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I have a sweet tooth, or perhaps a whole mouthful of sweet teeth. I love chocolate and ice cream and dessert. I'm also trying to make better food choices for myself and in the way I cook for my family. What's a mom to do?
Who knows how I stumbled across these Snickers Cheesecake Parfaits over at All She Cooks? I only remember that I made them with some Chocolate Day peanut butter cups and my family LOVED them. Yeah, "healthy" kind of went out the window that day…but balance, right? So I thought I'd try to health-ify the recipe so we could still enjoy our treats once in a while.
I used homemade strawberry preserves to layer my parfaits, but fresh fruit would be even better. If you want to splurge on something not-at-all-healthy then crushed cookies, chopped candy bars, or chocolate chips are options. Layering the parfaits into half pint canning jars is not only super cute but also makes the treats easy to pack in a cooler for car picnics. I've also served the parfaits in custard cups. You'll get 6-7 jars or around 10 custard cup servings from this recipe.
Real Food Cheesecake Parfaits
from AChatOverCoffee.com
Serves 6-10, depending upon serving size
What you'll need:
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon homemade vanilla extract
- 1 pint heavy cream
- Fresh fruit or homemade fruit preserves for layering
What to do:
Beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and honey and mix well to combine. The mixture will be runny. With the mixer running on medium speed, slowly add the cream until it is all incorporated. Then turn the mixer up to high speed and beat the mixture until stiff peaks form.
Put a layer of fruit, preserves, or whatever you're using to flavor your parfaits in the bottom of a half-pint canning jar. (I use these.) Add a layer of cheesecake mixture, then another layer of preserves. Repeat the layers once more so there's a layer of preserves on the top. Add a lid to your canning jar and you're ready to go!
Store your parfaits in the refrigerator or a cooler until you're ready to eat them.
Update: If you like peanut butter, you might want to try these peanut butter cheesecake desserts!
If you enjoy healthy recipes, please join the Healthy Living Link Party that opens each Wednesday evening at 8:00 Eastern time!
What's cooking in your kitchen today?
Update: Here are the other (mostly) real food no cook cheesecake dessert flavors you might want to try.
This post was shared at Healthy Living Link Party #60, Five Star Frou-Frou #47, The Pretty Pintastic Party #103, The Homemaking Party (4/27/16), The Art of Home-Making #102 and What's For Dinner? Sunday #41.
I'm honored that this post was featured at The Art of Home-Making Mondays #103. Thank you, JES!
This post contains affiliate/referral links. If you click through and make a purchase I will receive a small referral fee but your price will not change. Your support helps me cover the costs associated with running this site, so thank you very much!
I moderate comments manually but will get them posted as quickly as possible. Please keep your comments kind and if you must disagree please do so without being disagreeable. Rude or inappropriate comments will obviously not be published.


text: 31 degrees today, 39 with the humidex. It's oppressive and gross and disgusting. Colour me unhappy — or at least I would be if I could muster the enthusiasm to feel anything in this. We're supposed to be getting thunderstorms tonight and tomorrow so hopefully that will help to break up some of this.

subset: commoncrawl


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Trekking in Nepal: Episode 03 – Lukla Flight
Steve and I enjoy the edge of your seat flight from Kathmandu to Lukla… if we can get on the plane!
You can also find it on YouTube. For everything Nepal related go to my Index of Nepal Journals, Video, and Photos.
One Comment
These videos are really enjoyable. I like the editing so far especially the first episode. I'm looking into my own hiking trip somewhere in asia next year.
BTW, I found your blog when I was looking for information on Oita-ken. I'll be an Oita jet in a couple of months too. I'm in the city of Bungoono.


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Daniel Ungier
Executive Director
Medomak Valley Land Trust
The Medomak River represents one of the most productive and valuable clam fisheries in Maine, yet many productive areas are closed due to pollution. Recognizing the need to understand and resolve persistent water quality issues, the Town of Waldoboro, Waldoboro Shellfish Committee, Waldoboro Utility District, and the Medomak Valley Land Trust along with Maine Departments of Environmental Protection, Marine Resources, and Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, formed the Medomak River Task Force. Since 2013, members of this task force have conducted extensive water sampling, surveyed the watershed to try to identify sources, and engaged in outreach to raise awareness about pollution in the watershed. Despite four years of testing by project partners, no single point source of pollution has been identified to date that would mitigate these risks and move the industry toward a more safe and sustainable shellfish harvest.
In 2016, with Sea Grant support, the Task Force narrowed the field of potential causes by using Microbial Source Testing (MST) to provide more conclusive answers for non-point sources of bacterial pollution. Expanded sampling in 2017 will monitor nine streams located in a four-kilometer stretch of the Medomak River.
Sea Grant funds: $4,884


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Several people were assaulted during a mass brawl outside a town pub.
Police said three men were predominantly involved, but many others were either punched or kicked, during the incident outside the Junction Inn, on Market Place, Normanton.
PC Jim Greenwood, of Normanton neighbourhood police team (NPT) said: "We have tracked down some of the people involved, but would like to speak to any witnesses. There was quite a crowd outside the pub at the time."
The fight happened at around 11pm on Friday, December 6, and it was captured on CCTV cameras.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any relevant information should contact PC Greenwood on 01924 878267.


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An American-Statesman investigation, as reported by Jeremy Schwartz, has revealed that in Texas many migrant housing facilities elude the reach of the state's limited inspection effort. As a result, an estimated nine in 10 migrant farmworkers lack access to licensed facilities.
Bobby French: Most of the migrant workers are minorities. That is why Texas government does not care.
Amanda Nicole: They deserve to live in appropriate housing – housing that is set up as part of their work.
Beth Menstell: Broken promises exist all over the world for people who are subjugated to poverty.
Ed Mears: I worked on a migrant wheat harvest one summer in high school. Sleeping quarters were a box on wheels that actually slept five of us. We got three to four showers per week. We got paid only when cutting wheat, not when driving trucks and shoveling or working on the combines.
Matt Holdridge: My granddad's family were migrant workers as kids. Got good jobs and made a life for themselves. Can't always start out on top.
Palacios Elia: A migrant is not necessarily an illegal immigrant. Some of these workers are U.S. citizens.
Liza Wood: The rich farmer has to get every penny of profit and their even richer politician buddies aren't going to do anything to punish them.
Regina Ackley: I guess Texas needs its own Cesar Chavez.
Michael Tuttle: Don't tell me the owner can't build a simple bunkhouse.
Maria Monhoff: The shame falls on the farm owners who employ them.


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Scientific and medical research has clearly shown that eating small, multiple meals with a minimum of 5 grams of protein, the correct amount of complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats is the way people should eat.
Here are some examples of a recommended meal:
• Egg white omelet and small side salad with olive or canola oil dressing
• Lean turkey slices in a lettuce leaf wrap, sprinkled with olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons of tuna in canola oil over a green salad, with a few raw almonds
This is the formula we emulated in the creation of our Smart for Life® Product line. Our cookies have approximately 5 to 6 grams of protein; contain heart-healthy canola oil and oats.
Keep in mind, it takes up to 18 months to reset your new weight and establish maintenance. As an example, M.M. lost 50 lbs., dropping from 190 to 140. She then gained back 10 lbs., reaching 150…BUT, she immediately returned to Smart for Life®. We put her back on the program; she lost the tens pounds and has maintained her weight for 6 years. Remember: Some weight gain is normal. Success comes to those who get back on the program right away if you start creeping up 5-6 lbs.
On the other hand, postponing your return can turn out quite differently and D.L. is a perfect example. She lost 48 lbs., dropping from 208 to 160. She started putting weight back on, but didn't come back to the program. She ended up gaining almost 75 lbs. and when she finally came back she weighed 235. All of her hard work had to be repeated – a tough lesson emotionally and physically.
Occasional weight gain is normal and expected. Understanding what to do is what will set you apart. Respect your "alarm" weight and act quickly when your scale tells you it's time to take action. Come back to Smart for Life® for the support and inspiration you've come to know.
Long-Term Weight Maintenance
Shop Smart, Be Smart
Six Golden Rules
Start Eating When…
Weigh Yourself Weekly


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Berlin 1997
I came
thinking of the wall
that halved you long ago
I came unprepared
for what you've become
East to West
Coca-Cola and McDonalds
Spaghetti and Tandoori
light global candles
on concrete mantles and glass screens
your days filter into lit nights
gently scouring the blot
from an old and evil desire
At Zoologischer Garten
the World congregated to engage
the past and savour your present
one full length poster spoke
for silenced children:
'Geschlossen wegen Einsamkeit'
Mehr zeit fur kinder.
Endorsements on your billboards
were of humour and happier times;
of Chasing Amy one philosophised:
'Sex ist einfach- Liebe ist schwer'
greeted by a long queue of lovers
seeking to learn a lesson or two
in the darkness of cinema halls
It is six decades since Jesse Owens
his testimony and your new wisdom
warm U-bahn seats for my tribe
spread beyond Afrikaanistiche Strasse
but your grapevine is full
of the scourge of Istanbul's children
a new rage for a new age?
Whilst I hum millennium chants
of harmony among men
open up Berlin, open more
for that which is to come
that knows no borders!
Milena your daughter says
You're a city founded on art.
On your cobbled streets
The edges of interlocking stones
Tell a story of human inventiveness
Your Seventh Hill
Blasted into the bits
Of ornament on which the soles
Of shoes wear out
To feed the souls
Of a thousand tourists
Scouring the virgin lands
You opened to the world
In your restaurants
Re-enactments of periods of history
By amateur actors and actresses
Ottoman Turks, Armenians
And Gypsies trace.
Another daughter Yordininka
Imprinted incredible on my mind
With an accent
Pages: 1 2


