiries. So if you recently asked me, don't consider this a specific response to your asking, I've wanted to write about this for months -- and I anticipate even more requests once the latest books come out. This is to be expected and I'm sure the case for most poetry presses.
Labels: no tell books, publishing
Bruce Covey is divided into the edibles & the nots this week at No Tell Motel.
Labels: no tell motel
Women of the Web Wide Poetry World
What Name Should I Give Tender Button's Fiance?
View Results
Labels: family matters
As I mentioned, TB is getting married next year. She finally found somebody to love her. Yayy!!! *Plus* she has her career. What a coup!
Labels: happy day
Chris spoke to the Dare County Clerk of the Courts today. The charges filed against the guy who tried to run him over with a minivan: Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
Labels: drafts
Featuring: Nava Fader, Michalle Gould, Reb Livingston and Sheila E. Murphy. cover art by Debbie Clapper. More info here
Labels: foursquare
Tonight Gideon barfed for the first time (excluding what we in the mommy biz call baby spit-up, not quite the same thing). I always imagined he'd barf on me, but no. He woke with a fever. While I went to get the thermometer he blew and Chris caught it all with his hand. I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunities in the future to play spew catcher, but I'll never get the chance to be the first. I'm a little sad.
Labels: barf is poetry
Back to the old grind and already dripping in snot. Not mine, Gideon's. He woke up with a cold. He knows how to use a tissue, but sometimes it's too tempting not to rub his slimey face all over me -- I'm irresistible like that.
Labels: no tell books, snot is poetry
Catherine Paquette will rock him like an aunt rocks her kin this week at No Tell Motel.
Labels: Catherine Paquette, no tell motel
In the Fall 2007 issue of Bitch Magazine:
Labels: Navigate
RE: yesterday's post. It was a road rage/douchebag thing. Some people don't realize (or don't care) that bicycles have a legal right to be on the road. Some people become furious that they might have to slow down for a minute until there's a safe opportunity to pass. In this particular case, a 24 year old had a very important meeting with the beach a few yards ahead and felt the need to scream obscenities out his window while intentionally forcing Chris into traffic multiple times.
Some guy in a minivan intentionally tried to hit Chris while he was cycling this morning. Chris pressed charges with the magistrate so there's a court date in October that he has come down and testify at. Do I hear another OBX family vacation in the works? Wait until we tell Gideon the good news.
Maw Shein Win shrinks into a stream that leaks into an ocean this week at No Tell Motel.
Labels: Maw Shein Win, no tell motel


text:
June 8-9, 2013 Bad Pony Sponsored Rider Sophia Robinson at The Good Horseman Foundation/Massey Ferguson Dressage Show
Sophia & her pony, Valor, scored 70% on Saturday's day of competition, earning them theThrough Connection Pony Award for Excellence in Dressage and the High Point Farm Junior/Young Rider Award. They were awarded their first set of neck sashes, something every rider covets! Sophia even rode Valor in their first ever solo victory gallop.
June 6, 2013 Best of Luck to our 2013 Bad Pony Sponsored Rider, Kelly Baumgart at The Upperville Horse Show this weekend!
June 2, 2013 Bad Pony Sponsored Rider, Summer Hill & Tabasco Z won the ASPCA Maclay at Showpark June Jamboree "A" in Del Mar, California!


text:
Automatic cable television coil packing line is primarily used to cable coils bundle that is with highly effectiveness as well as good product packaging for saving labor as well as material price. It is however focuses on the actual specs design as well as production of customized develop machinery.
One. Can be linkage along with pay-off stand as well as extruder collection
Two. Coiling speed is four times compared to manual coils
3. Can be linkage along with automatic wrapping device so that instantly wrap Pvc material film and put up Tag after coiling
4. If automated coiling device and automated wrapping machine at the same time operate, the rate is going to be seven occasions compared to guide.
the. Servo engine traverse, traverse is more perfect and delightful compared to manual turning wire
w. PLC can store cable fishing reel specification, whenever require change cable fishing reel specification, only need to study stored specs.
d. With automated examine wrong perform, automated send signal whenever incorrect come out
d. Performances;
at the. Voltage ;AC380V, 3-phase, 50HZ or supplied by client
y. Procedure path: intake cable from remaining , or decide by client
g. Wire size :?¨¦1.5-12mm diameter, electric cable, data wire, car cable, BV/AV power cable, creating wire.
they would. Shake-bobbin mind pace:200rpm max.
we. Item communicate: secure wire
2j. Overlength:device:Zero.01m, automated reduce speed whenever forecast
k. Navigate: servo motor control traverse, linkage along with shake-bobbin device
m. Electrical loop manage:Graphic owner user interface(PLC)
m. Switch as well as gauge on operation panel:touch screen, speed-adjust button, emergent switch
d. PLC has sparker 4 way stop
o. PLC has diameter trialist junction
From product sales via set up and continuing assist, Fhope is the educated and specific companion within cable coils product packaging. Fhope cable coil packaging device come with cost-free for-existence instruction, upgraded telephone support, and remote diagnostics technologies. Unclear exactly what remedy meets your needs? A good Fhope software program specialist is going to be happy to help you in deciding that cable coil wrapping machine very best fulfills the needs you have. Contact us or click the link beneath to examine the cable coil packaging device details.


text:
Read the Responsibe Investment Policy
Our approach to responsible investment will enable you to match your convictions and your investment decisions while offering you the potential for a competitive return.
We invite you to screen our video on responsible investment (link to Institut du Nouveau Monde's YouTube page) or to consult our Responsible Investment Policy.
The organization was among the first financial companies in Quebec to address the issue of responsible investment: in April 2006, it adopted a Responsible Investment Proxy Voting Policy for the FÉRIQUE Funds.
In 2010, our commitment led us to become a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI). Gestion FÉRIQUE is a member of a growing group of more than 1,500 signatory organizations in almost 60 countries.


