text:
Full line-up for June 2013 bash is revealed
Arctic Monkeys, The Rolling Stones and Mumford & Sons have been confirmed as headliners of this year's Glastonbury festival.
A post on the official Glastonbury festivals website appeared at 7pm today confirming the news. Of the Rolling Stones' slot, frontman Mick Jagger tweeted:
The much-desired Stones headline appearance was one of the worst-kept secrets in music. Speaking to MTV News earlier this month, Serge Pizzorno – who headlines Hard Rock Calling in London the same weekend with Kasabian – said "I hope ours is the most talked about performance of the weekend, but that would be a miracle because The Rolling Stones are playing Glastonbury."
Before that, various members of the band hinted they would be playing. Speaking to NME, frontman Mick Jagger teasingly asked what the weather would be like at the famously element-beaten bash.
"There are other things in the world, you know, apart from Glastonbury," he said. "But then again, Glastonbury is very important. It seems to be very important to my children – highlight of their year!"
This year's Glastonbury festival is to be live streamed for the first time with viewers able to watch different stages as they happen. The BBC will use the latest digital technology to allow viewers to choose from simultaneous live streams from all the major stages.
The Glastonbury line-up as it stands is:
Pyramid stage
Arctic Monkeys; the Rolling Stones; Mumford & Sons; Dizzee Rascal; Primal Scream; Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds; Vampire Weekend; Elvis Costello; the Vaccines; Kenny Rogers; Ben Howard; Rita Ora; Rufus Wainwright; Jake Bugg; Professor Green; Laura Mvula; Billy Bragg; Rokia Traoré; First Aid Kit; Haim
Other stage
Portishead; Chase & Status; The xx; Foals; Example; The Smashing Pumpkins; Alt-J; Two Door Cinema Club; PiL; Tame Impala; Alabama Shakes; Editors; Azealia Banks; Of Monsters and Men; the Lumineers; Enter Shikari; I Am Kloot; The Hives; Amanda Palmer
West Holts stage
Chic featuring Nile Rogers; Public Enemy; The Weeknd; Seasick Steve; Major Lazer; Tom Tom Club; Maverick Sabre; Lianne Les Havas; Toro Y Moi; Ondatrópica; Sérgio Mendes; Dub Colossus; the Orb & Indigenous People; The Child of Lov; Alice Russell; Goat; Badbadnotgood; The Bombay Royale; Matthew E. White; Riot Jazz
The Park stage
Cat Power; The Horrors; Fuck Buttons; Django Django; Rodriguez; Dinosaur Jr; Calexico; Steve Mason; Palma Violets; Devendra Banhart; Michael Kiwanuka; Solange; King Krule; Stealing Sheep; Tim Burgess; Melody's Echo Chamber; Ed Harcourt; Half Moon Run; Josephine; Teleman
John Peel stage
Crystal Castles; Hurts; Phoenix; Bastille; Everything Everything; James Blake; Johnny Marr; The Courteeners; Jessie Ware; Tyler, The Creator; Frightened Rabbit; Miles Kane; Local Natives; The Strypes; Savages; Tom Odell; Peace; Daughter; Villagers; Toy; Jagwar Ma
Silver Hayes
Nas; Hot Natured; Disclosure; Rudimental; The Family Stone; Skream & Benga; Sub Focus; Charles Bradley; SBTRKT; Netsky; Dogblood; The Congos; The 2 Bears; Aluna George; Julio Bashmore; Wiley; TEED; Gold Panda; David Rodigan
Acoustic tent
Sinéad O'Connor; Stevie Winwood; Lucinda Williams; Glen Hansard; Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings; Gabrielle Aplin; The Proclaimers; Martha Wainwright; Seth Lakeman; KT Tunstall; Gretchen Peters; Martin Stevenson & The Daintees
Avalon stage
Ben Caplan; Beverley Knight; Crowns; Evan Dando; Gary Clark Jr.; JJ Grey & Mofro; Josh Doyle; Lucy Rose; Mad Dog Mcrea; Molotov Jukebox; Newton Faulkner; Oysterband; Penguin Café; Shooglenifty; Stornoway; The Destroyers; The Staves; The Urban Voodoo Machine; Vintage Trouble; Xavier Rudd
Read Kevin EG Perry on what we want from the Rolling Stones at Glastonbury


text:
James Fleishel
I'm a cargo pilot flying my way around the North America. I started off in Atlanta, GA, ended up in Phoenix, AZ for a year and now trying out New Mexico. I enjoy documenting my travels, sometimes alone, sometimes with friends. Just trying to live life to the fullest.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
I'm exploring the web to find sites I like
Playa Paraiso Km 3.5, Cozumel 77600, Mexico
"second visit"
Posted by: bruce on Oct 11, 2014
see all reviews
Treat yourself to one of the most beautiful resorts on the Mexican Caribbean in Cozumel, MX. Park Royal Cozumel has exclusive beach access to a lovely small cove, as well as being adjacent to one of Cozumel's dazzling barrier reefs.
Share your experiences with others. Don't forget to send your review to Debbie by using an easy form.
"second visit"
Posted by:
bruce on Oct 11, 2014 >
1 contribution(s) Canada
Visited on: Oct, 2014 | Leisure | Solo
384 people found this review helpful
This was my second time at this hotel and it seemed even better than the last time I was here last year while on vacation. Something you need to know about this place is that it is going to take you just one day to love it in fact it is just a matter of minutes and you will love the hotel before you even leave the place. I stayed here for just 3 days because it wasn't a holiday type of visiting, it was purely business but I had fun and loved the hotel, during my next vacation by the beginning of October, I will visit this place. The resort has a good style and design, from the outside, it was lovely and so was the inside. The resort is exotic and fun to be in. The rooms are well arranged, well decorated and very clean. It has all the necessary requirements that you will ever need and the room service is exceptional. The bathroom was big, clean and had functional shower. The beach was something I loved about this resort the most after the exceptional service from the staff. The beach is beautiful, not too crowded with fine sand to sooth your feet. Snorkeling for just one day to clear my head after a busy business meeting was all it took, I am really looking forward to another trip here. The staff was exceptional, diligent and very kind, they smiled all day and was very attentive.


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Kazakh specialties аrеmeat and sour-milk dishes: besbarmak (meat and noodles), kazy, karta, shuzhuk, zhal, zhaya (types of horsemeat sausage), baursaks (savory dоughnuts), kurt (аhard curd chess), kozhe (milk soup), irimshik (curds) and airan (ауоghurt drink).
Кazy is a common element on a dastarkhan, a table set for a festive meal. A smoked horse-meat sausage, is аparticularly popular delicacy.
Kumys - the national drink is made by fermenting raw unpasteurized mare's milk over the course of hours or days, often while stirring or churning. (The physical agitation has similarities to making butter). During the fermentation, lactobacilli bacteria acidify the milk, and yeasts turn it into a carbonated and mildly alcoholic drink.
Besbarmak - the national kazakh dish,the term Beshbarmak means "five fingers", because the dish is eaten with one's hands. The boiled meat is usually diced with knives, often mixed with boiled noodles, and garnished with parsley and coriander.
Kuurdak (offal stew) - is a Central Asian dish which may sound exotic and complicated but it is really easy to prepare. It basically involves sautéing meat, potato and onions. With so few ingredients the quality of the ingredients becomes particularly important. Red meat is more commonly used but there is no rule against using chicken! Sometimes Kuurdak is made with innards such as intestines.
Baursaks (savoury doughnuts) - are must-have food in every Kazakh family. Now, baursaks are not only cooked and eaten by the Kazakhs. Baursaks are served to tea, before main course, to mare's milk ('kumys'), to snacks, and to strong broth ('sorpa'). It is both festive and everyday food liked by many, both young and old.