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If you like wine and like a deal, you will like this Annapolis 1/2 Price Wine Guide. We are putting together a guide of all the area restaurants and bars that offer 1/2 price bottles. This is still a work in progress so check back as we continue to build a go to guide for winos. Please drink responsibly.
Luna Blu (All Day)
Café Normandie (Evening Hours)
Yellow Fin (All Day)
Tsunami (4:30-Close)
Blackwall Hitch – (Bottles Under $100)
Carrol's Creek (In Dining Room During Dinner)
Boatyard (With Purchase of an Entrée)
Rams Head (With Purchase of an Entrée)
Federal House (3-7)
Luna Blu (All Day)
Café Normandie (Evening Hours)
Annapolis Smokehouse (Not House Bottles)
Sams on the Waterfront (Wines under $60 only)
Yellow Fin (All Day)
West End Grill (5-Close)
Melting Pot (Bottles under $100)
Yellow Fin (All Day)
Blue Rooster Cafe (5-Close)
***If you would like to suggest an addition to our Annapolis 1/2 Price Wine Guide, please email us at email@example.com


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Islamic Economics: Problems and Prospects
Dr. Asad Zaman, DG, lITE, International Islamic University of Islamabad
This note is meant as a springboard for discussion, and not as polished and referenced article. I take a radical point of view in this note. I believe that the current evolutionary approach to the creation and development of the new discipline of Islamic Economics will not prove fruitful in the long run. Briefly, I do not believe it is possible to create a viable mix of neoclassical economic theory with Islam. I then propose alternative I radical approaches which offer better prospects for establishing a viable Islamic
alternative to conventional economic theory. .
Are Islamic Financial Institutions a Success Story for Islamic Economics?
The creation, progress, and continued growth of numerous Islamic Financial Institutions is clearly the most important way in which the nascent discipline of Islamic Economics has influenced the real world. Nonetheless, the author shares with numerous other researchers and practitioners the impression that these institutions represent the impact of modernity on Islam, rather than conversely. That is, Islamic principles have been (and are in process of) being modified to accommodate modem institutions. The hope of pioneers in the area like Maulana Mawdoodi and his followers, was to reshape the world, and in particular the theory and practice of economics, in accordance with Islamic views. To the extent that' Islamic Financial Institutions represent the reshaping of Islamic Laws in accordance with the demands of modernity, these represent the failure rather than the success of Islamic Economics. These views are controversial, and many Islamic Economists would be vehemently opposed to them. In the current note, I propose to bypass this controversy by putting Islamic Financial institution out of the scope the discussion. I propose to discuss below only the developments in Islamic Economic Theory. .
Some Failures of Islamic Economics:
Among contributors to the literature, it is widely agreed upon that Islamic Economics, with its concern for justice, equity, poverty, and its multidimensional conception of human development (not confined to income & material wealth) represents a paradigm shift and a radical alternative to conventional neoclassical views. The existing literature in Islamic economics does not reflect this radical perspective. We find two types of works of relevance to this issue. Numerous papers introduce Islamic concepts entirely within a neoclassical framework, or else make minor adjustments to it, and therefore cannot from a basis for a paradigm shift. Another set of papers discusses the radical concepts offered by Islam in a general philosophical way, without offering any means of operationalizing these concepts. This is where I believe our biggest failure lies. Even though Islam offers us critical insights in the domain, we have failed to make these insights operational:
. Islam urges the feeding of the poor, and condemns those who do not do this, Muslim economists have brought up the issue of poverty in their writings well before mainstream economics were paying attention to it. However we have participated only marginally in the huge literature which has since developed literature on basic needs, measurement of poverty, etc. Even issues central to !slamic economics, such as the effects of Zakat on poverty, have been addressed in a general theoretical and" argumentative way, with little attention to empirical effects, and operational method of efficient utilization of Zakat funds for poverty alleviation.
. According to the Quran, wealth should not become concentrated in a few hands – rather it should circulate freely. Although Marxists and other economists have documented the increasing concentration of wealth and its harmful effects, Muslims have been conspicuous by their absence in this literature.
. Islamic teachings place a lot of emphasis on spending in the path of Allah. Muslims have not made any systematic study of charity behavior of Muslims, nor have they made any comparative studies of Muslim and non-Muslim societies with regard to charity contributions.
. Muslim economics put forth the concept of Homo Is/amicus and suggested that actual human behavior is guided by motives other than pure self interest. However no empirical evidence on this issue was offered. Behavioral and Experimental economists demonstrated that in many situations, human beings" will accept personal loss for achieving broader goals such as justice, equity etc., contrary to neoclassical teachings.
. From the beginning, Islam has been substantially more concerned with spiritual and moral development of human beings, and not so much with material development. While these ideals were duly espoused in the literature, no operational or empirical aspects were developed. Other researchers developed the Human Development Index, as well as the Capacities approach to development to bring in these multidimensional components of development.
The areas listed above represent failures in the following precise sense. Over the same period of time that we were engaged in the development of Islamic Economics, others developed, launched and established active research programs, which have had substantial influence, in many of the fields listed above. In each case, the research programs ran counter to established orthodoxy and faced resistance from conventional economists. In each case, Muslim Economists were there first with the ideas, but failed to make them operational, and did not participate in or influence the secular research programs that did translate these ideas into workable concept.
Dissatisfaction with Progress Among Leading Scholars:
When it comes to theory, it seems clear that there has been no real progress in the area. We have no consensus as to what the field is, what its guiding principles are, what the methodology should 'be, what Islamic Economists are trying to achieve. Numerous people have written on these subjects and expressed their views with varying degrees of eloquence and conviction, but no consensus has emerged. The words of Umer Chapra, a leading luminary in the field, succinctly summarize the ills that plague Islamic Economics:
The practical wisdom of Islamic economics has thus been unable to come to grips with the task of explaining the rise and fall of Muslim economies in the past, the lag between Islamic norms and the actual behavior of economic agents, and the causes of problems faced by Muslim countries. It has been unable to suggest a balanced package of policy proposals in the light of Islamic teachings to enable Muslim countries to perform the difficult task of reducing their imbalances and simultaneously actualizing the Islamic vision. Moreover, its theoretical core has also thus far been unable to come out of the straitjacket of conventional economics, which takes into account primarily the economic variables that are measurable and generally avoids a discussion of the complex historical interplay of moral, psychological. economic, social. and political factors. Islamic economics has thus "failed to escape the centripetal pull of Western economic thought, and has in many regards been caught in the intellectual web of the very system it set out to replace (Nasr, 1991, p. 388). It is thus unable to explain the difference in the performance of various societies with respect to overall human well-being.
Each of the issues raised goes to the.heart of the matter, and need to be put on the high priority agenda for futUre work in Islamic economics:.
1. Islamic Economics should grapple with (economic) problems faced by current
Muslim countries. It should be able to explain and analyze. the economics of their
colonial past, and be able to make policy recommendations regarding their
immediate future. .
2. Islamic Economics should assess the gap between norms of ideal Muslim
behavior (as represented by Homo Islamicus) and existing reality. It should also
present an action plan for removing this gap.
3. Islam offers a unified outlook on life, and Islamic scholars have considered economic problems within such a unified perspective in the past. We cannot take for granted the field boundaries between Politics, Psychology, and Economics which developed in the context of European social experience. Rather, we must develop the discipline in a multidisciplinary fashion suitable to our own historical experience and the Islamic Worldview.
4. Islamic Economics cannot be developed by presenting a critique of neoclassical views and offering suitable modifications. Western social science is firmly rooted in Western historical experience. Because the historical experience of Muslim societies is radically different, we cannot graft a branch of Islamic Economics onto the tree of Western Knowledge. Rather; our analysis must be rooted in an analysis of our own experience, and developed in the course of struggling to solve our economic problems. In this process we may of course fruitfully borrow relevant tools and tactics ITom the West, but we cannot found our analyses on Western premises.
This last point is of the greatest importance for the future development of Islamic Economics. The vast majority of current literature on Islamic Economics is in fact structured around a critique of neoclassical theories, and the development of some alternatives which are mostly grounded in neoclassical assumptions and methodology. T() escape the "centripetal pull" of neoclassical thought, we must build our camp in a distant location, and wbrk together to achieve "escape velocity." This means radically modifying
the existing methodology for the development Islamic Economics. Proposals in this direction are put forth in the next section.
Focus on Solving Real Economic Problems Faced by Muslim Societies:
As discussed, our biggest failure has been in operationalizing extremely good ideas present ,in our religious traditions. Our Prophet (s.a.w.) sought protection of Allah s.w.t. from useless knowledge -useless knowledge is precisely that knowledge which is not translated into action (or not operationalized). Teachers and researchers in Islamic Economics should focus very sharply on t4e question "What existing problems faced by the society we live in will be solved by my "teaching and/or research?" Good theory develops as a tool to grapple with a practical problem being faced by a society or a group. Because theory develops out of indigenous struggle, it is well understood, and easily motivated with reference to indigenous historical experience. In contrast, alien knowledge and technology developed to solve alien problems can be borrowed but is not readily assimilated.
Defining "Problems" & Setting Our Own Agenda:
In implementing the goal described above, it is crucial not to fall into the trap of defining our problems to be those that Western economists and policy makers see as our problems. For Western economists, the issues are "privatization", "Gender Equality & Female Education," "Democratization" and transition to modernity in general. We must set our own agenda. Our problems must be those that the Quran and Sunnah define as problems. For example, consider the "role of government" which continues to be a highly contested area between liberals and conservatives in the West. In Islamic teachings there is substantial consensus on the roles and responsibilities of the government (provision of justice, basic needs, and well defined roles in terms of taxation, provisions of services, defense, market regulation, etc.). There is a well developed theory of market regulation (Hisbah) which has no parallel in Western theory. Unfortunately, contemporary Muslim economists have (with some exceptions) largely bypassed these areas of strength, which provide a good base to build. on. Another issue of critical importance is the economic problems cannot be considered iri isolation from political and social issues, as is assumed in West.
Teamwork and How to Develop It:
An important aspect of the lackluster past performance of Islamic Economics .is the failure to develop consenSus and teamwork. Nearly all of the leaders in the field have their own unique approach to the subject while sharing a broad general approach based on Islam, they differ substantially on the details of how it should be implemented. A research program, like a building, requires teamwork with large numbers of participants working together on a common vision. In contrast, researchers in Islamic Economics have all been placing bricks in different locations, with no two bricks being placed one on top of the other. To achieve synergy, we need to have consensus. Consensus exists only on the .fundamental teachings of Islam, and consequently, we need to make these teaching the foundational basis of our endeavors. Thus we propose the following as the definition of Islamic Economics: "The effort to realize the orders of Allah pertaining to economic affairs in the lives of Muslims." For example, the Quran enjoins the "feeding of the poor" and condemns those who do not advocate this. Therefore research and actions aimed at removing poverty and hunger should from an integral part of Islamic Economics. Similarly, all of the teachings of Islam regarding management of our economic affairs (some of which were discussed earlier), and their implementation in Muslim societies should from the body of lslamic Economics. As spiritual development is at the heart of Islamic teachings, the core of Islamic Economics should be the efforts to strengthen faith, with resultant impacts on reduction/removal of corruption, development of an attitude of service and fellow feeling, all of which would substantially impact on economic prospects.
Reject Theory/Applied Distinction:
Western methodology suggests that theoreticians. should not get their hands dirty – some perspective is needed for neutrality and emotion tree evaluation. As Muslims, we must reject this methodological principle. We should require translation of all theories into practical recipes. Our Prophet s.a.w. demonstrated the applied orientation of his teaching on many occasions. When a questioner asked him about the times of Salaat, he demonstrated the earliest and latest time in practice, instead of giving him a verbal/theoretical answer. I believe it is essential for Us to work from problems to theory instead of the other way around. We should look for a real world problem to solve, and then develop theory as part of a solution to this problem. Muslims economists must get involved in the problems of their communities as well as the larger problems faced by their nation and the Ummah as a whole. Each university should have-detailed knowledge of poverty in the neighborhood, and Muslim students should be actively involved in attempts to solve these problems. Theories about poverty should be assessed in order of their relevance to the solution of the problems. Our students should be able to ask and answer questions about what is the best utilization, for the welfare of the Ummah, of the wealth generated by sales of Muslim oil? Is it really in the best interests of the Ummah to sell oil for paper, and invest proceeds in Western economies, or would we be better off restricting such sales to the amount that we can profitably invest in our own development. What benefits would accrue, economic and otherwise from greater cooperation among the Muslim countries? We should be able to evaluate the costs and benefits of introducing a common Muslim currency (the dinar) as suggested by Mahathir. Another common problem of Muslim countries is the post-colonial bureaucratic structure. In the colonized world, administrative structures were designed mainly for generation and collection of revenue trom the people, and its transport to the imperialist powers. They were not meant to serve the people in any real way. Post colonial governments typically continue in this tradition, exploiting the people to serve material interests of the people in power. Muslims are praised in the Quran as those who decide their affairs by "Shoora" or consultation – that is, decision making processes must be responsive to the needs of the people. How can we transition trom present oppressive and exploitative structures to Islamic ones? When students are motivated to solve problems, they will get a much better grasp of the strengths and weaknesses of economic theories as instruments which help solve these problems. In the process of developing solutions, they will discover the multi-disciplinary nature of the subject, as they fip.d that developing solutions will require political, social, and moral resources.
Tableegh & Dawa:
An essential component of the mission of the Prophet s.a.w. was the spiritual transfonnation of human beings. The culture of Jahilliyah where people killed each other for petty purposes, was transformed to one where people fed each other while they themselves were hungry (as documented in the Quran). Islam continues to have this power to transform lives, and the Quran and Hadeeth are full of methods and incentives to bring about this transformation. In the course of their struggles to solve economic problems, our students must be taught to encourage the richer Muslims to take care of their poorer neighbors, to encourage bureaucrats they come into contact with to be honest, etc. In other words, they must learn the same techniques of dawaah and tableegh that were learnt by the Companions when they went to preach the message of Islam to their own tribes and others. This is the only way to remove the gap that exists between current behavior of Muslims in existing Islamic societies and the ideals we espouse in Islam. Unlike Western economics, which takes character as exogenous, the focus of Islam is on the transformation of character. Therefore we need to make this an integral part of Islamic Economics.
An Illustration:
Because the arguments above h(!.ve been made at an abstract level, it is worth giving a concrete illustration of the contents. Our main contention is that all our work should be driven by an operational target – a goal which is prescribed by the Quran and Sunnah. For instance, this present paper has three operational targets:
1. To convince Muslim Economists of the futility of building up the discipline of
Islamic Economics as an auxiliary, an adjunct, a variation or a critique of neoclassical economics.
2. To generate consensus around an alternative approach – this is because the
Hand of Allah is with the Jamaah, and without consensus the effort is doomed to failure.
3. The heart of the alternative approach is that we should start our work by
attempting to solve a practical problem being faced by Muslim societies, and attempt to solve it in the light of Quran and Sunnah. (The problems themselves must be those defined by the Quran and Sunnah as problems. to solve, and not problems dictated by an alien agenda.) This goal itself is prescribed by Islam, and there are many Ahadeeth on the virtues of helping a fellow Muslim or group of Muslims in need. Theories should be borrowed or
developed as they are needed towards the solution of these problems.
To illustrate these principles, consider the teaching of utility theory. We must ask: what purpose does this serve? What practical problem being faced by Muslim societies can be solved by the use of this tool? As a first pass, we could answer that this will help us understand the behavior of Muslim consumers (which does not differ much from their secular counterparts). But in fact empirical studies show clearly that consumers do not behave according to the utility maximization model. Thus, utility maximization will not help us understand consumer behavior. In fact, Imam Shatibi's theory of categorization of needs, competently surveyed and developed by Fahim Khan, will give us a much better understanding of both consumer behavior, and also of the relative welfare of consumers.
1 This is one of the reasons for the development of the "as-if' methodology of Friedman, widely accepted by economists, which says that even if our assumptions (like utility maximization by consumers and profit maximization by producers) are false, our theories are still valid if they predict well.
Thus it will provide us with much deeper insight into the problem of poverty which we are trying to solve. The main point here is that this approach – which is the current main approach of Muslim economists – is backwards. We first study tools from Western economics and then try to fit them into a solution of our problems. The proposal here is to reverse this. Let us look, for example, at the problem of poverty (either in a neighborhood, or a city, or a country, or even the Ummah as a whole). We can attempt to solve it using the tools provided by Islam – these are Zakat, Sadaqat, and also the encouragement to good behavior which is part of our duties as the "Khair-ul-Ummah". In the process of applying these tools, we might come up with several problems to which there is no clear solution. For example, how to measure poverty, evaluat~ effectiveness of our programs, do cost benefit analyses of alternative ways of spending on the poor. Here we may profitably borrow theory and methods from Western analysts, while ensuring that these tools are modified appropriately to suit our specific historical and social circumstances. We should adopt a similar methodological approach to solution of all economic problems we face – in formulating these problems and their solutions, we should be guided principally by the Quran and SUlll1ah. This is in contrast to the current approach of blind and wholesale adoption ofthe framework, diagnosis, and prescriptions of Western social science, followed by an attempt to modify it to solve our problems.
As Muslim economists, we should focus on economic problems being experienced by Muslim countries. On a broader level, we should express our concern with the economic exploitation and oppression of all human beings. The most urgent problem that we face as economists is the existence of massive resources, the phenomenal concentration of wealth into a few hands, together with large scale hunger and poverty. We should join hands with efforts to solve these global problems of inequity. We should strive to work for practical solutions, along the lines recommended by Quran and Sunnah. We should work on implementing the orders of Allah in the economic domain in Muslim societies.. In the course of solving practical problems we . face, we will develop (and if necessary borrow) tools, techniques, and theories that we need. To develop Islamic economics, we need teamwork. This can only be built around the Quran and Sunnah. To establish Islamic Economics as a viable discipline, we need to show a successful example. We have to show the world what Islam can do in the economic domain, rather than talk about it. This involves showing (for example) how Zakat can playa role in eliminating poverty instead of discussing the theory of this, Muslim economists must get involved in the nitty gritty of it – practical problems faced in identifying the poor, political problems in getting the money to the target population, etc. We must involve our students in this as well. We can borrow Western theories when they are useful to solve the practical economic problems being faced by our societies.
However, my guess is that since our problems are substantially different from those which were faced by West, and also because we have resources at our disposal (due to an Islamic identity) which they did not have, we will frequently have to develop our own theories.