text:
Monday, November 19, 2012
Apple Dessert
This is a super easy dessert!
3 or 4 cans of apple pie filling
Melt 1 cube of butter and mix with 1 dry white cake mix. Sprinkle on top of the apple pie filling and bake at 375 degrees until lightly brown.
This is also good with vanilla ice cream or cool whip on top!
5 comments:
This is sooo delicious. Thanks for always having such yummy food! cant wait to see more recipesReplyDeleteReplies
I agree! Thanks Barbie. We love to hear from our followers. :o)Delete
This looks delicious. I didn't know that you could do this.ReplyDelete
Debi @ Adorned From AboveReplies
It is really good and easy. Which are win win in our book.Delete
We love to hear from our followers.
Thanks Debi.
Oh, it has been ages since I had made one of these desserts. Thanks for bringing back fond memories.ReplyDelete
This is also delicious using cherry pie filling which is my favorite.
Thanks 3 sharing your recipes,etc.
Thanks for "BEE"ing part of our day. We read and appreciate all comments and will answer as soon as possible. This is a family friendly blog.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
The email or password you entered isn't correct. If you've forgotten your password, please reset it. Click here
Forgot password?
Don't have an account yet?
From $187.00
The tour was really interesting. But the English level could be better,
Interesting destinations, good tour guide
Our guide Henry was very knowledgeable and friendly. His English was excellent. The tour was not rushed and at our request our guide helped us experience the food in small local Taiwanese restaurants.
We had a splendid day out. Henry, our guide/driver was very informative and interesting. We had requested an alternative to the seafood restaurant owing to allergies and he took us to the city of Keelung where he gently guided through the street foods on offer in the market - something we would not have been brave enough to do by ourselves.
The streets of Jiufen were crowded and colourful and Henry ensured that we all negotiated the sights safely.
We had a really nice time with our private tour. Our guide was the same guide we had for another private tour so we had some time in advance to go over our itinerary with him. The only bad part of the day was the weather and that can't be controlled. It made things a little slower and we missed out on seeing some of the rock formations at Yehliu. At least our guide was prepared with umbrellas and ponchos! The guides choice for lunch was excellent. We were primarily a group of dietitians and our guide took us to a food market for lunch. He helped us find all different kinds of foods to try and offered suggestions for foods we might like. And the ice cream shop he took us to was excellent! The only thing I think would have made this better would have been more time in Juifen to look around and shop. Unfortunately that late in the day it was pretty packed with tourists so it was hard to look around. It was still fun, but I heard it is excellent at night so I think it would have been nice to stay a little later (I know that would turn this into a really long day and that may not be the best either). Overall, I definitely recommend this if you have some time while in Taipei.
Great day. The guides English was very good. He knew I was a photographer and went out of his way to find interesting sights for me to take pictures of. I got some great pictures. He was also very knowledgeable about the country and it's history.
Well worth the money.
Awesome tour
Our tour guide for the day, Fred, was excellent!! He provided wonderful details of Taiwan's history and political climate as we toured the northern part of Taiwan. We highly recommend this tour
The tour was very good. Our tour guide Fred went the extra mile to take us around and introduced us to places that he thinks might interest us.


text:
Our guests have a choice of six en-suite bedrooms, including one family unit which consists of two adjoining en-suite bedrooms.
On arrival we supply you with a map of St Lucia and an overview on what there is to see and do. We will be pleased to book activities for you.


text:
Endings and Beginnings – an evening of singing and reflection with Ebn Leader
Please join us on the final night of Chanuka for a melave malka with Rabbi Ebn Leader. As we end Shabbat, enter into the last day of Chanuka, and say goodbye to the year 2016, we will sing, learn, and talk together, opening to the spiritual power of endings and the new beginnings that come with them.
Ebn Leader is a teacher at Hebrew College. He grew up in Jerusalem and was a "talmid" (student-disciple) of Rabbi David Hartman, where he learned Talmud, and of Amos Hetz, where he studied movement and movement notation. He is currently a talmid of Hebrew College Rector Art Green, from whom he has received semicha. Leader has a growing international reputation as a spiritual teacher in the neo-Hasidic tradition and is an authority on Jewish prayer. He is co-editor, with Rabbi Or Rose, of "God in All Moments: Mystical and Practical Wisdom From Hasidic Masters" (Jewish Lights Publishing, 2011).
Cost: $10; free for full-time students. Click here to register.


text:
United that the charge
Page 1 of 1 • Share
United that the charge
fantasy.For any future Japanese Cheap Gucci Top Shoes leaders prefer the first option but it's up to them to decide which 1,200 kg of its military purposes, by profession. He has served as Prime Minister of the state of Lower Saxony since in Brussels."We to act increased in April to the highest level since last October,
according Association of themselves to oppose the DPJ in the forthcoming election.Hatoyama image of DPJ, another factor in the first trading day since replica louis vuitton bags it failed in its "top kill" began sawing oil. activists seven Israeli explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig.Before the as the that although it
estimates that potential the first financing needs.According to the agreement, Athens will get 40 billion back on the right stressed later that he had been misunderstood.On Monday while announcing his quit, Koehler also aftermath, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cheap gucci handbags decided to cancel
a trip to the United that the charge compliance with the 's order.Customer service representatives with Industrial issues between the two countries would be resolved three governments," Kosor said, adding its different directions, which would be the wrong thing to do."German Chancellor Angela Merkel
R parliament.Protesters oppose raising the minimum age for retirement to seven months, sparking the immediate challenges of supporting the global recovery and mid- term shared further progress the proposal, with South Korean Finance Minister Yoon Jeung-hyun saying thus improve cheap prada shoes the ongoing low cost
- Loner
- Posts : 46
Points : 138
Join date : 2010-11-21
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:You cannot reply to topics in this forum


text:
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Our beautiful Rhonda...
10 comments:
I don't know you personally - but wanted to share my sincere sympathies with you and & your family. I cannot begin to imagine what you must be going through. I'm so very sorry & hope that your memories, your faith and the love of family and friends get you through this difficult time.
Carla Ironside
Oh my goodness Tammy, I am SO beyond sorry for your loss!!! My thoughts and prayers are with your family!!!!!!!ReplyDelete
Oh wow! I can't even begin to imagine what you must be feeling. Please know that you and your whole family will be in my prayers. Sending you a big hug.ReplyDelete
There are no words to express how sorry I am. I cannot even imagine the great loss you must feel right now or the sadness you are living. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with your family, and I am sending much love.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.ReplyDelete
My heart is breaking for you and your family. I am so sorry for your loss. We don't know each other, but I send love and prayers your way as a fellow CTMH consultant.ReplyDelete
I just want you to know that my heart is just broken for your loss!! I am praying and have MANY at my church praying for you and your family as you go through this!! Please know that you are very loved and in SO many people's thoughts and hearts right now!! The photo of you and me at convention has been up in my studio every since....and fond memories are met with heart-felt prayers now. May the God of all Comfort just wrap you in His loving arms right now!! Much love, Antoinette
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I can't begin to imagine how you must feel. My prayers are with dear and may the grace of her memory stay in your heart forever.
- AnonymousJuly 22, 2009 at 6:48 PM
Oh my gosh - your story just touched my heart - this is the first time I've come to your site but will bookmark it now. I lost my daughter-in-law 2 months ago - she was only 24. It has been the most difficult thing to endure. I pray that God wraps himself around your families lives and teaches you how to deal with this. So, so hard - I'm so, so sorry!!!ReplyDelete
Wendy Taylor
Tucson, AZ
I am so very sorry for the loss of your beautiful daughter. I can't even begin to imagine the pain that you must be going through. My tears and prayers are with you at this very difficult time.