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When West Ham FC tackle Liverpool tonight in an Emirates FA cup fourth round tie at Boleyn Ground, new winter acquisition Emmanuel Emenike won't be on parade as he wasn't listed by manager Slaven Bilic due to reasons bothering on the tournament rules.
The 28 year old who made his West Ham debut in their 0-1 loss to Southampton isn't eligible for the FA cup replay clash as he wasn't a registered West Ham player when the first leg which ended 0-0 was played.
However the return of Andy Carrol last weekend will cushion the effect the absence of the Nigerian would have had on their squad as they head into their 133rd meeting against Liverpool with the Merseysiders winning 70 of their clashes while the hammers have won 27 with the rest 35 ending in draws.
A spot in the quarterfinals of the FA cup awaits both teams where Championship side Blackburn Rovers lies in wait for the winner of the tie.


text: Jobst Schmalenbach wrote: > I use a lot of tapes but never a USB, me neither... all the DAT and better tape drives I've ever seen have been SCSI (or FC at the high end). I wonder if that USB DAT72 actually has a USB-SCSI chip in it, then the drive is on the SCSI... no, this http://h18006.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/11883_div/11883_div.html says its native USB, huh. elsewhere onn their site, they say its compatible with RHEL 5.4 applications includinig native tar, cpio, and no driver is required. they do have firmware upgrades for the drives, and a diagnostic CD you can download. http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareIndex.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodNameId=501426&prodTypeId=12169&prodSeriesId=63890&swLang=13&taskId=135&swEnvOID=4006 <http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareIndex.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodNameId=501426&prodTypeId=12169&prodSeriesId=63890&swLang=13&taskId=135&swEnvOID=4006>


text:
Separate names with a comma.
Discussion in 'Texas' started by Thundalicious, Aug 2, 2016.
Any recommendations for MS window tinting in DFW?
Estimate on price?
Earmark Car Audio, 708 Valley Ridge Circle in Lewisville, did a great job on mine. They installed my dashcam, too. I'll edit this post with details when I get back to my computer.
Time passes...
FormulaOne ceramic film, 30% on the sides, 15% on the rear, and "clear" on the windshield. Total cost, parts and labor, was $666.32, work performed 14 months ago.
I got Huper Optik installed by Pro Tint in Plano 3 weeks ago. It was $399 out the door for sides and back (no pano or windshield). The only option for windshield they have is Air 90, and I believe they charge $150 for that. Overall they did a good job. My only complaint is that it cured VERY slowly, so you will have bubbles for 2+ weeks. So far they have nearly all disappeared over time, and I expect that they all will eventually. So overall I would recommend them.
I plan to get all my work done at Speed Shield as they are Tesla experts and come highly recommended from many here as well as local people I have talked to.
They are in Addison. Check out their FB page for an idea of their work and see all the Teslas.
^ I believe they are one of the few places in DFW that can install Photosync. So if you want Photosync that seems to be the consensus place to go. I will probably take my 3 there once I take delivery.
I went to AltaMere on Lemmon and Wycliff, just down the street from the SC. Dan there took great care of me. $399 for ceramic 30% on sides and 15% on rear. Done in less than 4 hrs. Easy.
talk to david chukman at tritek he does all my vehicles and did awesome job.
Any idea what they charge for 4 windows and the hatch?
Sorry, not as of yet as I havent gotten my car. I just have heard multiple people here mention them as well as follow them on FB and their work looks fantastic and multiple Teslas always on there.
They quoted me $675 for Photosync. The windshield was $395 extra.
Speedshield in Addison. He does probably as many Tesla's as any shop in Texas or the entire south for that matter. It would be a rare occasion to go there and not see a Tesla either in his shop or being dropped off/picked up. He did mine and I'm very happy, along with a full wrap. I paid him a small fortune for the entire package, but I'm very happy so far with the tint and the wrap. Will probably let my front end get a few more nicks/scratches in the wrap over the next couple of years and then go back and have them redone.
Thanks for the info. That's not too bad. I emailed them but never got a response. I guess sometimes you just have to pick up the phone
^ Yeah it took them probably a week or more to respond to my email. I was just about to call when I got the response. If you want to get it done ASAP, I'd call for sure.
Yes, I like to do this asap. Any idea how long the tinting takes? Without wrap? I'm trying to work out logistics of dropping off the car on my way to work and taking an Uber or something
Pro tint took just under 2.5 hours to tint the 4 windows and the back hatch. They have wifi so I just worked from their lobby.
Awesome. Thanks! Oh, did you get it done at SpeedShield or ProTint?
I went to Pro Tint for Huper Optik. If you want Photosync you have to go to Speedshield. I don't know of any reason why one should take longer than the other, though.
My car is at Speedshield right now. The presentation was excellent, I will report back on the final product.
Love to hear back. I have my appointment with them this Wednesday. I'm doing PhotoSync but not bothering with the windshield.


text:
By Cintia Garcia
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America
BOGOTA, Colombia— A historical bilateral ceasefire was signed on Thursday June 25th between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) and the Colombian state. After 52 years of fighting both parties have agreed to put down their arms—a step closer to final peace accords.
According to BBC, Farc leader Rodrigo Londono proclaimed, "let this be the last day of the war." Although Farc previously committed to a unilateral ceasefire a year ago and the government has ceased its actions against Farc, this ceasefire officially puts an end to civil war. At the signing on Thursday both parties agreed that FARC will put its arms down within 180 days of the final peace agreements, transition programs will be in place for the 7,000 FARC members which includes 23 temporary zones and 8 camps, civilians will not be allowed to enter FARC camps, and the United Nations will monitor and receive the weapons.
Although the details of the ceasefire implementation need to be approved, the signing on Thursday in Havana, Cuba is one step closer to closing a bloody chapter in Colombian history. Approximately 220,00 people were killed due to the conflict and millions have been displaced as a result. The civil war is one of the longest wars in history. Many Colombians poured out to the capital in Colombia to see this historic day as a nation. For many like Graciela Pataquiva, a retired school teacher has never seen peace, "I'm 76 and have lived this war all my life—I never thought the time would come when these characters would sign peace."
FARC is the largest most powerful non-military organization in the western hemisphere. The organization was created in 1964 by farm workers and land workers against socio-economic inequalities, which the state responded against. FARC has had an estimated 20,000 fighters including children soldiers. Over the past few years FARC has lost funding, reduced in numbers, and lost key leaders which made this a pinnacle time to reach peace agreements.
For more information, please see:
BBC – Who Are the FARC? – 23 June 2016
NPR – Farc Reberls, Colombian Government Sign Cease-Fire Deal – 23 June 2016
REUTERS – Tears of joy as Rebels Sign Ceasefire With Colombian Government – 23 June 2016
BBC – Colombia Farc: Celebrations After Ceasefire Ends Five Decades of War – 24 June 2016
The Economist – Peace, at Last, in Colombia – 25 June 2016