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Fans of Batman and Superman have to wait another agonising four months until they get to see their favourite superhero battle it out. You can at least satisfy some of that anticipation with the brand new teaser trailer released by Warner Bros.
The teaser shows Superman revealing Batman's identity, which introduces us to Ben Affleck as the new Batman. Superman does not look happy and Batman is chained up! The anticipation and questions just keep on rising!
Another thing to look forward to is the introduction of Wonder Woman, that's one heck of a cape vs cape vs cape!
Check out the teaser for yourself, and if you're still craving for more of your favourite superhero, then visit batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice
Follow at Facebook.com/batmanvsupermanuk and @DawnofJusticeUK for future updates and news on the release
BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE is released in cinemas March 2016


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Oxford, Cambridge & UCL
We invited a range of employers from across the creative industry to give presentations, careers advice, mentoring and feedback for the students at this bespoke event.
The professionals were also offering internships and jobs within their companies.
2:00pm - Professionals presentations on careers advice & job hunting tips
3:30pm - Creative challenge for student teams
4:30pm - Team presentations & feedback
5:00pm - Q&A + Networking
6:00pm - End of event
Daniel Bottiglieri
I'm Head of Marketing at Brainlabs Digital. We're a scientific PPC (Pay per click) agency. We have designed a unique methodology to build and optimize successful PPC advertising campaigns. This year we were named Google's fastest growing independent agency. We aim, soon, to be recognised as the paid search agency best in the world. I'm always interested in speaking to bright young people about advertising, and much else besides.
Emily-faye Duncan
I am the HR Advisor at Rufus Leonard, we are The Drum's #1 digital and #2 design agency. Having spent a decade moving up the ranks at Rufus, I should be able to help you understand your career path and give you some top tips on what we look for in young talented people.
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Staff Training And Recognition (STAR) Day
Thank you for another great year. Information about next years event coming soon.
Fresno State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please call the Office of Organizational Excellence at 278-5330 in advance of your participation or visit.


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"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature." Anne Frank
Once up da hill, you can see Maunalua Bay with
it's 2 (Lua) Mountains (Mauna): Koko Head (pointy one)
and the "other one."
You can look right into the lip of Diamond Head.
"Learning how to operate a soul figures to take time." Timothy Leary
"They deem me mad for I will not sell my days for gold; I deem them mad for they think my days have a price."
Kahlil Gibran
This is the vintage (but still used) tower of a Fire House. The Spanish style tower is for drying hoses! See the houses going up Whilemena Rise?
Punchbowl Crater, site of the National Memorial Cemetary of the Pacific - Military heros including President Obama's Grandfather, Stanley Dunham, lie here- at the right of photo. Urban Honolulu and Waikiki Highrise hotels to the left.
Closer look at Punchbowl, right side of photo.
Back around to Waikiki & ocean horizon
Look at the tiny cars! House lots running up Willhemina Rise originally sold for eight cents a square foot, nine cents for corner lots.
Sometimes the extraordinary is hiding in plain sight.
For over twenty years I have driven right past the Kaimuki Fire House without thinking much about the hill that looms over it. I'd been close to a treasure without even knowing it! This Pu`u (poo - oo) or "hill," the high point of the neighborhood, is today crowned by the tiny Pu`u O Kaimuki Park.
Site of Hawaiian cultural practices in "pre-history," one-time home to a water tank, and to an early astronomical observatory, the Pu`u watched the arrival of the original Hawaiians, saw the first European sailing ships, and oversaw the growth of our Honolulu Town.
I have always loved Honolulu's classic little Kaimuki neighborhood with it's main commercial street ("High Street") of Waialae Avenue. Strolling the avenue, one finds a few remaining "mom and pop" businesses and restaurants, beside culinary gems offering everything from classic diner food (Big City Diner) to Asian, Mexican, French & Mediterranean fare.
Kaimuki was actually the first large subdivision outside of Honolulu (though now a part of the City & County). In 1898 two businessmen bought 520 acres of land here for 20,000 dollars, envisioning a lucrative, high class residential area where only rocky hills and hardscrabble dairy farms existed. Fee simple house lots were offered for 400 to 600 dollars each; but without paved roads it was a hard sell. Potential buyers were even offered a 50 dollar "Bounty" for every baby born in Kaimuki!
Eventually, the parched red dirt did yield to civilization beginning around this very Pu`u (Hill) O Kaimuki, behind the fire station. Today, Beth and I climbed the short, paved lane up the Pu`u and took the pictures above! Hope you like them . . . . A L O H A! Cloudia
Eventually, the parched red dirt did yield to civilization beginning around this very Pu`u (Hill) O Kaimuki, behind the fire station. Today, Beth and I climbed the short, paved lane up the Pu`u and took the pictures above! Hope you like them . . . . A L O H A! Cloudia


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Pro-Moscow rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine called Monday for their region to become part of Russia, the day after staging a referendum on self-rule, but Moscow stopped short of endorsing their bid for annexation.Donetsk and Luhansk together are home to 6.5 million people and produce around a third of Ukraine's industrial output, creating the biggest new self-proclaimed independent states in Europe since the breakups of Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union itself over 20 years ago.Unlike in Crimea, Moscow has stopped short of recognizing the two regions as independent from Kiev and has said nothing to suggest it would endorse their absorption into Russia.Donetsk and Luhansk produce more than 15 percent of Ukraine's GDP, including around a third of its industrial output from the giant steel smelters and other heavy industry of the Donbass, one of Europe's most productive coal producing regions. If they slip out of Kiev's control without being formally absorbed by Moscow, they would become by far the biggest and most economically important of the self-proclaimed independent statelets Russia protects in other parts of the ex-Soviet Union.


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Block Tim Cumper on Twitter
Thursday, August 27, 2009
ADVERTISEMENTSCaptain's Log Stardate -314654.06So, you've finally ban the dickhead above on your Wordpress blogs. What's next? Well if you have a Twitter account, most likely, he's already followed you. I know the feeling. It's creepy. Just look at my Twitter account, it's been spammed with Tim Cumper nonsense:Now, how about we block him on our Twitter accounts too? It's very simple. Just log in to your Twitter account at twitter.com and visit Tim Cumper's Twitter page.See the BLOCK link on the sidebar? Click it. Follow the instructions and that's it! You've successfully blocked that creepy dickhead on your Twitter account. This guy has been accusing us of "pumping out propaganda" where in fact all of the bloggers who have blogged about him have been silent for more than 6 months. I guess you can't blame the guy, he's paranoid and delusional. His biggest mistake was to accuse my friend of posting comments about him on my blog, which she obviously didn't post. Imagine stalking Pepper's blog for more than 7 hours! LOL!Well, he'll regret this. Very much. More information about Tim Cumper here. Or you can visit tcw.gameops.net for some big announcements.By the way, you may also consider blocking Tim Cumper on your MyBlogLog accounts. *Computer end log*
Labels: blogging, internet, tim-cumper
Posted by Jepoy @ 8/27/2009 05:34:00 PM
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Posted by Euri on Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 10:03:00 PM GMT+8:
Nah, I might not block him. I enjoy these kind of drama once in a while. It relieves work stress. Hehe. :P
Posted by Jepoy on Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 11:07:00 PM GMT+8:
gawin daw bang stress remover :))
Posted by dodong flores on Friday, August 28, 2009 at 11:03:00 AM GMT+8:
I haven't seen him on my Twitter yet. But I saw him on my MyBlogLog. We don't have any business deals so I was shocked that he came across my MyBlogLog profile. It's probably that he's stalking users who are linked to your site. Paranoia at its best :D
Posted by Snow on Sunday, August 30, 2009 at 12:00:00 PM GMT+8:
Sige kuya, gagawa rin ako ng entry abt him...hahaha..
Posted by Briscolone on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 9:07:00 PM GMT+8:
That useless ellumbra moron should be interned!
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Communication - non-verbal
Personal Communication Profile
Public speaking is an activity that most Americans engage in at one time or another. Communicators speak on the job, at school, and at social gatherings. Some of these speakers find themselves in front of audiences and find it a frightening experience. It has been estimated that up to 20% percent of Americans suffer from sever speech anxiety. In fact, in surveys of the most significant fears of Americans, public speaking most often ranks in the top ten along with the fear of heights, water, closed spaces, death, spiders and the dark. I believe I participated…
- Communication - non-verbal
- Communication Skills Essay
- Propaganda in the Online Free Speech Campaign, Propaganda and Mass Communication
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GASSING UP: A new pipeline to bring gas to Europe from the Caspian Sea will go through Greece and then undersea to Italy.
PIPE DREAMS: BP, the main developer of the huge Shah Deniz gas field in the Caspian Sea, said the project was awarded to the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline. The other contender, the Nabucco West, would have run across Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria.
GETTING AROUND RUSSIA: The EU and the U.S. support building connections to Azerbaijan's gas as a way to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian gas.