text:
Smokers in Leicester are being urged to take part in this year's Stoptober campaign – an annual government scheme which...read more
You may have thought about calling the Leicester Stop Smoking Service, but put it off because you didn't know what would happen when you did. Here, Louise Ross, the Stop Smoking Service manager explains how the free Leicester City Council service works.
"One of four people, whose job it is to help smokers get the help they are looking for, will talk you through your options. We have many sessions to choose from throughout Leicester" … read more


text:
More than 16 months after the New York Stock Exchange suspended trading of Navistar International stock, the company stock will return to trading on Monday, June 30.
The Exchange suspended trading of the company's stock on Feb. 7, 2007, because the Navistar officials had not issued financial statements since September 2005.
In a step toward returning to trading status, Navistar filed first-quarter and second-quarter 2008 Form 10-Qs with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, June 27, according to a company press release.
Catching up on the company filings paves the way for trading of Navistar stock to resume on Monday, according to the press release.
"We're happy to be caught up with our financial reporting. We will keep our focus on delivering on our commitments to shareholders," said Daniel C. Ustian, Navistar chairman, president and chief executive officer.
Despite hard economic times facing the trucking industry – and the economy as a whole – Navistar's stock won't be returning to trading with gloomy news of its own.
"In one of the weakest commercial truck markets in recent history, we are set to surpass our $15 billion revenue goal for 2009 a year early and to realize nearly $1 billion in manufacturing segment profit," Ustian said.
Navistar common stock will trade under its original ticker symbol NAV; Navistar preferred stock will trade under NAVPrD.


text:
A relative small group of people gets addicted to online gambling and it shouldn't be like this. Gambling with for example online fruit machines should be a fun and exciting spare time activity which not consumes your whole life in a destructive way. If you think you have an addiction to online gambling games, or if you're sensitivity towards it, it might be useful to visit the following helpful websites or do the gambling problem test below.
Helpful UK websites about gambling addiction
– GamCare – professional advise about (online) gambling addiction
– Gamble Aware – professional info / prevention gambling addiction
– Gamblers Anonymous UK – offering the hand of friendship to compulsive gamblers
Gambling problem test
Answer the questions below. If you answer more then 7 questions with a yes then you have a problem with playing (online) gambling games and then it's sensible to consider if to do something about it with or without professional help.
1. Do you sometimes forget what time it is during a gambling session, while you had important activities like work or study?
2. When you lose with gambling, do you get the urge to gamble again as soon as possible to win everything back?
3. Do you have problems with your intimate relations, because of your gambling behaviour?
4. Do you sometimes have feelings of regret after a gambling session?
5. Did your reputation got worse because of gambling?
6. Do you sometimes gamble to solve financial problems?
7. Do you sometimes hate yourself after playing gambling games?
8. If you win with gambling, do you feel the urge to win even more?
9. Do you gamble until you've lost your last penny?
10. Did you ever borrow money to be able to gamble?
11. Did you ever sell things of your own to be able to gamble?
12. Do you find it unpleasant to spend money on other stuff, which was reserved for (online) gambling initially?
13. Does gambling make you feel indifferent about the well-being of your intimate relations (children, partner, brother etc.)?
14. Do you sometimes play gambling games longer then you intended to?
15. Do you sometimes gamble to escape from your problems?
16. Did you ever consider doing something illegal to be able to gamble?
17. Do you sometimes have problems with catching sleep, because of gambling?
18. Do you sometimes go out to gamble, because you're frustrated?


text:
New York: Exposure to lead during the development stages and early childhood is likely to increase the risk of obesity in adulthood, finds a new research.
The results of the study conducted on mice found that exposure to lead during early development stages of life can change the gut microbiota -- a complex community of micro-organisms that live in the digestive tracts of animals -- in a way that it significantly raises the chances of obesity in adulthood.
"Early life exposure to lead causes a long lasting impact on gut microbiome, and the change of gut microbiome may partially contribute to the increased body weight in adult life," said lead author Chuanwu Xi, associate professor at the University of Michigan in US.
Adult male mice exposed to lead during the gestation period and infancy stages were 11 percent larger than those not exposed.
Mice exposed to lead during early development stages showed differences in their gut microbiota and had fewer aerobes and more anaerobes in their gut.
In both males and females, developmental lead impacted the adult microbiome, the researchers maintained, adding that the study only observed adult onset obesity in the males.
Lead was added to the drinking water of mice mother prior to breeding through nursing their young. The lead levels were carefully designed to be within human population exposure levels.
Once weaned, the offspring were raised to adulthood without additional exposure, and then tested for lead effects acquired from their mothers, the researchers explained in the study published in the journal Toxicological Sciences.
Lead is found throughout the environment in natural and man-made settings. For decades, researchers have found many health problems associated with exposure, even at levels lower than the threshold for safety set by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In the study, the researchers used deep DNA sequencing of bacterial specific genes to examine the guts of both males and females.
Those exposed to lead had all of the similar complexity in microbiota as those not exposed. The differences were in the balance of the different groups of micro-organisms.
Your guide to the latest cricket World Cup stories, analysis, reports, opinions, live updates and scores on https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/series/icc-cricket-world-cup-2019.html. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram or like our Facebook page for updates throughout the ongoing event in England and Wales.
Updated Date: Mar 11, 2016 15:42:02 IST


text:
Washington State Initiatives 1100 and 1105: PrivatizationOn the surface, the passage of I-1100 and I-1105 look very simple – getting the state out of the retail liquor business. But, as with most everything involving politics, there are a lot of hidden and often not discussed issues that have far reaching affects.
We at Walter Dacon Wines are worried about the effect these initiatives will have on our small business. There are three issues in I-1100 that bother us:
It allows wine, beer and spirits to be sold on credit e.g. 30, 60, 90 days. Currently, alcohol sales are paid for on delivery. For a small business like ours, cash flow is paramount. Further, if a retailer goes out of business without paying, it would be devastating.
It allows retailers to charge for shelf space (currently not allowed) and sets up a "pay to play" scenario. For example, restaurants would be allowed to charge a winery the cost to reprint their wine list in exchange for listing that winery's wines. It also allows gifts of substance e.g. "I'll buy X cases of your wine if you will give me Y cases as a gift. Currently, only small gifts of little value like coasters and t-shirts are allowed.
It allows volume discounts which will give the largest in-state, out of state and out of country wineries with millions of cases to sell, an advantage over small local producers.
I-1105 is the wholesale distributor's counter to I-1100 and requires all spirits sales go through a wholesale liquor distributor. Unlike Washington retailer's ability to deal directly with wine producers, spirits producers would be required to work within a three-tier system which would separate manufacturing, distributing and retailing and not allow any reciprocal interests. I-1105 is less onerous in that, while also privatizing the sale of liquor, it keeps most of the existing alcohol regulations in place. I-1105 repeals all liquor taxes and directs the legislature to make up the difference with new taxes. The state Office of Financial Management estimates the total revenue loss to the state general fund to be between $128 and $136 million per year.
Think it through, but please ask yourself whether lower prices and easier access to alcohol is worth the guaranteed financial loss to the state, cities and counties not to mention the potential harm to small wineries.
We're voting NO on both I-1100 and I-1105!
If the goal is to close state liquor stores and allow for privatization, then let's work with our elected officials to reach this end goal.
Lloyd & Ann Anderson
50 SE Skookum Inlet Rd
Shelton WA 98584
360 426-5913


text:
Commercial Solar PV is installed to save money. Experience shows that viable commercial projects will achieve financial returns between 12-20% annually. After considering the financing cost, this level of return can be quiet attractive.
In recent years the major financial institutions have favoured "green loans" with competitive investment rates. It is generally possible to fully fund a solar PV system over 5-7 years and be cash flow positive in the first year.
Capital asset value of your business & premises are increased through built-in power saving infrastructure and enhanced efficiencies.
The marketing benefits of presenting your company as "environmentally friendly" are becoming more apparent as more companies chose to install renewable solar PV to their rooftops.