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What better way to celebrate national yoga day than popping down to Fitness First with some of my favourite blogging buddies to get our sweat on and try out hot yoga for the first time.
The last time I went to the gym was around seven years ago, I did not even make it through the door before having a panic attack. The thought of exercising in public brings so many of my anxieties to the surface that even the thought of hitting the gym is overwhelming.
My body and I have felt disconnected for a very long time, I know it is the vessel that gives me life but is also something that I cannot bring myself to accept. I really do love to work out but doing it publicly horrifies me, but through individual sports such as snowboarding and climbing I have built up my confidence. So when the opportunity to try out hot yoga dropped into my inbox I decided to take a leap and say yes.
I know that trying out an exercise class may not seem like a big deal to most people but this was a huge personal challenge for me and I wouldn't have got to this point without the unknowing support of my friends.
Sitting in my office anxiety levels were high, so I met with Natasha and Leanne for a coffee to distract my brain from all its negative thinking by hanging out with some positively awesome people.
As we entered Fitness First at Angel the modern surroundings and welcoming staff could not detract from the feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. Sneaking off to the bathroom to get my workout gear on instead of doing it on show in the changing room I felt physically nauseous; I knew, even though it seemed like the better option, I could not stay in the cubical until the class was over.
Meeting with the rest of the group, manager Ash took us on a tour of the well equipped space. One of the issues I have with the gym is it always seem like you are on display, but the Angel branch was cleverly segregated into three sections, making it more private and clearly defined what type of equipment is available for particular workouts.
Ash was incredibly enthusiastic and gave us lots of useful information, unfortunately my mind was swimming with toxic thoughts like; why did you ever think you could do this? You are going to embarrass yourself. You are going to pass out because of the heat. You are going to make a complete full of yourself. In a daze I walked into the ambient hot yoga studio, my heart already racing before the stretching even began.
Grabbing a mat, we lay down an began calmly breathing in and out for 3 seconds each, and with each breath my mind and body began to unravel. Soon I got into the flow of things and as I began to stretch through the movements I could literally feel the tension leave my body. 45 minutes later I had fallen over, got the timing of sequences wrong and was drenched in sweat but none of that mattered because I felt great.
Our amazing instructor Emanuela was clear with her instructions, calming and happily answered our questions after. Which included;
What is the point in the room being hot?
Answer: The 36oC temperature allows your muscles to warm up so that you can stretch more deeply and raises your heart rate, which in turn increases blood circulation. Another benefit is that the warmth means a lot of sweating which flushes impurities out of your system.
What is the difference between bikram and hot yoga?
Answer: Bikram yoga is a series of 26 moves on circulation usually over a 90 minute period and typically are held in an even hotter room, hot yoga is less strict and allows for more dynamic routines.
Hot yoga is my type of gym class, it gave both my body and mind a full workout and left me feeling challenged yet uplifted. This was a big milestone for me and I am now so enthustaic about exercise again I am even considering getting a gym membership!
What are your favourite ways to work out?
*This class was complimentary thanks to Fitness First and Talented talkers but as always all my opinion are my own. If you want to see how the other girls got on follow #FFHotYoga


text:
Happy New Year From CSBR!
Posted: January 8, 2019
Click here to join.
Want to hear the latest news on the aerospace industry in Colorado and receive information on upcoming events? Please complete this form and you'll be added to our free email list. If you'd like information on membership, please email us at [email protected].
Tue May 21, 2019NOAA ESRL Global Monitoring Annual Conference 2019
Category: Events
Tue May 21, 2019Government to Business Outreach (Colorado Springs)
Category: Events
Tue May 21, 2019CSBR Board Meeting
Category: Board Meetings
Wed May 22, 2019NOAA ESRL Global Monitoring Annual Conference 2019
Category: Events
Wed May 22, 2019May Colorado Aerospace Happy Hour -
Category: Events


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Idaho CNA Training
For those who are tired of working at a job that doesn't challenge them intellectually and where they don't feel like they're making a different in the lives of others, CNA training may be the answer.
Certified nursing assistants are health care professionals who work closely with doctors and nurses to help patients get the treatment that they need. If you're ready to continue your education and want to make sure that you choose a career path that will provide you with financial security in the years to come, now is a great time to think about enrolling in Idaho CNA classes.
CNA classes, offered by community colleges and vocational schools, are designed to give students all of the knowledge and experience they need to be able to provide support to medical professionals in a health care setting. While doctors and nurses are responsible for examinations, diagnoses, and treatment planning, certified nursing assistants as responsible for recording patient histories, taking vital signs, providing patient education, and explaining procedures to patient families.
Becoming a CNA in Idaho
The Idaho Board of Nursing does not license CNAs. In Idaho, because these individuals are not licensed, CNAs are known as Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAPs), and typically work until the supervision of a licensed nurse.
To become registered as a UAP, an individual must either:
- Complete an approved CNA training course and pass the required CNA exam.
- Prove that he or she has completed at least one semester of an approved nursing program and submit transcripts showing that he or she has completed a basic nursing course.
- Fill out and submit a reciprocity form to prove that the individual is a licensed CNA in another state with an "active" status.
If an individual has lost his or her CNA card and is in good standing, another one will be issued to him or her free of charge.
Additional Resources:
On-Campus & Online CNA Schools
Other ID Schools with CNA Programs
College of Southern Idaho
315 Falls Ave.
Twin Falls, Idaho 83303
College of Western Idaho
5500 East Opportunity Drive
Nampa, Idaho 83687
Eastern Idaho Technical College
1600 S 25th East
Idaho Falls, Idaho 83404
Idaho State University
921 South 8th Avenue
Pocatello, Idaho 83209
Lewis Clark State College
500 8th Avenue
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
North Idaho College, Workforce Training Center
525 South Clearwater Loop
Post Falls, Idaho 83854
Idaho CNA Resources on NurseGroups.comIdaho Board of Nursing
280 N. 8th Street, Suite 210
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720
Phone: (208) 334-3110
Fax: (208) 334-3262
Idaho Nurses Association


text:
You've probably heard one of these lines in your lifetime. I'm here to de-mystify you..... and open your eyes to a world of affordable eyewear outside of your optician's office.
Retrofitted Blog
Retrofitted Blog
Top 10 Bullshit Lines From Your Optician
Browlines Are Back?
Hellyeah. ++++
Harold Lloyd
*HAROLD* Round Black Eyeglass Frame Harold Lloyd was an American film actor and producer most famous for his silent comedies. Harold Lloyd ranks alongside Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton as one of the most popular and influential film comedians of the silent film era.
Our Best Selling Frame/Reader in Milky Clear
*GRANT* Unisex Acetate Hornrim Hipster Reader/Eyeglass Frame I'm sooo excited! Happy to present a new color in our most popular frame Grant. It's a milky translucent white that looks great with every complexion, hair color and gender.
Yolanda Foster has lost her aqua eyeglasses!
Should I tweet her and tell her where she can get another pair? Hmmmm..... seems like she's a little miffed about all the attention she's getting.
Yolanda Foster's (eh hem..) 'green eyeglasses' are our 'Grant' Aqua Readers
Many thanks to StoopidHousewives.com Blog who posted where to find the aqua eyeglasses that Yolanda Foster was wearing on the reality show 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'. For a good laugh, you've gotta read it.
Oliver Peoples: Their history.
They aren't our competition.
They're our idols. Oliver Peoples
Loving Fabulous Eyewear
We love eyewear, and sometimes represent other designers here, purely because they fit within our standards and design. L.A.Eyeworks, formed by 2 women based in Los Angeles, California, know how to turn heads with their specs. My first pair of L.A.
Steampunk Eyewear Collection
Original early 20th century googles, and safety glasses inspire today's fashion designers. The Aviator Sunglasses with the aqua beaded shields are offered by Armani in this spring's line.
Your browser and shopping online....Does it really matter which one you use?
Ahem... yup. It does.