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Thursday, August 13, 2015
The Mushroom Farm
In the cold-and-humid room, ceiling pipes dripping chilly condensation, the mycelia bear fruit: oyster and shiitake mushrooms. Shiitakes are on shelving. Standing in columns are the oyster mushrooms, pictured, growing out of pinpricks in the bags, multiplying dementedly. Imagine a 20x40-foot room full of mushrooms.
They're harvested here. The fourth room is for packaging.
How to learn to grow mushrooms on this scale? The owner cheerfully answered, "Failure." Any grower must experiment dozens or even hundreds of times and waste tons of materials before he gets mushrooms -- shiitakes, especially, are very difficult to grow. I personally asked him, "Do you like cooking and eating mushrooms?" He said yes, but if he had a pound of mushrooms he'd rather sell them than eat them. This eye-opening tour was arranged by the Missouri Mycological Society.
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Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Downbeat Sound - New York 1983
Downbeat Sound - New York 1983
download mp3
Coxsone Dodd used to play records to the customers in his parents' shop. During a spell in the South of the United States he became familiar with the rhythm and blues music so popular there at the time. In 1954, back in Jamaica, he set up the Downbeat Sound System, being the owner of a amplifier, a turntable, and some U.S. records, which he would import from New Orleans and Miami. With the great success of his sound system, and in a highly competitive environment, Dodd would make trips through the States looking for new tunes to attract the Jamaican public. Dodd opened five different sound systems, each playing every night. To run his sound systems, Dodd appointed people like Lee "Scratch" Perry, who was Dodd's right hand man during his early career, U-Roy and Prince Buster. Downbeat is an integral part of the history and evolution of Ska and Reggae music in Jamaica and beyond.
Posted by P M X at 6:48 AM
Labels: Coxsone Dodd, Downbeat, Reggae
4 comments:
- Who Cork The Dance? said...
Many thanks my friend..............
- October 3, 2007 at 10:29 PM
- Zangetsu said...
When I try to image how New York was 1983, the first thing that comes into my mind is blue music in the streets which sounds great. By that year buy kamagra did not exist so it means long time ago.
- November 22, 2010 at 2:09 PM
- Rhadamantis said...
it has been something similar that happens to me because while I was in the pharmacy I learned to appreciate the blues and all the music related to the black men, that's perfect because I learned a lot about that tendency.
- September 13, 2011 at 2:52 PM
- Shadow said...
One of the reasons why I like visiting your blog so much is because it has become a daily reference I can use viagra online in order to learn new nice stuff. It's like a curiosities box that surprises you over and over again.
- January 11, 2012 at 11:35 AM
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The NeverEnding Story III (1994)
Directed by: Peter MacDonald
Starring: Carole Finn, Jack Black, Jason James Richter, Melody Kay
Continuity mistake: Throughout the entire movie, the irregularly-sized characters are constantly changing size when compared to one-another. Except for Barky (even Junior, he is awfully big for a baby) I.E. when Bastian accidentally steps on the gnomes' house, the gnomes are the height of Bastian's shoe, yet when they run out of the house, they are as tall as his leg up to his knee cap.
Add time
Plot hole: Towards the end of "The NeverEnding Story 2", Bastian's dad became aware of his son's adventures in Fantasia. Yet, in this film, he reacts to the news about Bastian stealing the NeverEnding Story as if he's never heard of the book before. Adding to that, he does not recognize the Auryn on his son's sweater nor does he know what it can do.
Add time


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Overlooking Victoria Harbour, the Best Western Plus Hotel Hong Kong is close to Sheung Wan MTR and offers easy access to the Macau Ferry Pier and busy shopping and commercial district of Central. With Hong Kong's excellent public transportation system close at hand, the rest of the city is easily accessible and Hong Kong International Airport and Disneyland are just a 30-minute drive away. Hong Kong's tramway, a tourist favorite, also provides a quick and easy method to get around Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay and the eastern part of the island. A free shuttle bus runs to the IFC, Airport Express terminal and Sheung Wan MTR.
All 307 rooms and suites in this Hong Kong hotel are luxuriously designed and furnished with marble bathrooms and wireless broadband Internet. Other highlights include harbor views available in most guestrooms and non-smoking floor options.
All-day dining is on offer in the hotel cafe and a Chinese restaurant serves authentic Cantonese favorites, dim sum and seafood. A bar is also open for guests to lounge in while enjoying some drinks and music.
There are two main rooms that business travelers can use for meetings and conferences, both equipped with the basic amenities. When it's time for guests to relax, a gym is open for guests to exercise, and it's encouraged for guests to go out into the city with the help from the tour services counter and the shuttle services.
Check in: from 14:00 Check out: before 12:00
Children under 18 years old cannot stay at the hotel without a parent or guardian.
The hotel does not accept guests below 18 years of age staying alone.
Buffet breakfast HKD 66
No pets allowed.
Payment can be made by credit card at the hotel. You can use the following credit cards:
All rates displayed are based on current exchange rate between CNY and the selected currency.
Children and Extra Beds
Children under 18 years old cannot stay at the hotel without a parent or guardian.
The hotel does not accept guests below 18 years of age staying alone.
Shanghai Hotel | Beijing Hotel | Guangzhou Hotel | Shenzhen Hotel | Hangzhou Hotel | Sanya Hotel | Chengdu Hotel | Guilin Hotel | Xi'an Hotel | Nanjing Hotel | Xiamen Hotel | Qingdao Hotel | Suzhou Hotel | Foshan Hotel | Kunming Hotel | Yiwu Hotel | Chongqing Hotel | Wuhan Hotel | Dongguan Hotel | Dalian Hotel
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Family Hotel | Boutique Hotel | Business Hotel | Luxury Hotel | Golf Hotel | Spa Hotel
taichung InterContinental hotel | cheap Nagasaki hotels | hotels Kathmandu | Gulangyu Sunshine Dora's House | Zhongheng Sandalwood Hotel | Yishang Hotel | hotels in Nanchang | hotels in Shenyang | Selayang hotels | hotel in Chongqing | hotel in Wulumuqi | hotel in Zhangjiajie


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Careers Education at Swakeleys School for Girls
Careers Staff
• Mrs P Laguillo- Assistant Headteacher
• Mr R Williams – Independent Careers Advisor
• Mrs K Doyle – Work experience administrative assistant
The purpose of the careers department at Swakeleys School is to provide information, advice and guidance to students on a wide range of issues that help students build the skills they will need for working life.
Students throughout the school are supported with careers education and preparation for the world of work. From Year 8 onwards, students are given progressive support to reflect on career choices, to prepare for work experience and to research career opportunities as they approach the end of their time at school. All students are offered careers guidance appointments, with our adviser Stephen Roach, where action plans are created and follow up opportunities are put in place. Year 12 and 13 students may schedule appointments throughout the Sixth Form, as and when they require support. Appointments can be an opportunity to discuss higher education, university choice, personal statements, gap year choices, work experience placements, apprenticeships, CVs, UCAS decisions or career opportunities.
Our specialist careers advisor Mr Richard Williams is available for 1:1 interviews on Wednesday and Thursday 9.00am – 3.30pm. Sign up for an appointment outside Mrs Laguillo's office.
Work Experience
Every year, girls in Year 10, have the opportunity to take part in our work experience scheme. Work experience is very valuable in giving young people a greater understanding of working life and guidance towards future career choices. Students often refer to the experience and skills they have developed through their work placements in future job application or in their UCAS personal statements.
For up to date information on careers and career related opportunities, please see our Careers News which is regularly updated.
Please click here Apprenticeship Newsletter March 2018 to access information regarding Apprenticeships . We will update this information regularly with new opportunities.
Autumn Term Careers Leaflet
Each term, we aim to keep you informed of all the opportunities for our students across the various year groups.