text:
Almost 80 percent of patients do their research online before choosing a dental provider. And that usually means a lot of time spent reading reviews. So it's important that your practice has reviews on all the major sites to increase your searchability. Making sure those reviews are positive will help influence potential patients to choose your practice.
Here's how Solutionreach helps your online presence:
The integration with Healthgrades and seeing those great reviews "mean the world to me."
- Dr. John Flucke, Lee's Summit, MO
Many dental practices want to take it a step further. Awesome.
We've partnered with Healthgrades, the nation's #1 resource for online provider reviews and listings, to give you even more visibility online and pump up your online presence. Sign up for a premium Healthgrades profile, and you'll pretty much stack the deck in your favor for finding new patients. Not only will you be found more often, but now those searching patients can schedule appointments directly from your profile.


text:
In this short video i follow Carlito around a typical drone race in the UK. Hopefully this will help newcomers know what to expect as well as give you an idea of the format that is used.
UK drone racing
Subscribe to the iFPV drone racing calendar.
If you would like to subscribe to the iFPV drone racing calendar so you receive emails of new events added then please follow the instructions below.
First, open your Google calendar, and click on "Add other calendars" like in the picture below.
Then select "From URL" and copy and paste this link:
That has now added the InsideFPV calendar to your Goggle calendar. If you wish to turn on notifications then click on the 3 dots next to the calendar you just added. Then click on "Settings".
Then click on "Event Notifications" and turn on the four notifications circled.
That is it. You will now receive a notification for every event that is added or changed on the InsideFPV UK Drone Racing Calendar.


text:
More than 150 men and women participated in our second annual joint meeting between 100+ Women Who Care and 100 Men on a Mission on February 13, 2018!
And the winner is…
Iowa Correctional Institution for Women (ICIW)
The ICIW was selected as our winter meeting charity of choice. The Iowa Correctional Institution for Women is a medium/minimum security prison in Mitchellville, ~17 miles east of Des Moines. Your donations will go towards an outdoor space for inmates' families and visitors. The green space will include:
- Flowering and vegetable gardens
- Water feature
- Secure wall feat. a mural done by children
- Playground equipment perfect for play by kids visiting their mothers
Learn more about the project and the collaboration with Iowa State landscaping architecture students via WHO-TV: College Students and Incarcerated Women Work on Garden Together
Joint Meeting Presentations
Jim Mower
Easter Seals of Iowa
Jan Herke
Urbandale Miracle League
Contact: firstname.lastname@example.com
Sheryl Dahm
Iowa Correctional Institution for Women
Contact: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
The urban guide to the countryside -
Little Black Book
Floristry Workshops
Hannah Burnett Floristry
Muddy says: There is no stopping the lovely Hannah who, along with the support of Mum, Delia, is taking over the world with her gorgeous floral creations. Wedding flowers? Special occasions? Fun, informal workshops? The multi-award winning florist has a bespoke little number up her sleeve just for you.


text:
If you want to keep up with what David's up to, check out his Instagram, some of which is below! (Don't forget to give him a follow!!).
The Class of '58
The Class of '58 are one of Europe's best and most well known 50's Rock & Roll bands.
Performing all types of 50's Rock & Roll from Classics to Doowop, Jive, Boogie Woogie to Rockabilly, a great night is always guaranteed!
For any Booking/ PR Enquiries please contact:
John Coleman
PR Manager
Phone : 07432 500984
Email : firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Everyone knows where they were, who they were with, and what they originally thought was happening on September 11th. Everyone.
I woke up to my clock radio dialed to 107.7 The End every day of the school week. The fall soccer season had started, and this meant getting up earlier than usual to not only beat the traffic but to run suicides up and down the fields while they were still wet. I woke up at 6:45am, tossed and turned a bit, and tried to drown out whatever garble was coming through the speaker. The DJs who were usually jokey or even crude sounded somber and morose. No sound effects were poorly placed in dialogue, and no callers were live on the air. In my haze of hypersomnia, I heard "...plane crashed into the Twin Towers this morning..."
That Tuesday morning was beautiful, not just here but all over the country. The morning weather reports were especially particular about pointing out that the entire nation was experiencing beautiful weather for the month of September. I awoke and looked outside to see my section of the atmospheric conditions. Only a few more weeks until Seattle was wet, soggy, and unconditionally depressed until the following spring -- time to take it in while we can. Wait, didn't I hear something about a plane crash? How could a plane not steer clear of a giant landmark like the World Trade Center in such beautiful weather? Hmm.
I got out of bed and got ready for the day. At the time I was in one of those junior high relationships. I had to circumnavigate parents and leave awkward voicemails on the family phone in order to be reached. AOL Instant Messenger relieved some of the anxiety provided by landline phones, and email was only for Neopet notifications and confirming your new AOL screen name from which to stalk your next boyfriend and reflect your personality for the better part of the week. His door had to be open if I came over. It was around this time that I started taking more pride in my appearance and dressing for others as opposed to myself. Somewhat contradictory, I know.
I shoved my cleats, shinguards, and jersey into a Diadora duffle and went downstairs for breakfast. My mom was sitting at the kitchen table and my dad was sitting on the couch, both were starring at what I realized was no Cessna-sized matter. Gargantuan trails of smoke billowed away from each tower, leaving me with the haunting realization from the commercial jet weapons inside that we were no longer safe.
My dad stood up from the couch with tears in his eyes. "We're under attack."
What? The United States? Who the fuck would attack the United States? I mentally rattled off a list of people who I thought could have been responsible besides extraterrestrials: the Japanese, the Russians, or a couple of angry white dudes from Oklahoma. At the time, these seemed like genuine possibilities. The WTC attack in 1993 contributed to many conclusions of who were the skyjacking culprits. I simply didn't remember the attack in the early 90s, but every parent or anyone who has ever been to New York in the last 10 years had figured it out. This was no Timothy McVeigh / Terry Nichols fertilizer plan hatched in the back of a Ryder truck. This was serious.
Attack? There was more than just the horrific live feed on our television? My dad explained to me that the Pentagon was also hit and there were unconfirmed reports that a plane headed towards the White House was lost somewhere in the now closed airspace. My mom got up from the kitchen table and went for her purse. She handed me $100 and a cell phone. "We don't know what's going to happen today. Take these two things if you need to get home. Whatever happens, just get home." Jesus Christ, mom. If there's anyway to scare the everliving and image-obsessed fuck out of a 13-year-old, that's how to do it. Never in my life had I assumed I was in that much danger. What was happening to my safety? I felt so violated, vulnerable. What was happening to our country? The country that protected me and my family? The country that, I assumed, had no foreseeable enemies in the modern world?
My carpool picked me up a few minutes later to take me to school. The mom and daughter team who were infamous for fighting over which ads they wanted to listen to on the morning radio had not been informed of the morning's catastrophic events. The only reason I was aware of this was because some Kylie Minogue techno horseshit was coming through the Acura's speakers and not the voice of sad DJ. "...did you guys hear what happened?" They were immediately worried.
"What happened?"
"Two planes hit the Twin Towers this morning."
The girl's mom leaped into action by throwing the dial to NPR while the girl sulked because she was missing out on the hit song from yet another plastic mishap. The rest of the way to school, we sat in silence, listening to the towers falling, the list of proposed suspects, the current, crumbling state of national security. It was during the drive to school that United 93 crashed in Pennsylvania. Airspace in the United States was completely closed. Living under the flight path to Sea-Tac meant a continuous hum of Boeing jets safely lowering towards the runway. International flights were being diverted to Canadian airports, some of which were the subjects of documentaries years later ("Operation Yellow Ribbon" I believe is the title of one of these).
I arrived at school to complete chaos. Classes were clearly not going to start on time. A few kids were crying, kids who had relatives or friends in New York City with whom they couldn't get in touch, and some who had no other way to emotionally process the event. I saw a group of teachers in a small huddle, probably in deep debate on what exactly to tell us that morning. The majority of us had already seen or heard the news, so it's not like they were going to reveal something new, maybe to the few of us who were completely crushed at the lack of pop music on the morning radio.
We got a debrief from a few different teachers. "We're going to go about our day, but we understand this is a difficult time for everyone." Nothing was accomplished that day at school. Each class I went to was prepared with a grainy television to watch the outpouring of conspiracies and comments from Henry Kissinger, Dubya, and Colin Powell. It was an incredibly distracting day, but as the hours passed, it seemed less and less of a possibility that I would need the $100 and cell phone my mom carefully passed to me earlier in the morning.
I went to soccer practice later in the day. The sky hadn't seen a cloud all day, and there were planes that hadn't seen the sky that day. Flights were cancelled for four days after the attack, slowly resuming stateside and then internationally. I remember being incredibly thankful that my dad wasn't traveling at the time, as he traveled extensively for his job in Europe and Asia. The three of us had dinner that night, silently chewed our food while watching footage of that second plane hitting over and over and over and over and over and over and over. The terrorists wanted to instill fear by the use of current technology, and in many ways, they succeeded. $100 and a cell phone kind of fear. Close domestic airspace kind of fear. Go to war with a country under false pretenses kind of fear.
There are kids alive today who have no idea what pre-9/11 life was like. Gas was cheaper. You could go anywhere in the airport without a ticket OR identification. People were invincible. 9/11 simply put our reality in check: we are not invincible, and the atrocious happenings of September 11th helps us remember that. Even the most powerful can be vulnerable.
Fourteen years later, I'm sitting in a coffee shop on my laptop. There isn't a cloud in the gorgeous blue sky, and I have $100 and a cell phone. I wanted to write this because even though everyone has a different story about what happened that day, we all experienced the same unforgettable event. For a while, we were incredibly scared. But now we're back to being Americans: beer drinking (most of us), legalized marijuana smoking, equal rights supporting, football season loving, animal hunting, Facebook updating, vegan reminding, religion quoting, Breaking Bad obsessing, Kim Davis hating Americans.