text:
You are here: Home \ Challenges \ Urban blight \ Problem definition
Problem tree
Urban blight
- No sub problems added
Related problems
None added
Type-ahead search field here...
Advanced faceted search...
List all concepts alphabetically here (everything from issues, facts, data sets, solutions, actions, criterias etc). Use faceted search to filter, sort and group items.
Interactive map mindmap like diagram here where users can browse the entire problem space using relations such as those between object, stakeholders, variables ... and anything else.
Problem definition
- Negative
- Positive
- Problem statement
- Scope
- Focusing question
- In a nutshell
- Paradox
- Definition of terms
Suggested tasks/questions for this sub section
Add a short description of the problem. Try to include the following:
- What the problem is?
- Where does it occur?
- When does it happen and how often?
- Who experiences it?
- Why the problem matter?
- What is it too much or too little of (or about to be)?
The problem statement will be very unclear in the start so revisit this sub section regularly. Re-examine the problem statement by asking:
- What is the problem?
- Is it stated objectively using only facts?
- Is it framed properly?
- Will all who read it understand it in the same way?
- Can we restate the problem in a more useful way?
Watch out for
- Beware not to be too broad or narrow.
- Don't make assumptions.
- Do not include solutions in the statement.
- Do not include cause and effects.
Advanced topics
Further reading for intermediate problem solvers:
This sub section is to provide a concise summary description of the problem that can used in communicating with others outside your problem solving team.
The problem statement is usually a one sentence claim that outlines the problem that this challenge addresses.
Suggested reading
No items added. Suggest a book, or online resource?
What is a good and concise problem statement for the problem?
Add new problem statement
Write a paragraph describing the problem. Write as if the reader is not familiar with the problem.
Try to include as much as you can about the context, the current situation (phenomenon), critical elements and unique features in the description using just one paragraph.
- May be formulated as a short story with some history.
- Don't be too vague. It will keep you from identifying the problem.
- Don't be too narrow since it may be too early to decide what to focus on.
- Don't provide solutions.
- Do not state the underlying cause at this point.
- Write the text by focusing on the situation.
Suggested tasks/questions for this sub section
- Identify the negative aspects associated with the problem.
- Ask different stakeholders what negative effects they see.
- Include all possible negative effects by viewing the problem from different perspectives. (e.g. sectors, disciplines, domains etc)
- View the problem from the angle of an artist, poor person, capitalist, woman, old person, psychologist, scientist, owner, religious person and all other roles you can up with.
- What is not working as it should?
- What's the imbalance? Look at different levels. Is there imbalance on the level of the self, person to person relation, in teams, in an organization, among constituents or at the level of eco-systems.
While you add these negative consequences make sure to check the underlying assumptions that you hold about the nature of those issues. The most effective and efficient way to surface these assumptions is to ask questions of yourself, key decision-makers, and other important stakeholders through structured interviews.
Watch out for
At this stage you do not need to analyse and establish cause and effect. Such analysis is reserved for later stages. The negative effects can be seen as hypotheses for us to prove later in the Koios problem solving process.
Advanced topics
Further reading for intermediate problem solvers:
The list of negative effects is a summary of the bad things that make this problem a problem.
What are the negative aspects of the situation that speaks for change?
Before one starts to solve a problem one needs to make sure it is actually a problem. The list of negative effects can be seen as reasons for why we should try to solve the problem. If there are no real significant negative aspects of this "problem" then it is not a really a problem.
Suggested reading
No items added. Suggest a book, or online resource?
What is so bad about the situation?
No negative effects of situation added. Add content and receive points.
Add new negative effect of situation
Why is it a problem? (These could be formulated as sub problems).
- Are people suffering or dying as a result of the problem?
- Are great potential for improvements hindered because of the problem?
- Is the problem an obstacle towards achieving another big important goal?
- Is it an unanswered question that may result in large innovations or other great benefits if answered?
The negative aspect should be framed objectively from the view-point of the public/society.
Try to describe all the negative impacts in detail. Add one content item for each theme of impact/effect.
Add comment
Add reference
|Url address
|Page number
For online sources that does not have page numbers. Use a paragraph number, or cite the heading and the number of paragraphs following it.
Send messageTo
Add Task
(Anyone can take it)
Suggested tasks/questions for this sub section
- What are the different positive aspects of the problem?
- Find positive aspects/effects by viewing the problem from different perspectives such as by group, sector, discipline, domain etc.
Watch out for
Advanced topics
Further reading for intermediate problem solvers:
In this section you can add positive aspects of the situation. What are the positive things that the current system is supporting?
The positive aspects can be seen as the arguments for keeping the status quo.
Even though most people view the situation as a problem, there are probably also positive effects of the situation. To get a full perspective we must consider both the positive and the negative sides.
Suggested reading
No items added. Suggest a book, or online resource?
What are the positive aspects of the situation?
No positive effects of situation added. Add content and receive points.
Add new positive effect of situation
What are the positive things about the situation?
- The positive aspect should be framed objectively from the view-point of the general public.
Add comment
Add reference
|Url address
|Page number
For online sources that does not have page numbers. Use a paragraph number, or cite the heading and the number of paragraphs following it.
Send messageTo
Add Task
(Anyone can take it)
Suggested tasks/questions for this sub section
Decide on the scope based on the resources you think you can gather or already have at your disposal.
- What is the problem area we want to focus on?
- Where do we draw the line of inquiry?
- Is the scope narrow enough so we can successfully deal with it?
- Is it Ok with a bigger scope? Bigger scope = more time and resources.
Useful tips:
- Different ways to draw the boundary of inquiry:
- Set a deadline
- Choose a geographical border (local community, city, state, regional or global)
- Choose to target a part of the population, a sub system, a domain.
- Choose a level/threshold. For example if your challenge is World Poverty you may decide to focus on all kinds of poverty (including relative poverty) or narrow it down to extreme poverty.
- It might be a good idea to ask stakeholders where they would draw the line and what other stakeholders they think should be included or left out.
- Select a scope/boundary, iterate through the problem and reflect on the associated meanings entailed by the boundary frame. Each boundary has different values, actions, and possible effects.
You might disagree with the scope that has the majority vote. Your position may be that you should go more wide or narrow in your inquiry and problem solving. In this case you can always try to being
Watch out for
Try to suggest a proper boundary/scope.
- The scope should be sufficiently open to include the essential cause–effect relations that a single causality approach would exclude. A wider scope will enable you to incorporate the views of more people. Keep in mind that a wider scope means more time and resources. It also means more complexity which will lead to more challenging problem solving.
- The scope should be sufficiently narrow to avoid generalisation and a loss of focus.
Advanced topics
Further reading for intermediate problem solvers:
The scope defines the boundary of this challenge. It helps us to decide how ambitious we want to be. Higher ambitions mean more time and resources.
By defining the scope it also becomes easier for others to create other challenges that do not overlap with this.
By defining a scope we are able to limit the work into something that can be solved. This is important because you can't expect to analyse everything about the problem.
We can never understand everything about the world and we cannot solve all the world's problems at once.
We have to be realistic. It is going to take a lot of effort to solve a complex problem. This section helps to narrow down the challenge into a manageable project.
Suggested reading
No items added. Suggest a book, or online resource?
What is the scope and boundry of this challenge?
No scope and boundries added. Add content and receive points.
Add new scope
What is to be included or excluded from the analysis of the problem?
With a larger scope you may have too much work and things will become to complex to get anywhere. With a too narrow focus you may not solve the root causes and you may just be creating short term solutions that never solves the real problem at all.
Suggested tasks/questions for this sub section
Formulate the question such as "How might we..." or "In what ways might we..."
The focusing question should be one single question. At this stage you should aim to create a single coherent and simple focusing question. Breaking it down in several "research" questions are meant for later stages of the process.
In formulating this question you may ask yourself
- What is our ultimate goal? (To formulate an ideal goal you may try to think of what the world would be like if the problem was nonexistent.)
- What do we really want? Get the bigger picture, think holistically and synergistically.
- Review the needs and wants of stakeholders if needed.
Watch out for
- Do not use this section for your teams research questions. Instead formulate it from the perspective of the public.
- Make sure not to limit the question by including unnecessary constraints.
- Do not include solutions in the focusing question.
Advanced topics
Further reading for intermediate problem solvers:
The focusing question can be seen as the purpose of this challenge space. It describes what it is that we would like to see changed regarding the social problem at hand.
To formulate a focusing question you may try to take the problem statement and turn it into a question.
The focusing question helps us to communicate the ultimate goal.
The focusing question helps us decide what to focus on (when researching the social challenge).
Suggested reading
No items added. Suggest a book, or online resource?
What would be a good focusing question?
No focusing questions added. Add content and receive points.
Add new focusing question
The focusing question is written as a question. For example: How can we reduce / increase / remove ...
Suggested tasks/questions for this sub section
- Choose your medium
- Draw an illustration on paper, or
- Use drawing software, or
- Create a collage by puting together several images that you will scan or take a digital photo of.
- The rich picture should contain the main topics and the main people, organizations and activities/programmes. Identify stakeholders, insitutions, organizations, groups, artifacts, conditions, physical resources, phenomena, stocks (things that are accumulated and can increase or decrease)
- Use nodes to represent the key concepts you found above. Label each element in the drawing using nouns.
- Nodes may contain other nodes (to indicate break-out of a document or an organizational/product/process structure.
- Use arrows to depict linkages, relationships or flow between nodes. What is being tranferred, exchanged etc. Add a label on the arrow.
- Depict structure, e.g. organisation boundaries, geographical considerations, people and institutions. For example using dashed lines or circles.
- Depict processes - activities, information or material flows.
- Depict the climate - what are people feeling and thinking? Are people outraged or is there a sense of apathy?
- Depict human concerns, conflicts, views.
- Depict the environment such as external interested parties and various factors affecting the situation.
Other tips
- For clarity, avoid crossover of arrows.
- To maintain reasonable size for presentation purposes, the ratio of nodes to links should be approximately 1.5.
- Main flow of reading is from top left to bottom right.
- Color may be used to draw attention to subfamilies of concepts and transformations.
Examples of icons to use
- Procedure (as a script roll)
- Organization (as a building)
- Person (as match stick man)
- Mechanical system (as two gears)
- Conflict (as two crossed swords)
Example Rich pictures
Watch out for
- Don't make the picture too complicated or it will fail to work as a communication tool. Include what is most important.
Advanced topics
Further reading for intermediate problem solvers:
This section should give a visual summary to the problem.
Rich pictures are used to provide a model for thinking about the system and to help gain an appreciation of the problem situation.
It also works as a useful artifact for discussing the problem in groups such as with different stakeholders.
Suggested reading
Provide a visual summary. Why is it such a big problem and what are the issues?
No in a nutshell added. Add content and receive points.
Add new in a nutshell
Provide a summary text and image. Make it memorable. This section is intended for communicating the problem to others. Try to give an overview of the most important issues.
Suggested tasks/questions for this sub section
- What is the paradox or absurdity?
- You might for example use the following statement: 'Despite ... we are still ...?'
Watch out for
Don't get too specific.
This text is only intended to show that the problem is "complicated".
Advanced topics
Further reading for intermediate problem solvers:
All complex problems have paradoxes.
This sub section brings attention to things that confound us about the problem.
This text is intended to show that the problem is complicated and not easy to solve.
Suggested reading
No items added. Suggest a book, or online resource?
What are some of the paradoxes?
Add new paradox
All complex problems have paradoxes.
- What is the paradox?
- Use the template: 'Despite ... we are still ...?'
Suggested tasks/questions for this sub section
Gather terms, keywords and phrases that are often used when talking about this problem.
Add a content item for each word that people may not completely understand or agree to the meaning of.
Watch out for
Advanced topics
Further reading for intermediate problem solvers:
Definition of terms is a mini dictionary. It is here to make sure everyone knows what exactly the different concepts mean.
This section can be seen as a vocabulary for the problem. As with most things in the world, many things have many names and different meanings in different contexts to different people.
This definition of terms helps to clarify what this problem solving team mean with words that otherwise could be ambiguous and cause communication problems.
Suggested reading
No items added. Suggest a book, or online resource?
What are some important definition of terms for this problem?
No terms added. Add content and receive points.
Add new term
Add a definition of some term.
- Make is short en consice definition.
- Add a reference to Wikipedia or some other source.
Issue title