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Friday, April 18, 2014
Was CIA Behind Fliers Demanding Jews To Register in Ukraine?
By Joel Leyden
Israel News Agency
The CIA is one of the finest governmental organizations defending the US and Western values.
It's long, covert history is filled with creative, daring operations which have saved both nations and individuals. But if the CIA was behind the recent distribution of fliers in the Ukraine requesting Jews to register their property, it was an embarrassment to Western intelligence.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs can't say this, Mossad may address it directly and quietly with the US and the ADL is too politically correct to say "enough" to US INTEL. They will not say: "Do not use the Holocaust as a political card to secure support for this or that. It will only work against the Jews in the end where political games can turn into a nightmarish reality."
The Jews of Donetsk, Ukraine, were greeted on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Passover by three masked men. They were handing out fliers which looked very much like the official letterhead of the self-proclaimed, separatist Donetsk People's Republic announcing that all Jews must register with the government or face deportation and confiscation of their property.
As Abe Foxman of the ADL stated, Ukrainian Jewish leaders recognized the flier as a political dirty trick. But it was a trick which came close to working. The fliers were sent to an Israeli newspaper which gave it wide global exposure on the YNET English news Website. Someone knew that the Israelis would knee jerk and run with this. USAToday then picked up the story and used it as their lead headline on it's front page. European Jews of 2014 who were now facing another Holocaust became viral on Twitter and Facebook.
Kerry discussed it in Geneva and Jewish communities became alarmed.
Before writing this piece, I read over the Washington Post coverage.
The first comment at the bottom of the story stated:
"Our head of the CIA visits Kiev last week and brings along the paid contractors from Grey Stone, formally Black Stone, and one week later we have 3 mysterious hooded men handing out this bogus "Red Herring" leaflet in a pro Russian city where the last thing Russia would want is to be called anti-Semitic. A cheap and poorly executed CIA ploy and distort the reality in Eastern Ukraine."
In the Intelligence community one uses whatever works.
As a Jew representing many other Jews whose families were murdered in the Holocaust - please do not use shadows of the Holocaust to motivate the global Jewish community.
It will not work.
We are not that stupid.
If this was not the CIA, which I truly hope it was because they can and will correct themselves, then we truly have a problem. We need to defend the Ukraine against Russian aggression, but please don't dare use the Jews as a sword and shield.
We will not tolerate it.


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Read Robert Hackett's article about what we can expect from RSA 2017 conference on Fortune :
I will be attending the RSA conference in San Francisco this upcoming week, along with my Fortune colleagues Jeff John Roberts and Jonathan Vanian. The security event, which started as a colloquy for cryptographers in 1991, has since mushroomed into a vendor bonanza.
Read his full article here.


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The glory that is a cat.
Have you ever considered the glory of a cat,
how marvelous and wonderful they are
at being just themselves with scarce a care,
for anyone else who happens to be there.
How trim and neat they keep their coat,
how smug they are and seem to gloat.
How sweet they are when they choose to be,
how warm and cosy on your knee.
The glory of a cat does not end,
even when they drive you round the bend.


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According to an article in the WSJ.com tech section, Google has added a graphical math calculator to plot search results, a clear rejoinder to Wolphram Alpha's advanced math skills/mapping function. That means you can now type basic and complex math functions into the Google search box and Google will return some pretty nifty graphics. Example: Here's the plot for x/2, (x/2)^2, ln(x), cos(pi*x/5) in Google Example: Here's the same graph in Wolphram Alpha I was highly amused to notice two things: 1. Google puts it's graph ahead of the Wolphram Alpha result for that graph. 2. Though they're not so cheeky to supress the WA answer, google does not enable the "preview" function for WA. I guess it's a search-engine-eat-search-engine world.
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When I heard that Naruto goes to the past to fight alongside the fourth hokage, Minato, I was pumped! The Yondaime is one of my favorite characters and I love any idea of Naruto and his dad meeting up, no matter how contrived it can get, but this was pretty disappointing in terms of pay off in that area.
(Spoilers) Minato spends most of his time hiding his identity from Naruto and it's only at the end where they acknowledge who the each other is and it's a very quick scene that goes by too fast and worst of all Minato performs a Jutsu that erases everyone's memories. I don't know what Minato knows about time travel but you don't need to erase the guy from the future's memories if you worried about corrupting history. In my opinion Film makers should never end a movie on the note "It's like it never happened" It's both insulting to the audience and and destroys any development the characters go though.
The plot of Naruto needing to save a queen who is being used as a puppet is okay. There are some contrivencices and the writers do ask you to swallow some eye roll worthy stuff at times, but over all it's not bad, it's just not as interesting as what the film should have been focusing on, things that we don't see ever or hardly often see on the show that we really want to. Naruto freaking out over being taken out of his time, Minato and Naruto spending time together, these things are there, but just not given much time to flesh out.
I've yet to see the sixth movie at the time of this review but I really hope they learn from their mistakes.


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United States District Court, Eighth Circuit
August 28, 2013
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff,v.$10, 000.00 IN UNITED STATES CURRENCY, Defendant.
CHERYL R. ZWART, Magistrate Judge.
This case is set to be tried on August 29, 2013. The court conferred with counsel today and was advised that the claimant's attorney cannot locate or reach the claimant, Pedro P Herrera, at this time. According to his attorney, Mr. Herrera is aware of the scheduled trial date.
Claimant's counsel orally moved to continue the trial. The motion is unopposed.
1) The trial of this case is continued pending further order of the court.
2) A telephonic conference with the undersigned magistrate judge will be held on September 13, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. to discuss trial scheduling. Counsel for the claimant shall place the call.
3) The claimant is hereby advised that if this case cannot be re-scheduled for trial on September 13, 2013 because the claimant's whereabouts remain unknown at that time, his claim will be dismissed for want of prosecution ...
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What's it like to be a whistleblower? #NSAfiles Q&A with Daniel Ellsberg
Daniel Ellsberg a former United States military analyst who precipitated a national political controversy in 1971 when he released the Pentagon Papers, will answer your questions on what it's like to be a whistleblower at 3PM EST | 8pm BST.
If you're wondering what it's like to be in Snowden's head – how he's dealing with the government's response or coping with the media attention, now's your chance to ask someone who's been in his shoes.
- 1
I always want to get your opinion on a question that Dr. Ron Paul rhetorically asked.. That is, and to paraphrase, "They say so much about what ought to be done to Snowden but what about those who violate their oath to the Constitution?"
Peter King gets on national television speaking of how no Amendment is unconditional and calling for the prosecution of Glenn Greenwald. That to me seems far more treasonous than Snowden who simply let the public know what is being done in their name, with their money, and against them. All Unconstitutionally, of course.
Same with Obama and his public address. Very telling, in my opinion, of the amount of power they have and the complacency of the general American public.You cannot vote for questions more than once.Votes 3
@abcdefg: I do think that officials who commit perjury (if they were under oath) or in any case blatantly lie to Congress (like Clapper in March, in the Senate: "No," he didn't collect any data on millions of Americans) should be called to account somehow. It's virtually never done. There's simply no risk to lying to the Congress (let alone the public) in support of administration policy, secret or not. That should change; officials should be put under oath and prosecuted for perjury when they commit it. Moreover, secrecy agreements should state: "I understand that nothing in this agreement either obliges me or permits me to lie to the Congress, either in open or closed session." Fat chance.
One comment, though: as in one of my earlier answers, I would be careful in the use of the word "treason." I think, for example, that Richard Cheney was a "domestic enemy of the Constitution" in the precise sense of the oath of office we all took; but that doesn't make him a traitor ("adhering to the enemies of this country" in the sense of the Constitution. He wants the best for this country; he just thinks we should have a different Constitution, one more suited to the theories of Carl Schmitt, the fascist philosopher of the law, who believes that the executive should have virtually unlimited power, at least in matters of "natiional security" during (endless) "wartime." It does mean his actions, on this theory, violated his oath of office, though. Shouldn't there be a penalty for that? Impeachment is obviously appropriate. And, of course, some of his actions (and those of many others, including Bush) were criminally prosecutable, e.g., torture.You cannot vote for answers more than once.Votes 4


text: I will be teaching a great class Jan. 29, pending weather! It is the Date book! Great pages and pockets with some awesome paper from Paisley. I had fun making the book and each month has it's own date slip to go into pocket to keep those special dates at your fingertips! Hope to see you there. Contact the scrapbook store to confirm! You won't be disappointed.


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Why, indeed.
All I can say is sometimes the hot tub of self-pity looks warm and alluring and once you dip your toe it isn't too long before you are fully submerged and comfortable so you might as well stay a while. And ask someone to bring you chocolate. Unless you've temporarily lost your mind and agreed to go off sugar. Then you will just stay in even longer.
It all started on Friday. I can't really explain why, but it seems I unintentionally opened a metaphorical closet where all of my unfulfilled hopes and dreams and expectations and other cliched phrases came crashing down on me, leaving me lying on the floor trapped underneath.
On Saturday I was still buried by the aforementioned unfulfilled desires so I did what any experienced wallower would do-- I stayed in bed until 4 in the afternoon, lazily reading sad essays on the Web from other people who had also opened the same metaphorical closet. I wasn't much more productive after 4, although I did get up and wash my hair, which was greasy at that point and distracting me from having a proper wallowing. But, tired of reading about people who were also crushed under the weight of disappointment and regret, I turned to the next best thing: movies depicting characters who had also been gypped by life through no fault of their own.
Today, I unwallowed a little by sitting through three hours of church; although this didn't help me completely dewallow because I made the mistake of noticing the 500 eager, glowing girls and 27 carefree, lazy guys, which proved once again that singles wards are the equivalent of eternal damnation. Like every Sunday, I vowed never to go back (although I'm sure I'll be back again next week) and wallowed some more.
And so, you wonder, in the end what lesson was learned in all of this? What great epiphany did I have? Did I realize that it's important to rise above wallowing? To get out of that hot tub and dry off and go on with life? Perhaps I realized life is a marathon and it's important to keep running so you don't fall down and get trampled by long-legged Kenyans-- and, if you make it to the finish line, you might get a t-shirt and free food.
No, what I took from this weekend was this: wallowing is way better with chocolate.