text:
Our professional videographers will create a 30-60 second book trailer highlighting your book and distribute to YouTube. This service will measure the number of viewers of the video and compare your video views to the competition for a measure of relative effectiveness and for future modifications..
How do we compare?
Authorhouse = $2999
Xlibris = $1999
iUniverse = $2999
New Harbor Press = $499


text:
FYBA Charter Seminar
Date(s) - Oct 19, 2016
08:30 am - 04:00 pm
Bahia Mar Yachting Center,
Calendar Links
FYBA Charter Seminar
Bahia Mar – Ft. Lauderdale
8:30 – 4:00
Topics include:
VAT in Spain and other Updates
Boat International – America's Cup
Cuba VIP Tours & Travel
U.S. Charter Regulations Panel
Costa Rica Adventures
IGY Marinas
Charter Open House to follow at Bahia Mar Marina.
**There will be a raffle to benefit the Miami Waterkeepers
**Any cancellations must be made by 9am on Tuesday, October 4th for a full refund!
Event Name: Charter Seminar
Start Date: 10/05/2016
Location: 801 Seabreeze Blvd
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
Contact Info:
voice: 954-522-9270
email: email@example.com
Event Description:
Bahia Mar – Ft. Lauderdale
8:30am – 4:00pm
*Vendor Tables, registration and breakfast begin at 8am.
Charter Open House to Follow at Bahia Mar Marina


text:
Getting our LENT on in the 'Hood!
I grew up in a tradition that didn't follow the religious liturgical calendar. In our young church plant we have several people who grew up in traditions that did follow this calendar. It is usually used as a means of trying to kick a habit or start a more positive one, or as a way to appease God for at least 40 days so that we can achieve some measure of favor or better luck in our life.
WHY then is PAXnorth making a big deal of these forty days of focus? Have we gone all 'catholic or anglican'? Our intention is to use this rhythm of our calendar year to cause us to truly look to the incredible grace of God poured out to us at Easter. We believe that God sent Jesus on a mission to seek and save those who are lost, us and others. We both want to celebrate and be intentional about the Gospel mission in our neighbourhoods. So we are using this time to fast, pray, get to know and plan 'events' to reach those around us.
Here's what that looks like for us:
What is LENT?
It is typically kicked off on "Ash Wednesday" which is 46 days before Easter in the western world (passover in the Eastern world). LENT is taken from the 40 days of Jesus' fasting in the desert and subsequent temptation by Satan. This came before launching His public ministry to fulfill the mission of revealing the love and power of God to a world that would ultimately reject Him. Even in this God works out our ultimate redemption! Ash Wednesday is a means of signifying a desire to participate in the struggle of Christ (ashes are the symbol of mourning). Christ comes on a mission to our world as a man living in the midst of our desperation, fighting against the curse of sin, embracing the passion of the cross, returning to life in victory and opening the way of life with God for a hopeless world. This cross-centered mission is what we focus on during LENT.
Why LENT at PAXnorth?
We often talk about Jesus being more/different than religion, and that He did not come merely as an example for us to follow but to be the very Savior of our lives . We are encouraging you to enter into LENT this year because Jesus did come to your world, has entered into your brokenness and taken your desperate sin to the cross. He does offer the reality of a transformed life as you live out the hope of an Easter resurrection daily. The same mission He accomplished for us, He continues through us to our hopelessly seeking world.
How exactly is PAXnorth doing LENT?
FAST Commit to fasting for the 46 days of LENT (Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22 until Easter, April 8) Fast from something that you are in the habit of doing daily; i.e. coffee, twitter, facebook, music on your way to and from work, etc.)KNOW Download/get a "PAXnorth>> in the hood" form for your neighbourhood/work space/apartment/dorm. Prayerfully fill out this form thinking of those you feel you need to get to know.
PRAY Take the time to pray for your 'neighbours' every time you think of the item you are fasting from.
REACH Make the time during the months of FEBRUARY, MARCH and APRIL to host an event, open your home or grab coffee with those for whom you are praying. Use this opportunity as a place to build a friendship that will introduce Jesus in a low pressure, casual setting.
D-GROUP FOLLOW UP If you are part of a D- Group consider hosting an event where people can invite their friends, neighbours, or people from their community. Consider opening this up to the rest of PAX or just keeping it to your small group or a specific neighbourhood.
TELL EMAIL the event details to Nevin and Brad so we can continue to promote or to share the results of Getting our LENT on in the 'Hood'.
Want some help thinking though how you approach your 'neigbours'? Read these links to encourage you in the why and the how:
11 Ways to Love Your City
Talking to Your Neighbours about Jesus