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Details: Fruit Pies with Vern Nelson. Summer class on July 27th, Fall class on Oct. 25. 1-4 pm; $75 per person, class size limited to eight. E-mail for reservations.
* * *
Portland is no longer just a fair-weather biking community. You can't go even a block around here without seeing folks biking to the store and to work, towing their dogs and their kids at all times of the day and night. And People's Farmers' Market is planning to thank everyone who rides their bicycle by having a Bike to the Market Day that will provide free workshops on bike maintenance, free tune-ups and repairs and free cycle-powered deliveries in the neighborhood. Plus, get this, free bicycle-powered smoothies! So suit up and get over there for this people-powered celebration.
Details: Bike to the Market Day at People's Farmers' Market. Wed., May 14, 2-7 pm; free. People's Farmers' Market, 3029 S.E. 21st Ave., one block N of Powell Blvd. Phone 503-674-2642.
* * *
Growing up on cheddar and monterey jack, not to mention a two-week binge on Velveeta when I was in sixth grade, I was, shall we say, underexposed to the larger world of cheese. When I tasted my first chevre with its salty tartness and dry-yet-creamy texture...mon Dieu! It was a revelation. Sellwood cheesemongers Curds & Whey will be celebrating our goaty friends and the deliciousness they give us with a class titled Chevre from Around the World on May 24th. Class size is limited, so call to reserve your spot soon.
Details: Chevre from Around the World. May 24th, 7 pm; $25 per person, call to reserve. Curds & Whey, 8036 SE 13th in Sellwood. Phone 503-231-2877.


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Stamps | Pretty Pink Posh Hummingbird Friends
Dies | Pretty Pink Posh Hummingbird Friends, Hello Friend Script
Sequins | Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear
Beautiful card Jeanne! I just love this hummingbird set. Your background is fantastic!
Jeanne what a gorgeous card, I am pretty sure I like yours more than my own! That hummingbird set is my new favourite PPP stamp. Thank you for sharing with us at Muse this week!
Must. Resist. The Hummingbirds! But you're making it so hard! They look fabulous in these bright tropical colours! Thanks for joining us at Muse this week, Jeanne!
Love this card every little bit of it.. Can't wait to get my birds they are so cute. Your background is wonderful bright and yummmmm
Really lovely card Jeanne, beautiful bright colours go fab with those little birds
Such a wonderful card..Love the bright background so much.
Beautiful card, and love how the muse inspired you.


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Do you like the idea of an exciting teaching adventure in London with free PD training, great rates of guaranteed pay and supportive Principals in great schools? If so, then we are the agency for you!
We have a huge variety of fantastic opportunities for permanent, long term and daily cover teaching work available right now in our high achieving, supportive primary schools across London and the surrounding areas. If you are graduating soon and want to find out more about our exciting teaching jobs or are an experienced teacher looking to Teach Now in the UK, then the team are waiting to meet you!
Principal Partnership
Our unique partnership with over 100 London Principals means that we will be able to support you every step of the way making the relocation process as simple as possible. We have a number of ways in which our Principal partnership will benefit you.
Live Webinars
We offer a variety of live webinars throughout the year including the opportunity to speak with one of our partner Principals.
If you like the idea of having a permanent teaching post waiting for you in London before you arrive – then iSkype is for you! This new initiative gives you the opportunity to apply, interview with one of our Principals and potentially be offered a teaching job before you even leave home!
PD Training
Teach Now, together with our partner Principals and the local government authority, have designed bespoke PD training tailored especially for overseas teachers with courses running throughout your time in London.
Great rates of Guaranteed Pay (GPS)
On our GPS contract we guarantee to pay you and find you daily relief work whilst offering you flexibility and the opportunity to teach in a variety of our great schools.
If you prefer the option of working within one school and having your own class – this is the GPS option for you.
Personalised Service
Your dedicated 1:1 consultant will be on hand right from the beginning to get to know you and to support you in finding your ideal teaching role.
Regular Social Events
Teach Now holds regular meet ups for our overseas teachers throughout the year including nights out in London bars, meals out in our great restaurants and bowling nights!
Accommodation Assistance & Banking
As part of your arrival package, we will support you with your accommodation search and with finding suitable accommodation once you have decided on your preferred location. We also work closely with Lloyds Bank who are happy to set you up with a bank account once you arrive.


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When she was 66 years old, Alicia Castilla was put in jail for three months for cultivating marijuana, which she used to help her sleep better. In this video testimony, she talks about the suffering caused by her imprisonment in Canelones (an Uruguayan prison) and her experience with the justice system in Uruguay.
In Brazil, possession of drugs for personal consumption is punished with educational measures and community service, not prison. In this video, a young man tells of the disparity in sentencing between the wealthy and the poor.
Ecuador has one of the harshest drug laws in the hemisphere. A non-violent drug offender can receive the same sentence, sometimes even stiffer, than a murderer.
Over the years, the Mexican government has adopted increasingly heavy prison sentences and militarized drug policies to confront drug trafficking. The result has been an increase of vulnerable populations in Mexico's prisons, but no impact on the drug trade or violence.