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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968132365438511409.post4128404952920493894..comments2018-04-24T08:15:35.403-05:00Comments on Tales of Faerie: The Witch Must DieKristinhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968132365438511409.post-38858932060635432172014-04-02T09:07:04.377-05:002014-04-02T09:07:04.377-05:00Writer4Christ-Yes, it's absolutely true we can...Writer4Christ-Yes, it's absolutely true we can't just throw out all of his ideas because we don't agree with all of them. If nothing else it's helpful to understand how fairy tales have been interpreted in the past and how our culture fits on that spectrum!

A.L. Loveday-I know, I felt almost foolish having to argue some of his points! Also, I should probably have mentioned that this isn't NEW fairy tale scholarship by any means-this book was published in 1999. And reading back over my other post on Mallet's interpretation of Hansel and Gretel linked above, he's actually gotten a lot more moderate than that 1984 version of child psychology interpretation!

And I know, his whole analysis is just so counter intuitive and seems to ignore what actually happens in the story. But I'm loving this discussion on power and perspective in fairy tales. Being told mainly by peasants and poor people, they could probably identify more easily with the more powerless children in the stories, especially during times when the government was extra harsh and unfair.Kristinhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968132365438511409.post-11785834938716246532014-04-02T05:40:10.152-05:002014-04-02T05:40:10.152-05:00I'm quite shocked at some of his ideas - they ...I'm quite shocked at some of his ideas - they seem a bit 'backwards' in the sense that I thought we'd been there, heard that, and moved on.

The problem I have with these types of interpretations is that they forget that these stories give children a sense of empowerment just from the child beating the bad guy on their own, not because they're comprehending how to cope with their sins or budding desires or whatever. Maybe that's why the main characters were young people even when the stories weren't intended for children - because children represent people in a position lacking power, yet it shows them overcoming nonetheless. They're an easy way to interpret powerlessness in people?

These debates do tend to go in circles, don't they! :)A.L. Lovedayhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968132365438511409.post-48027318896413937662014-04-02T02:12:01.046-05:002014-04-02T02:12:01.046-05:00I can see some truth in both sides. I mean, there...I can see some truth in both sides. I mean, there's definitely more than one way to look at a fairy tale, and it's okay to find truth in something that the author didn't intend to put there. George Macdonald had a great quote about it in his book a Dish of Orts (the ebook is free on amazon). But it isn't okay to claim that what he's gleaned from the story is what the author/s of the story intended, and that anything else is rubbish. It is then that we get a sense of pride and quit learning.
It seems the author of this book was looking at the obvious instead of looking deeper, despite the subtitle of the book.
It's interesting though how sometimes the villain in stories mirrors the main character/s, even if it's in a really twisted way.Writer4Christhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968132365438511409.post-89234793581808253072014-04-01T10:27:12.309-05:002014-04-01T10:27:12.309-05:00I absolutely agree with you. It's one of those...I absolutely agree with you. It's one of those things I almost felt was too obvious to need a counter argument for.

That quote is really good! It's true, even if fairy tales were never exclusively children's stories, you can't ignore the cast of main characters mostlybeing young children or adolescents. And a lot of fairy tales can be boiled down to power struggles when you think about it.

No worries for "rambling"! All good thoughts! Kristinhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968132365438511409.post-60736667455316745022014-04-01T09:37:49.607-05:002014-04-01T09:37:49.607-05:00I find the focus on gluttony as an interpretation ...I find the focus on gluttony as an interpretation of the Hansel and Gretel story to be really bizarre. It reads to me as a straightforward story borne from the anxiety of not being able to support and feed one's family, and the guilt which would come with thinking the unthinkable - what if we abandon our children to lighten the load and survive?

From what I recall of the Grimm version, the section where the children come across the house and deal with the witch is only a small part of the story. Much more is made of the events beforehand, where the children overhear their parents discussing getting rid of them and make attempts to thwart them.

Then there is the wish fulfillment at the end where the children return with treasures, and the mother, the one who seemed okay with the children being left, has died (everything is okay and the bad, guilt inducing thoughts have been banished), leaving just the father, who had agonised over and regretted the decision.

From my own memories of reading fairy tales as a child, I wouldn't have been able to tell you why I liked them so much. I can look back now and attempt to apply some analysis, but at the time all I knew is how strangely alluring I found them.

There's a quote from "The Faraway Nearby" which I think applies here: "Fairy tales are children's stories not in who they were made for but in their focus on the early stages of life, when others have power over you and you have power over no one."

My apologies for rambling. I have just stumbled across your blog and am really enjoying your writing.Katrinahttp://firstname.lastname@example.com


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Last week yielded a special trip to a portion of BYU Education week in Provo, Utah with these lovely ladies:
Now Provo is a very exciting place for those of you who haven't heard. We had a whole list of things we wanted to do while there.
First of all we had to make a trip to the Provo DI. "It's the size of a Costco!" Juju said pepping me up before we got there. "It's a good one." "The craft area is amazing!"
There was so much anticipation and then when we got there a large gathering of people waiting for them to open the doors. My, I felt like it was the day after Thanksgiving! It was so funny and Juju was so excited, that I made her pose for a few pictures.
Scores included: A fiestaware plate and a nice silk tie for Dashing Boy. Juju got some crosstitching stuff and the most exciting find of the day: a practically new silpat for 50 cents!
The other big thing on our list: VaNIElla squared cupcakes from the Sweet Tooth Fairy Bakery. We love Nie so much.
Chocolate milk from the BYU Creamery was also a must. So we took our cupcakes there so we could have them together. Both of which were absolutely delicious! The cupcakes were so moist and the frosting! well it was heavenly.
Education week was wonderful- my first taste and something I definitely want to do again. It was so fun to be with Mom and Juju. My favorite classes were "Faithful Women in Latter-Day Saint History" and a class on temple marriage taught by Douglas E. Brinley author of Between Husband and Wife. I learned all sorts of new things.
Favorite announcement at education week: "Please don't applaud after the bearing of testimonies". Can you imagine? I thought that was pretty funny.
Favorite BYU Boy: A new freshman that boldly asked in the happiest way if he could join us at our table (a table for 8 with 7 seats already taken by our education week bunch) "What are you guys here for?" he asked Juju and I. So we talked to him. We were chatting away when he looked at us and said "so are you guys still in high school?" I almost choked on my drink as I started laughing. Bless his heart, he was so brave.
Thanks Mom and Juju for such a great time!
8 hours ago