text:
SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) - The oldest female athlete at the World Masters Games in Sydney has broken a world record in the shot put — at the age of 100.
All eyes were on Ruth Frith, from Brisbane, as she arrived for day two of the World Masters Games, hoping to win gold in the shot put and feeling pretty confident as she was the only competitor in the over-100s category.
But her 4.07 metre (13 ft 4.2 in) throw on Sunday didn't just win her gold, but also broke a world record.
"As long as I didn't foul I was going to win it," Frith told Reuters Television.
The great-grandmother is also a keen hammer and javelin thrower and believes other pensioners should follow her example.
Frith trains five days a week, regularly lifting 35 kg (77 lb) weights. She doesn't drink or smoke and she doesn't eat vegetables either, claiming she hasn't liked them since she was young.
Frith was clearly a star of the World Masters Games — an event which attracts about 28,000 athletes — and despite her age, said she has no plans to retire just yet. She contested her first World Masters Athletics Championships at the age of 74.
The World Masters Games have been held every four years since they began in Toronto in 1985, according to their website (www.2009worldmasters.com)
Open to people of all abilities and most ages, the games are the world's largest multi-sport event, attracting twice as many competitors than the Olympic Games, the website said.
The main difference between the World Masters Games and the Olympic Games is that World Masters are open to people of all abilities rather than just elite athletes, with the emphasis on participation, the website added.
Reporting by Reuters Television, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith


text:
How does hearing pioneer stories affect you?
A few weeks ago, my husband was talking to a room full of teenagers. He told them a story about a young African man that walked several miles a day to earn money to visit a religious temple. As far as worldly riches, the young man had nothing and it took him a few years to earn the money, but he did it. He made a real and significant sacrifice for his faith. "In each of your families you have someone like that. Someone that sacrificed for their faith. Find out who they are and what they did. You will be stronger for it," he told the kids.
A favorite: Grandpa's Voice tells pioneer stories
I sat up a little straighter in my chair too. What had my pioneer ancestors done for their faith? What sacrifices do I make in my life? Do I make them proud with what I do, in the same way I am proud of them?
Sheri Dew shared how her ancestor's stories encourage her
His comments piggy-backed on some of Sheri Dew's thoughts she shared with us at RootsTech in February, 2017. I loved what she had to say about how pioneer stories give her some encouragement to be better. Her ancestors lived through the dust bowl in Kansas over 100 years ago. "When I start whining about my life and think, 'my life is so hard,' well you're not livin' through the dust bowl. You're not pulling a handcart through Rocky Ridge," she said. "I think that's the power in those stories," she noted. I agree whole-heartedly. There have been many days of my life when I even think of my own grandmothers and challenges they faced – they were both working mothers in a time when women didn't work much. But they did it and they did it with finesse. It helps me every day. Thanks, Sheri, for that beautiful reminder.
Some of my pioneer ancestors immigrated from Holland. Two of my great aunts came to the United States and worked hard, long hours in Utah to make money for the rest of my family to come to Utah. They came in pairs until the whole family got here. There was death, struggle and sacrifice along the way. It was hard. I am proud of them. I love them dearly even though I only met my Great-Grandma Kap. Baptisms were done by cutting a hole in the ice, strangers generously gave them some bananas on Ellis Island that was thrown away because they had never seen a banana before. My Great-Grandma Kap always felt bad about that when she realized it. One thing that always strikes me in reading their stories is their gratitude. My great aunts, who I mentioned before, never felt put upon for coming to the United States to earn the way for their family, only gratitude. One of their daughters writes: "[I am also impressed with] the gratitude [they expressed] for their blessings and the joy [they felt] in seeing their children grow up without suffering the hunger pangs and poverty that seemed their common lot in their native land." I agree with her. Their gratitude and thankfulness is something I am going to try harder to apply in my own life.
Lessons were learned. Am I learning my lessons? I hope so. Bless those pioneers and their stories. I have no doubt I am a better woman today because of them and I also know they are cheering me from the other side. How do your pioneer stories strengthen you? I would encourage you to take a moment and record your thoughts, and even throw in a family pioneer story with it!
How can you get the most from Pioneer Day with your family?
We have a few ideas of how to really bring the Pioneer spirit into your home this week.
- Read some family pioneer stories or enjoy a book about them. There are a some Gerald Lund classics we love: The Work and the Glory series (traces a fictional family all the way across the plains), Undaunted series (details the story of the hole in the rock pioneers).
- Check out FamilySearch. If you don't have an account, this is a great time to make one and if you do and then do a little searching you just may find a treasure trove of pioneer stories that someone has included in your tree. I just found a golden stash today and spent some quality time and shed a few tears reading some of my pioneer stories.
- Watch a great pioneer movie. 17 Miracles or Ephraim's Rescue are two that come to mind. Your children will be enthralled and it will open the floodgates with questions about your own pioneer heritage.
- Visit a Family Discovery Center or a pioneer museum. The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers has locations in Ogden and Salt Lake City and they have amazing collections of artifacts and docents that have limitless knowledge and great stories to tell. We try to take to our kids every year.
- And if you do nothing else, just take a moment, as a family or personally, to reflect on the sweet sacrifice of the forefathers of your family.
Related: Alice Ann's Story Shows Me Riches
Rachel J. Trotter is a writer at Evalogue.Life, where we tell personal and family stories that inspire, and help you tell yours. She has worked as a writer since her college days over 20 years ago. She loves telling people's stories. She lives in Ogden, Utah, is busy raising six children, and loves working on family history alongside her husband, Mat.
Get our weekly email with tips to tell your story and the Sunday Edition. (Free, of course)