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Friday, December 17, 2010
Endings and Epiphanies
Maybe that's why a story well told is such a pleasure. A good book fulfills our need to see situations wrapped up in a satisfying way. And if that wrap-up manages to worm some essential truth into our subconscious, we like it even better.
When I first started writing, endings were always the hardest part. No matter how carefuly I plotted and planned, I'd reach the last chapter of my story and realize that despite the fact that I'd followed all the rules, the ending rang false, like a discord at the end of a lovely piece of music. The hero and heroine were together, the plot threads were tied in a neat bow, but there was something lacking.
While I was fussing over this issue, my husband asked me what was wrong. I told him I couldn't find the ending for my book.
"Well, what's the epiphany?" he asked. "And what triggers it?"
That was it: I needed an epiphany. The love realization in a romance is great. The black moment and its subsequent solution is even better. But what really makes a novel work is the epiphany - the sudden bright instant of understanding when the hero or heroine "gets it" and so does the reader.
While we all love a happily-ever-after ending, the happiness needs to come from something more than love and marriage. Romance readers these days are sophisticated enough to want real character growth along with the everalsting love and hot, hot sex. It's great that Cinderella got her prince, but did she also learn to assert herself so she won't end up sweeping ashes off the palace hearth? And now that Rapunzel's let her hair down, is she going to remain a free spirit?
The whole point of fiction is to reorganize life events to reveal an emotional truth. That truth doesn't have to be groundbreaking or profound; it just has to relate somehow to the real world, so the moment of epiphany is as much of an "aha" moment for your reader as it is for your character. It's that relationship to the reader's life that gives your ending resonance and makes your story linger with the reader like the last chord of a favorite symphony.
So my husband was right about the epiphany and the trigger. He's right about a lot of things - I admitted years ago that he knows how the universe works (merry Christmas, honey, I put it in print!). But he's not a writer and doesn't read a lot of fiction, so I'm convinced his answer to my writing dilemma came from some divine presence beyond his experience.
This was confirmed when I asked him a while back how he came up with that bit of wisdom.
"That thing about the epiphany really helped," I said. "Did you read that somewhere, or did you make it up?"
"I don't know." He gave me a puzzled look. "What's an epiphany?"
Yep. Definitely devine intervention at work.
So what's your epiphany?
The ending of one year and the beginning of another always seems like a fairly arbitrary distinction to me. Here in Wyoming, it's winter on December 31st and it will still be winter on New Year's Day. But somehow, the holidays punctuate what's past and make January feel like a new beginning. You can't help looking back at the year as a unit, thinking about how it differed from the one before and wondering what the next one will bring.
So what was your epiphany this year, and what was the trigger?
22 comments:
I try to have regular epiphanies--keeps things interesting. My latest, about which I'm blogging over on Blame It On The Muse, is one I've had before: I control two things in the publication process and two things only: My writing and my personal conduct. This makes it easier to not get so attached to the good news (at this hour, "The Heir" might be the top selling Kindle romance. This time tomorrow, it could disappear from the list entirely).ReplyDelete
And it makes it easier to not take the bad news (EVERYBODY gets one-star reviews) quite as personally. This insight isn't a panacea, but it helps keep things in perspective.
Oooh, I love this post, Joanne! What is an epiphany? Priceless! :)ReplyDelete
For me this year, it was the realization that I could tackle some major house problems and resolve them, some major dental problems, and resolve them (well, still working on both, but they're getting there!) and still write and propose to my heart's content! That Heart of the Wolf wasn't a one book wonder, and that the series would total 10 so far.
Plus, I could take a trip all by myself to meet up with friends in another country--Scotland, wow! And take a group of my co-workers to see wolves at a wolf reserve--so much fun! Despite all the downsides with all the dental and house woes, this has been an extraordinary year!
Joanne: Just plumb love the post. In complete agreement ... thank goodness for those times when Husbands are priceless! For me it's been learning that I CAN write most anywhere ... did a rewrite in the hospital when Mr. B was in the second time ... and that I don't have to be sitting in my office surrounded by familiar things. I take my brain and imagination with me wherever I go and that's what I need (well, along with some notes which I can carry in my purse) to write.ReplyDelete
Grace, that's extremely good advice. And congrats on the success of "The Heir"!ReplyDelete
Terry, the house and dental stuff sounds like a pain - but you're always good at looking on the bright side! And you're right - you're anything but a one-book wonder. Ten! Amazing!ReplyDelete
Carolyn, I hope Mr. B. is better and you don't have to write in the hospital anymore! But I know you take your brain AND your sense of humor everywhere you go, and I'm sure that helps! I'm glad you can write anywhere, because that way you can keep creating those hot cowboys!ReplyDelete
I guess my epiphany is that I can't make everything perfect. It's okay if things don't go to plan (though I don't have to like it). Flexibility is not a bad word!ReplyDelete
Great post, Joanne! My epiphany this past year? I'm a heck of a lot stronger than I thought. :}ReplyDelete
What a husband! You are blessed! It was so funny when he said, what is an epiphany. I laughed out loud because I never expected that. Too funny!
Loved the epiphany story!ReplyDelete
People do sometimes say exactly what we need to hear with no awareness at all that they just changed our lives. Ask them two minutes later to repeat what they said and they can't do it.
I've been playing with a story idea that would have a theme of character growth instigated by that sort of Divine Intervention.
My big epiphany this year is that I should pay for a cleaning service. The benefits would hugely outweigh the cost.
My epiphany this year? That I cannot do all that I have planned in the time that I have available. It simply isn't possible. Now, if I could just have another epiphany about how to change that, all would be well.ReplyDelete
I Love epiphanies, and I think I've just had one after reading this blog. I think endings can be awkward sometimes, and I think your hubby hit it dead on. I'm going to keep this in mind when I'm writing endings.ReplyDelete
In my life, I tend to look at all that needs to be done, get overwhelmed, then spend more time procrastinating than working. I think I've FINALLY realized in the last few weeks that I must focus on one small thing at a time. A little effort goes a long way.
And I love Mary Margret's epiphany. I need a cleaning service too.
I just love this post, so I'm going to comment again because I've had another epiphany. I was so intimidated by blogging. So a HUGE epiphany for me was realizing that I could blog (good or not, still I'm blogging occasionally) and also that I could blog here with the Casablanca Authors. I was quite intimidated worrying about fitting in with the lovely Casa Babes. It's a wonderful feeling to see my name and my picture there. It's added to my realization that I can handle anything, get anything done, one step at a time.ReplyDelete
Shana, that's a good epiphany. Sometimes I think it's one I haven't learned yet. Perfectionism doesn't make everything perfect; it just keeps you from getting anything done! That's always been a big battle for me.ReplyDelete
Kathryne, being strong is good - but having things test your strength doesn't sound like a good thing. I hope you prevailed, and hope you know that your books gave people a lot of pleasure this year!ReplyDelete
Amelia, he is quite a guy. He makes me laugh all the time! And he often has insights into my work that surprise me.ReplyDelete
Mary Margret, you're so right. It's interesting how the universe works to help us in unexpected ways! And bravo for the cleaning epiphany! If it will help you write more books, I'm all for it!ReplyDelete
Cheryl, I agree. I have so many plans, especially when it comes to books I want to write. But pressuring yourself to do it all is counterproductive - that's what I learned this year!ReplyDelete
Anita, I think we must have been separated at birth, because I do exactly the same thing! One step at a time is a good idea.ReplyDelete
Oh, Anita, you fit right in without a doubt! I was nervous about that too. And I agree - it's fantastic to be a part of this group. I haven't been participating as much as I should - various personal things have really slowed me down the past few months - and it just warms my heart that everyone comes out and comments on my post anyway. There's another epiphany - friends make all the difference. I'll be around more now, I promise!ReplyDelete
I think Mary Margret wins the epiphany prize so far for her cleaning service idea! There's a running theme here of everyone trying to fit too much into their busy lives. I doubt that will change for most of us, but it's nice to know we're not alone. Living in the real world while writing a fictional one is always a challenge. If only we could introduce plot twists into our lives when we need to - or new characters, like a cleaning lady!ReplyDelete
Great blog, Joanne! I need to have a epiphany. Right now I'm just dog tired.ReplyDelete