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September 17, 2009
SAMMY J. MOORE, PLAINTIFF,v.PETER LISZEWSKI; MARK G. COLEAS; D. CATION; SYLVIA MAHONE, M.D.; MED TECH BEASLY, IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES, DEFENDANTS.
The opinion of the court was delivered by: Harold A. Baker United States District Judge
Before the court are the defendant SYLVIA MAHONE's summary judgment motion [78], the plaintiff's response [101] and the defendant's reply [107].
Summary judgment "should be rendered if the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). Any discrepancies in the factual record should be evaluated in the non-movant's favor. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986) (citing Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 158-59 (1970)). The party moving for summary judgment must show the lack of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). "Only disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law will properly preclude the entry of summary judgment." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248.
"Summary judgment is the 'put up or shut up' moment in a lawsuit, when a party must show what evidence it has that would convince a trier of fact to accept its version of events." Johnson v. Cambridge Indus., Inc., 325 F.3d 892, 901 (7th Cir. 2000). A party opposing summary judgment bears the burden to respond, not simply by resting on its own pleading but by "set[ting] out specific facts showing a genuine issue for trial." See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e). In order to be a "genuine" issue, there must be more than "some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts." Matsushita Elec. Ind. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986). "If [the non-movant] does not [meet his burden], summary judgment should, if appropriate, be entered against [the non-movant]." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e).
Affidavits must be based on the personal knowledge of the affiant and "set out facts that would be admissible in evidence." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e) (emphasis added). Personal knowledge may include inferences and opinions drawn from those facts. Visser v. Packer Eng. Assoc., Inc., 924 F.2d 655, 659 (7th Cir. 1991). "But the inferences and opinions must be grounded in observation or other first-hand personal experience. They must not be based on flights of fancy, speculations, hunches, intuitions or rumors remote from that experience." Visser, 924 F.2d at 659.
The plaintiff, a state prisoner, filed a complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1983, alleging that the defendant violated his rights under the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The plaintiff filed a claim against Dr. Mahone alleging deliberate indifference to a serious medical need. The plaintiff claims that Dr. Mahone was deliberately indifferent to an injury he sustained while he was an inmate at the Pinckneyville Correctional Center. The defendant Mahone denies that the plaintiff suffers from a serious medical need and further denies that any act or omission on her part constitutes deliberate indifference. The court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§1331 and 1343.
Undisputed Material Facts*fn1
1. The plaintiff was transferred to the Pontiac Correctional Center on March 2, 2007. (Mahone Aff., par. 3.)
2. Prior to being transferred to Pontiac Correctional Center, the plaintiff had been incarcerated at the Pinckneyville Correctional Center. (Mahone Aff., par. 4.)
3. Prior to arriving at the Pontiac Correctional Center, the defendant had little to no contact with the plaintiff. (Mahone Aff., par. 5.)
4. The plaintiff's transfer summary sheet indicates that the plaintiff had two lacerations on his head which required a number of sutures. (Mahone Aff., par. 6.)
5. The defendant was contacted by a nurse regarding the plaintiff's sutures. (Mahone Aff., par. 7.)
6. The defendant gave a telephone order to this nurse advising that the plaintiff's sutures be removed in seven days. (Mahone Aff., par. 7.)
7. The defendant ordered Keflex, an antibiotic, and Tylenol for pain for the plaintiff on the same date that she advised the nurse of when to remove the plaintiff's sutures. (Mahone Aff., par. 7.)
8. The defendant is aware that the plaintiff's complaints against her relate to her prescription orders for Keflex and Tylenol written on March 2, 2007. (Mahone Aff., par. 8.)
9. The defendant's order was given via telephone to a nurse to renew or approve the plaintiff's previously written order for Keflex and Tylenol. (Mahone Aff., par. 8.)
10. As the defendant read the order, written by someone who appears to be either a physician or a physician's assistant, the plaintiff was given a tetanus shot at the Pickneyville Correctional Center. (Mahone Aff., par. 8.)
11. The order that was read by the defendant further indicated that the plaintiff was to receive Keflex 500 mg p.o. (orally), qid (4 times per day) with 28 pills prescribed. (Mahone Aff., par. 9.)
12. Giving the plaintiff Keflex as written would have lasted seven days. (Mahone Aff., par. 10.)
13. The defendant's order written on March 2, 2007, provided the plaintiff with two doses of Keflex in 500 mg doses for ten days as she believed this dosage would be more effective for him. (Mahone Aff., par. 10.)
14. With respect to the Tylenol, the prior medical provider indicated the plaintiff was to receive his pain medication every six hours as needed for pain, allowing the plaintiff to receive medication four times per day. (Mahone Aff., par. 11.)
15. The prior physician noted that twelve pills would be available, (as indicated by the #12) which would have lasted three days. (Mahone Aff., par. 11.)
16. The defendant also wrote a prescription for the plaintiff to receive Tylenol 325 mg twice a day for three days. (Mahone Aff., par. 12.)
17. Although the prescriptions were not identical, they were very similar. (Mahone Aff., par. 13.)
18. In the defendant's medical opinion, she believed the prescription as she wrote it was the most effective for the plaintiff. (Mahone Aff., par. 13.)
19. The plaintiff did not suffer from any infection of his wounds and the defendant believes that the prescriptions as provided were ...
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All of the photos I have of Wenatchee, Washington were taken with the Ricoh KR-10. I usually travel with five or six cameras. When I get out to explore a place, I carry three with me.
Tip: when you're carrying three cameras, make sure that at least two of them (and preferably all three) are loaded with enough film to get you through your rambles. Otherwise, you'll end up with a bunch of pictures that sort of look the same. To each their own, though.


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Thesis defence S. Basak: batteries
26 April 2017 15:00 - Location: Aula, TU Delft - By: Webredactie
Making Better Batteries: Following Electrochemistry at the Nano Scale with Electron Microscopy. Promotor: Prof.dr. H.W. Zandbergen (TNW).
More information?
For access to theses by the PhD students you can have a look in TU Delft Repository, the digital storage of publications of TU Delft. Theses will be available within a few weeks after the actual thesis defence.


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Review: Depeche Mode – Delta Machine
Depeche Mode have been through everything. From the alcoholism of their frontman, then of their main songwriter, to the drug addiction of that same frontman, who later fought a tumor, but also the critics' cynicism, the tours harshness, the high and lows of a nearly forty year-long career. Never certain of bringing on a new album back since Black Celebration, yet Depeche Mode kept on going on, building themselves a solid worldwide fanbase. Delta Machine is the Essex boys' thirteen album, a blending of influences with synthesizers gone wrong for the best, gone Goth for our pleasure.
Depeche Mode's thirteen full-length funnily named Delta Machine (DM's DM, how amusing) is actually a hell of a solid album. An album that you have to let grow on you, for it is so low and rich, we are far indeed from the poppy beginnings, but also from the mesmerizing, and immediately catchy melodies such as 'Shake the Disease' or 'Personal Jesus'.
Even more than ever, as said earlier, their influences become clear. Where songs like 'Personal Jesus' or 'Dream On' gave us hints in the past, tracks like 'Slow' or 'Goodbye' on Delta Machine are the confirmation of Mode's desire to get closer to the musical roots. The single 'Heaven', that feels quite easy-listening at first but actually reveals itself as being an amazing, elegantly sad song, reminds us of Soulsavers, a multi-influenced musical project also signed on Mute Records to what Dave had lent his voice many times for the last two albums, a gathering of massively melancholic songs with black and blues influences melted in a kind of clever soft rock with electronic touches. Delta Machine is all that and more, as it is also a fully-fledged Depeche Mode album, brilliantly composed and executed, a smart music that's never try-hard, always altered (in a good way) by the killer lyrics that only Gore can write (even if dear old Dave really became better and better at this exercise).
Delta Machine is an album in two times. The magic kind of contains itself at the first try, waiting to see if those ears actually deserve to have the true depth of the album revealed to them. The first impression can be a bit disappointing. The black and blues influences are sometimes way to present and take the Mode's away from their original sound. The track 'Slow' would be probably the best example of that, being actually too…slow, and not that Depeche Mode at the end of the day. Dave's voice is sometimes unrecognizable, too thick ('Broken') or too thin ('The Child Inside'), lacking of the magic sexual power that animated the master and servant until the mid- nineties (yes, I am talking about 'Words of Faith and Devotion.) 'The Child Inside' feels like a filler, a completely useless song that doesn't bring anything.
But then again, you've got some bluntly powerful lyrics every now and then – "It's who I am, it's not for you" ('Secret to the End')-, and purely mind-blowing pieces of music. The synthesized outro of 'My Little Universe' is just an amazing piece of straight-forward and simple electromantic music at its best.
Getting to 'Soft Touch/Raw Nerve' is such a satisfaction. They finally bring us back to the sensual excitement Depeche Mode were supposed to be all about. We would love Dave Gahan to hit a raw nerve indeed. "Have I got a soft touch? Have I hit a raw nerve?" -Well, please do.
Gore however feels a bit hesitating in his lyrics on a couple of songs: "I'm coming for you, my body's hungry, I'm coming for you, like a junkie" (Soothe My Soul). It's not that bad, especially because the actual song is very good, just that Martin got us used to more subtle words about his visions of the human interactions between men and women.
"I come down your house, I break down your door"… However, I am not against the idea.
And then bit by bit, piece by piece, the album reveals itself and the title 'Welcome to My World' takes up all its sense as it is such an album to allow yourself in. But once you're in, you won't want, to get out. Oh, no.
Could we call that a grower? The first time round, I thought, oh my god no, I never wanted Depeche Mode to disappoint me, and there, it's happening, why did I ever listened to this album, why, why, why.*throws herself by window*
The second time round however, only one word played Ping Pong with my brain. Amazing, amazing, amazing. It is an interesting album in many ways, which can stand besides Violator and Ultra for tracks such as 'Welcome to My World', 'Soft Touch/Raw Nerve', 'Should Be Higher' and 'Soothe My Soul'. That's the exciting, thrilling Depeche Mode, feeling like a Berlin night in the 90's or a London-Soho night in the 80's. The rest of the album is Depeche Mode trying themselves, enjoying themselves, pulling a bit more on the blues roots, adding these lyrics or this harmony that would sound unusual into an electronic album to make it more complex, more different, even more beautiful and Depeche Mode.
It would be as if Depeche Mode took their time to create this album. As if they sat down with some guitars, took the time to remember why they started to make music, took the time to think about the past and what's important, took the time to write songs about the different things that arose as actually essential. This means only one thing (well no, actually it means a thousands of things, and mainly that the Mode's guys got a bit more peaceful and less tortured after years and years of self-inflicted wounds); it means one thing to us, listeners, that we will have to give some time to this album, listen to it more than once, understand it and let it sink into us deeper and deeper, until we catch the glimpse of light, and pull the veil to reveal the big picture of that breath-taking album.
Review by Marie Lando