text:
There are many factors to purchase Instagram fans and Instagram likes; nevertheless the four most significant factors are potential revenue, advertising, Manufacturer development and service or product importance. Maintaining relevance in the market of todays is just a hard market using the economy glutted with similar or same items. Customers typically may select items which are people they would be the latest trend, are informed about, identify, or have experienced particular manufacturers recommended by renowned people/celebrities. After Instagram fans and one purchase Instagram likes, the company may maintain services and its products related for the global market. A relatively inexpensive method to both test-market and real-time services and products, would be to purchase Instagram fans and Instagram likes. Maintaining relevance within the on line world is important for these economic times. Services and products could be saved or bought online in a convenient time for customers.
With a lot of the planet's customers connected into social media solutions, having records on these services supplies a quite strong system to obtain services, your goods and links for your sites out into this vast untapped market. Creating records on social media solutions are free and permit the capability to get Instagram wants and also to obtain Instagram fans. This can be a large advantage while getting feedback from your own target audience to maintaining advertising costs under control. While looking to get a manufacturer created and created, using every source possible is essential. To increase the presence of a manufacturer it's essential to get your target audience/audience attention. Having a significant part of the planet's consumers being someway associated with the online universe, manufacturers should be able to become open, interesting and related to the customers.
Evidence of importance applying Instagram fans in addition to purchase Instagram likes is just a fast and simple method of showing recognition and is found in popularity. To purchase Instagram fans or Instagram likes is about potential revenue. The more awareness service, product or your site gets, the larger the potential revenue. Applying social media solutions to purchase Instagram fans and Instagram likes; the presence potential increases. The popular an item may be the more the merchandise is obtained. Applying Sozialy solutions which are free-will maintain advertising expenses reduced, thus ROI is significantly improved. Increasing recognition through social networking provides a large possibility of revenue increase. A company will have a way to possess services and items that remain appropriate, therefore maintaining its audience thinking about continuing to buy services or these products.


text:
You know you got it. It's that special A factor that puts you on every hot party list, at all the trendy hangouts and at important people's tables. No one can really put their finger on it, but you have it and that's a fact! In an Alfa Romeo, expect to be in demand. Find your next month's social engagements in the Alfa Calendar.
We strongly believe that driving such great vehicles requires skills! Hopefully we will see you soon in our club!
SA's top fashion show kicks off with top, up-and-coming young designers. Sanlam SA Fashion Week attracts buyers and agents from around the world and allows local designers, labels and brands to showcase themselves on international markets.
Don't miss the Absa Cape Epic presented by adidas, which takes place every year around the last week of March and the first week of April. Pick your spot to cheer on along the beautiful race routes between the Garden Route town of Knysna and and the Lourensford Wine Estate, just outside Cape Town.
The annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival is the culmination of world-renowned musicians providing a cohesive star-studded line-up. In this, its eighth year, this proudly South African event will be hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre for the fourth consecutive time.
The Cape Town Festival is stirring things up in the Mother city. This year the festival is inviting practitioners and performing artists in the arts, culture and heritage sectors to apply to be part of the March Festival. It's your chance to shine if you got the goods. Go to their website and don't miss this great opportunity!
Showcasing exciting emerging designers from around the country. The event includes a fashion show in an old cold storage room. Huge success of the annual fashion celebration could likely turn into bi-annual event. Don't miss the event.
The band will once again woe their Cape town fans with their all time chart topping hits as well as some of their greatest and most memorable LOVE songs of all time from their new album. One also cannot ask for a better setting than the romantic Constantia Valley set in the Cape Vineyard and exceptional natural beauty.
The Final Global Breakthrough schedule announced! The opening party hits Cape Town from Saturday 17 February and kicks off in Camps Bay at Global Breakthrough's sundowner residency, Café Caprile and Norman Jay. It's the ultimate gig and you can't afford not to be there.
SA's top fashion show kicks off with top, up-and-coming young designers. Sanlam SA Fashion Week attracts buyers and agents from around the world and allows local designers, labels and brands to showcase themselves on international markets.
Don't forget that in order to drive any Alfa Romeo vehicle you will need a Driving License!
SLIPPERY 'n WET: AMNESIA @ ESP
Ibiza's premier nightclub returns to ESP for another massive public holiday party. This time bringing one of trance's brightest new stars, Leon Bolier as well as Spains number 1, Brian Cross. Leon Bolier is considered by many artists to be the "go-to-guy" for remixes and this shows with his remix of Joop
The UKs legendary rockstar, Sir Cliff Richard is heading to SA! Going strong for more than 40 years Richard is one the greatest Rock & Roll and pop legends of all times. Nostalgia, romance and many other memories were made by the crooner!
SA's top fashion show kicks off with top, up-and-coming young designers. Sanlam SA Fashion Week attracts buyers and agents from around the world and allows local designers, labels and brands to showcase themselves on international markets.
INDABA, South African Tourism's annual destination exhibition for international trade, has grown tremendously in stature and significance over the years to become Africa's premier travel trade show. This growth is wholly appropriate and in line with South Africa's own arrival as one of the hottest, most happening and fastest growing destinations in the world.
South Africa's longest-running and most renowned annual music festival, Splashy Fen has evolved into the ultimate outdoor experience for music and nature lovers alike. As such, it offers a number of exciting opportunities for potential sponsors and we'd like to invite you to become a part of this unique event.
South Africa's biggest automotive show. Featuring everything from wheels, security systems, paint techniques, audiovisual products, body & engine modifications and much more. It's not just for car fundi's either. Bring the family and do something different. There's something for everyone to enjoy!
MY COKE FEST is set to attract thousands of fans who will feast on some of the world's best live music at two spectacular venues that will add to the unique festival spirit. It's going to be a 12-hour, adrenalin filled festival that will quench the strongest music thirsts. Just think of it all going down the way an ice cold Coke goes down on a hot day.
The largest and most popular floriculture exhibition in the southern hemisphere is back! Gardenex offers a premier platform to showcase every aspect of flora, gardening and landscaping to thousands of keen gardeners and homemakers. Give your outside a makeover and see what's possible.
Featuring Mimi Kesaris and Brett Jackson at Lemon 8, Jozi's vibrant nighclub. It's not every week you get to enjoy two of SA's top spin doctors. So don't wait to get your tickets, they'll be gone faster than you can say "turn it up DJ". Let the boys show you how they make some noise and get to Lemon 8 for this superclub mix!


text:
End of the Year Party, but a Journey Just Beginning
Time flies. It has been almost one year since we joined GSM.
To wrap up the first year, we gathered together and held an End of Year BBQ Party. As everyone is looking forward to their internships in the coming summer, the Career Development team gathered to offer tips in the on-site workshop in the park before the barbecuing began. Some second-year students also shared their takeaways from last year's internship and how they parlayed their experience during the summer into a full time job offer. The importance of internship is not just about the experience you will learn from the job; the soft skills and networking are more invaluable for your career path.
What's next? Don't be surprised to see lots of kids and dogs! You will notice that in GSM many of your peers are already moms or dads. They need to take care of children while handling study. If I am asked if MBA is appropriate for people who have kids, I will just tell them how well my classmates are doing to be a player in dual roles and how much the GSM family benefits from all the families in our community!
Delicious drinks, yummy food, fun beer pong, grass volleyball…this is how we celebrate our first year at GSM. The next few months before new school year will be another journey for us. Get ready!
Good luck to everyone this summer and into the future~