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Electric Mountain Bike Gets the Equivalent of 2,287 MPG
The Optibike OB1 electric bike gets an equivalent of 2,287 MPG.* Could bikes like these be the future of transportation?
Ever wonder what happens when you cross the finest mountain bike components money can buy, an 850w brushless DC motor and a 20ah lithium-ion battery with motocross styling and sensibilities? You get the Optibike OB1, an electric bike that can get up to 45 miles on a nine-cent charge, and what is arguably the finest electric bicycle in the world.
In fact, the Optibike OB1 even found a spot in the California Academy of Sciences museum, touted as "the future of transportation." There are only 24 OB1's made per year. When one of them is bought, the owner becomes part of an elite club of enthusiastic riders. And for four fun-filled days in August, I was lucky enough to be a member of that club — or at least able to pretend like I was after being provided one for a short term test drive.
The Story
Boulder, Colorado-based Optibike has been producing high performance electric bikes since 2005 and is fast carving out a name for itself in an increasingly crowded electric bikes market sector. But the Optibike, and the OB1 in particular, is not any old electric bike. Founder and principle designer Jim Turner first hatched the idea for an electric bike in 1997. Turner, who was a champion motocross rider, set out with more than a profit motive: Turner was motivated to address three converging problems: a growing obesity epidemic in the U.S., environmental pollution/CO2 emissions, and an energy crisis that caused gas prices to soar to record highs in 2008.
"What ties these three problems together — the health crisis, the environmental crisis and the fossil fuel crisis — is transportation," says Turner. But Turner recognized straight away that he would not be able to compete with Chinese electric bike makers for a lower price point and that he would just have to build a better bike.
"You can't compete with foreign imports on the lower price scale; you have to create a market niche," Turner told the Denver Post last year. And create a market niche he did.
The Bike
Optibike currently makes six models including a womens' bike, but they don't come cheap. Ranging from $5,995 for the Commuter USV, to $13,995 for the OB1, Optibikes are designed to be the antithesis of the throw-away culture, minus the batteries, which are warranted for an industry-leading 3 years/30,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Powering the OB1 are a 20ah lithium-ion battery and an 850w continuous brushless DC motor that Optibike says will give you about 45 miles of electric-only operation on a single 4.5-hour charge and 57 miles with a light to moderate amount of pedaling. The bike has two speeds, Fast and Eco. In Fast, a full charge will provide up to 50 minutes of riding; in Eco, a full charge will give 2.25 hours of unassisted propulsion. Going on a longer trek? Add the optional secondary battery to double the Optibike's range.
Depending on how it's calculated, the Optibike can get an equivalent of anywhere between 1,355** and 2,287* miles per gallon. Yes, that's a wide range, but either way, it's tough to beat.
The secret behind the Optibike — and in my view, what makes it so special — is the Motorized Bottom Bracket® (MBB), which allows the user to pedal at the speed the bike is going and shift gears seamlessly. The MBB system gives the rider the freedom to pedal as much or as little as desired, allowing the rider to maximize the acceleration, top-speed, and range of the Optibike.
At your fingertips are the Optibike's 9-speed grip shifter, thumb throttle and front and rear hydraulic disk brakes. Sure, you can sit back and the electric motor do all the work, but the Optibike is just begging to be pedaled. And pedal it I did.
On electric alone the OB1 will reach a top speed of 20 MPH on flat pavement. But why stop at 20 MPH when the bike is screaming for more? Once up to speed, I found the OB1 would maintain about 30 MPH with light pedaling and 33 or so with moderate pedaling.
Rest of article and photo gallery on page 2…