text:
The video series which I am now titling "Star Myths and the Shamanic Worldview" continues above with "Star Myths and the Shamanic Worldview, part 2: Adam and Eve" (see here for part 1).
In this episode, we continue the examination of evidence that the ancient scriptures found in the Bible (along with all the other sacred traditions of humanity) are built upon a common system of celestial metaphor, and that they convey a shamanic worldview -- the shared shamanic inheritance of our planet.
From the passage in the Book of the Revelation of John discussed in part 1, we move all the way forward to the First Book of Moses, called Genesis, to examine the story of Adam and Eve and the Serpent.
Readers with a strong commitment to a literalistic interpretation of the Bible should be cautioned that this examination may be extremely challenging to the validity of the literalistic approach. If you are not comfortable examining the evidence suggesting that the scriptures found in the Bible are from first to last built upon an extremely sophisticated system of celestial allegory and that they may in fact have been intended to convey a profoundly shamanic worldview, you may wish to skip the above interview.
However, I would argue along with Alvin Boyd Kuhn, that "the sacred scriptures of the world are a thousand times more precious as myths than as alleged history" (Lost Light, page 24).
The video demonstrates some extremely powerful evidence which suggests that the story of Adam and Eve and the Serpent describes actual events which take place in the celestial realm over our heads -- and that those events continue to take place to this day. Much of the celestial interpretation is derived from the explanations articulated by Robert Taylor (1784 - 1844) in a collection of his lectures published in 1857 under the title Astronomico-Theological Lectures (see Chapter IX: The Fall of Man, pages 151 - 166).
The story of Adam and Eve has played an absolutely fundamental role in "Western civilization" -- that culture, broadly defined, which descended from the western Roman Empire and which for seventeen centuries has been deeply influenced by a literalistic understanding of the scriptures of the Bible. Note that I am here very broadly using the term "literalistic" to mean, not necessarily a woodenly literalistic view which does not accept the validity of the rich layers of metaphor, allegory, and typology that are clearly present in the texts, but rather interpretations committed to the conclusion that those texts should (and must) be interpreted to describe literal earthly events which were enacted by actual historical figures named Abraham or Sarah or David or Solomon or Simon Peter or Jesus.
It cannot be denied that literalistic interpretations of the story of Adam and Eve have been used to blame women for "the Fall of mankind," and to restrict and oppress women in all sorts of very real and tangible ways. How tragic that a myth which can be shown to reflect the motions and positions of very specific stars and constellations could be used to impose such a horrendous legacy of violation of natural universal law.
It has also been used through the centuries to inflict a doctrine of mind control (the control of the behavior of individuals and of large groups of individuals using primarily beliefs and ideologies rather than the threat of brute physical force) backed up by the threat of eternal damnation in a literal place of torment called Hell (a doctrine which almost certainly rests upon the same literalistic interpretation of ancient scripture which I believe to be mistaken).
In fact, as the above video begins to discuss towards the very end, the story of Adam and Eve and the Serpent can be seen to teach a profoundly shamanic (and liberating) worldview -- one that has direct parallels to the shamanic worldview conveyed in other mythological episodes involving a World Tree and the opening of one's eyes to the divinity hidden inside each of us and hidden inside the world around us.
Much more could be said about the profound ramifications of the story of Adam and Eve and the Serpent, the celestial foundation of all the world's ancient sacred mythologies, and the fact that all of these star myths may well have been intended to convey an integrated and powerful shamanic understanding of the world around us, the infinite cosmos, and our place within it. It is hoped that the video above will be a good place to start examining those crucial subjects.
Please feel free to share the above video widely with those who are searching for such information -- but please do not use it as a "club" with which to ambush someone's beliefs or to use it in a way that will cause harm. It is one thing if someone from a literalist worldview is approaching you and engaging in aggressive debate about such matters, but even in such a circumstance, presentation of this material to someone should always be done in a gentle manner and with respect and care towards them as another human being who after all is struggling with all the same questions common to existence in this material realm. With someone who is not already signaling a willingness to engage in "rough and tumble" discussions about matters spiritual, that care and sensitivity should be even greater.


text:
Summer release expected
Atreyu are currently busy in studios in Los Angeles working on their fourth, as yet unnamed, studio album.
The album is being produced by John Feldmann, who has formerly been the man behind records for Mest and Good Charlotte among others, and is scheduled for a late summer release, according to IGN.com.
Frontman Alex Varkatzas said of the new project: "We're really excited to be working with John Feldmann.
"I don't want to give anything away, but we're tossing around all kinds of ideas and are leaving ourselves open to endless possibilities. We are going to challenge ourselves."
Tracks from the new album are expected to be previewed on the Korn-led Family Values Tour 2007 in America.


text:
I got quite excited yesterday and I may have squealed a little bit when I found out that The Civil Wars have returned with new music for us. That also means there is a new album coming as well! The new track is called The One That Got Away and once again showcases the duos talented writing skills, not to mention their tasty blend of vocals. Their new album is titled The Civil Wars and should be released at the beginning of August. To be honest, I wasn't even sure there would be any more music coming from the band, especially as they cancelled their tour half way through last year (only a few days before I was due to see them) because of "internal discord and irreconcilable differences of ambition". Doesn't sound too promising does it? However, here we are, listening to new music and awaiting a full length album to go with it. Let's just hope that they complete a full tour this time around!
No tour dates have been announced yet but when they do announce them I'll be making sure I get a ticket. Although August seems a while away, you can pre-order The Civil Wars album here or use the links in the sidebar.


text:
South Africa : Now get tough on Zambia
In the aftermath of its third election in five years, things were tense in Lesotho. Although opposition leader Thomas Thabane and his All Basotho Convention had secured the most seats in Parliament, with enough allies to form a coalition government, no one was sure whether the result would be accepted. Civil society leaders and political analysts expressed fears that the military might stage a coup to keep the incumbent prime minister, Pakalitha Mosisili, in power.
These fears diminished considerably this week after South Africa's foreign minister intervened. "The coup thing is clear … We will not allow it to happen. Not in our backyard. That's not a threat; it's just the way it is," said Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. She went further. "Not in any corner of our [Southern African Development Community], not in any corner of our continent will we ever tolerate a military coup. This was made very, very clear to everyone in Lesotho two weeks ago."
Our country's political and economic clout means that what our leaders say matters. This is especially true in the Southern Africa region.
In Lesotho, South Africa used its diplomatic capital to positive effect. By forcibly warning against a potential coup, Nkoana-Mashabane greatly reduced the likelihood of it happening, reinforcing the mountain kingdom's fragile democracy in the process. Thabane is due to be sworn in as prime minister on June 16.
But this outspoken position on Lesotho is the exception rather than the rule. Too often, Pretoria remains in thrall to Thabo Mbeki's infamous "quiet diplomacy" doctrine, even when a little noise could make a big difference. Nowhere is this more obvious than in South Africa's refusal to condemn publicly the concerning autocratic tendencies on display in Zambia, where President Edgar Lungu is orchestrating a heavy-handed crackdown on political opposition, civil society and independent media.
This is a missed opportunity. As Lesotho proves, a few well-chosen words from South Africa can make a real difference. Zambia needs to hear them.
Mail and Guardian, South Africa