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Thursday, February 4, 2010
Did the Moa's ancestor fly to New Zealand?
Unlikely cousins? Tinamou from brunorigin @ flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0| Moa from PLoS Biology
The group of birds to which the moa belonged, the ratites, have long fascinated evolutionary biologists. All the ratites are flightless (though, as we'll see they are related to the quail-like tinamous which can fly passably well) and all the major landmasses that had their start in Gondwana had at least one ratite species before humans arrived on the scene. Africa has ostriches, South America the rhea, Australians have emus and cassowary, Madagascar had the Elepahant bird and New Zealand lost the moa but retains the kiwi. The far flung distribution of the ratites and their apparent lack of ability to disperse between continents has led to them being put forward as a classic example of an idea called vicariance biogeography in which the evolutionary history of a group is driven by the geological history of the land on which they live.
For vicariance biogeographers the evolution of the ratites was driven by the movement of the continents. The ancestor of all modern ratites was a flightless bird living in Gondwana and as each new continent split and rifted away from the super continent it took with it a population of ratites which adapted to the ecological changes brought on by their continent's journey: cassowaries in the Wet Tropics of Australia, ostriches on the African Savannah, rhea on the Pampas. It's certainly a nice story, but science has a way of ruining nice stories. The role of vicariance of evolution in the ratites was put to the test once we became able to use molecular evidence to reconstruct the relationships between species. If the geologically driven sketch of ratite evolution I presented above is right then the pattern of branching we find among ratites from different continents should match the order in which we know the continents broke up, something like this:
In 2001 Alan Cooper and colleagues sequenced the entire mitochondrial genome (some 12 000 bases of DNA) from representatives of each of the extant ratites and, remarkably, two species of moa. The long, careful process of retrieving DNA sequences from sub-fossil bones deserves a post of its own but for the sake of this article we only need to know what Cooper et al found when they used that DNA to recover the the relationships between ratite species.
The species in bold text above don't fit the pattern that we'd expect from geology alone. If ratite relationships simply reflected the Gondwanan breakup we'd expect to see ostriches grouping with rheas (and apart from the other ratites). New Zealand's two ratite orders are even more surprising, the kiwi lineage is more closely related to the Australian ratites than it is to the moa species. When combined with a molecular clock analysis Cooper et al. concluded that modern kiwis are the descendants of ancient immigrants hailing from either Australia or islands in the Lord Howe Rise (which have since submerged). In order to explain that trans-tasman dispersal the authors reached for the last resort of the desperate biogeographer and invoked a land bridge for which there is little geological evidence. In fact, as we'll see it now seems more likely that the ancestors of the kiwi and the moa flew to New Zealand.
Even with the mitochondrial phylogeny of the group published there was considerable room for uncertainty in how the ratites related to each other. The underlying shape of ratite tree makes it particularly difficult to accurately recover with phylogenetic methods. When we use DNA sequences to estimate a phylogenetic tree we need to find species that share mutations that have accrued during the evolution of the group we're looking at. The branches that relate the different ratite species are relatively short, so there was little time for mutations that set related groups apart from more distantly related ones to accrue. Even worse, the branches that reach to the modern species (the tips of the tree) are very long meaning there has been a lot of time to any mutations that did accrue in those critical short branches to be overwritten*. There are three approaches to dealing with this problem - sequence more genes (since each unlinked gene acts as a separate witness to the evolution of the group), sequence more samples (especially if doing so breaks up a long branch) or use a better model for the way mutations accrue in the genes you are studying. People have tried all three methods to get a better look at ratite evolution. Last year a group centred around the Field Museum in Chicago published a mutli-gene phylogeny of all birds that contained a big surprise for ratite evolution- the most recent common ancestor of all ratites flew.
As long as the ratites grouped together in a phylogeny it was reasonable to assume that they all inherited their flightlessness from the common ancestor of the group. The Field Museum study found that, in fact, the flying tinomous fit right in the middle of the flightless ratites. So, either the most recent common ancestor of the ratites and the tinamous flew and ratite lineages have subsequently lost that ability at least three times or that ancestor was grounded and the tinamous have rediscovered flight. In vertebrates the evolution of true flight has happened three times (in bats, pterosaurs and birds) while there are hundreds of examples of birds that have given up on flying. Moreover, a group of flying birds that are prone to flightlessness is hardly anything new - at least 30 species of rail (including our own weka and takahe) have taken to life on the ground. Given the ways the odds are stacked towards losing flight it seems probable the common ancestor that relates tinamous and ratites flew. The Field Museum study didn't include any moa species and didn't attempt any molecular dating so it's hard to see just how the ancestors of the kiwi and the moa made it to New Zealand
A new study (I knew I'd get to it eventually) published in Systematic Biology throws some light on the New Zealand ratite story. Matt Philips and a team of researchers from the Alan Wilson Centre at Massey University took another look at the mitochondrial dataset used in Cooper et al's 2001 study by adding more kiwi species and using models of DNA evolution that avoid some of the pitfalls of the ratite phylogeny's difficult shape. The new ratite tree and a molecular clock analysis based on that tree confirm the idea of multiple loses of flight in the ratites and add a new finding - the closest living relatives of our giant moa are the quail-like tinamous:
So what does the new understanding of ratite relationships mean for our ideas about the origins of New Zealand's ratites? The molecular clock doesn't quite tick with the regularity of a stopwatch, so there is a good deal more uncertainty in the timing of the events presented above than the precisely defined nodes suggest. Still, even with the uncertainty of molecular dating taken on board we can safely say that both the New Zealand ratite lineages departed from their closest relatives after the Tasman Sea opened up.
The revelation that the tinamous are the moa's closest living relatives suggests that the moa had ancestors that could fly. So, it seems the first proto-moa to arrive in New Zealand flew, or more likely was blown, here from Antarctica. Antarctica? It still seems amazing to me but 30 million years ago Antartica was still attached to South America and, without the circumpolar current to isolate from the world, was a relatively verdant continent. We know from fossils that Antarctica supported southern beech forests (still found in Chile, New Zealand and Australia) and marsupial mammals (strangely absent in New Zealand but still present in Australia and South America) so it's no great stretch to propose the representatives of another Gondwanan group lived there. Antarctica certainly seems like a more likely jumping off point for dispersing proto-moa than South America, but either way it certainly seems they made it here under their own power.
The mode of dispersal for the kiwi's ancestor is a little less clear. As we've seen we can be quite sure that they arrived in New Zealand after the Tasman Sea opened up and there is really no good evidence that there was ever a land-bridge across that sea. We can probably rule out walking. If we disregard the problem of dispersal for a second the simplest way to explain the distribution of flightlessness on the Phillips et al phylogeny is with a single loss of flight in an ancestor shared by kiwis and the Australian ratites. Under that scenario the kiwi would, presumably, have had to raft to New Zealand. Alternatively, given that we've seen the ratites seem to have an inbuilt propensity to becoming flightless we might imagine that the common ancestor shared by the kiwi and the Australian ratites could fly and each lineage has since lost that ability. In this case the kiwi could simply have flown from Australia to New Zealand (a journey that storms frequently inflict on Australian birds today). Without sufficiently old ratite fossils from either country it's hard to choose one scenario over the other.Long range dispersal by rafting is probably an important force in biogeography but if I was forced to make a bet I'd put my money on ancient flying kiwis.
The radical rethink of ratite evolution that a decade of molecular phylogenetics has forced on us raises a lot of interesting questions. What it is it about the ratite body plan, development or behaviour that makes them so prone to flightlessness? Is that repeated loss of flight, and consequent lack of pressure to keep their weight down, enough to explain the trend towards gigantism? The authors of the most recent paper suggest both trends might be explained by ratites on each continent filling the ecological niches left by the extinction of the dinosaurs. The dates on their tree are certainly consistent with the idea that each ratite lineage independently took to the ground 65 million years ago but without more fossils and more precise dates for each split it's very hard to test the idea further. I'm sure the story of ratite evolution has more surprises for us to uncover.
Links to the primary literature are provided below but you should also check out Simon Collins excellent piece in the Herald and Mike Dickison, who got his PhD studying giant flightless birds and wrote about the idea that ratites flew to New Zealand way back in 2007.Cooper A, Lalueza-Fox C, Anderson S, Rambaut A, Austin J, & Ward R (2001). Complete mitochondrial genome sequences of two extinct moas clarify ratite evolution. Nature, 409 (6821), 704-7 PMID: 11217857 Harshman, J., Braun, E., Braun, M., Huddleston, C., Bowie, R., Chojnowski, J., Hackett, S., Han, K., Kimball, R., Marks, B., Miglia, K., Moore, W., Reddy, S., Sheldon, F., Steadman, D., Steppan, S., Witt, C., & Yuri, T. (2008). Phylogenomic evidence for multiple losses of flight in ratite birds Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105 (36), 13462-13467 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0803242105 Phillips, M., Gibb, G., Crimp, E., & Penny, D. (2009). Tinamous and Moa Flock Together: Mitochondrial Genome Sequence Analysis Reveals Independent Losses of Flight among Ratites Systematic Biology, 59 (1), 90-107 DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syp079
Labels: biogeography, evolution, might interest someone, moa, new zealand, phylogenetics, ratites, sci-blogs, science
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KZ writes: "I'm not trying to over-advertise this gig, but I couldn't pass this up. I passed through Chateaugay (NY) last week returning from Fiddleheads JamCamp. Craig's song "Spank That Tambourine" has a line in it, We know that we'll never see our names lit up on a marquee; well, here is that marquee with our name on it, so he might need to consider a new line. Hope to see you in Chateaugay this Friday."
Just for the record, folks, here's another from the archives, Capitol Center for the Arts, Concord, NH (5/12/11). We are totally legit, people. Clearly.


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Hey everyone!
The festive season is in full swing and I'm kickstarting a festive tutorial series with this bright fuchsia lip look. The vibrant lip is balanced by a chocolatey soft shimmery eye and bronzed glowy skin. I've worn this with a green outfit but you can work this with pinks, yellows and blues as well! Hope you like the look.
Don't forget to Subscribe to my channel for more videos.


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Random question inspired by learning the new small Lambo will not have a manual option :(
So after a quick look at Autotrader I wonder if I was a rich gentleman what would I choose. The arguably better looking (interior & exterior) and faster 2009 560-4 with only 1.5k on the clock ….
…. for a 160k. Or save a lot of money and spend 100k on a …..
….. 2009 R8 4.2 with only 3k on the clock?
So do you pony up and get the Italian stallion, or be sensible and settle with 420hp in the grey German?
(Sorry I don't know how to add a poll)


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31 October is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years), known for being the date of Hallowe'en. There are 61 days remaining in the year.
- 1492: Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington is executed after accidentally growing a tusk on Lady Grieve.
- 1981: Lord Voldemort murders James and Lily Potter at Godric's Hollow and is defeated for the first time when he fails to murder Harry Potter. The First Wizarding War ends. Delphini arrives from nearly 40 years in the future, having travelled back in time, and attempts to thwart Voldemort from his plans to murder the Potters. She is stopped by Albus Potter, Scorpius Malfoy, Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy, all whom have also travelled back in time. The group then remained to witness the events, as Harry felt it was wrong to do nothing to prevent it and not watch.
- 1980s: Fenrir Greyback and his werewolf army attack Hogwarts. Albus Dumbledore is absent from the Hallowe'en Feast because of this. Jacob's sibling spots Greyback and two other werewolves attacking Chiara Lobosca and defeats one of the werewolves in a duel.
- 1991: The first year Charms class topic is Wingardium Leviosa, the Levitation Charm. Later, the Hallowe'en feast is interrupted by the arrival of a Mountain Troll. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley save Hermione Granger from the Troll in the girls' bathroom. Professor Quirrell attempts to steal the Philosopher's Stone, but is thwarted by Severus Snape, who is attacked by Fluffy as a result. At some point during the day, a Slytherin student asks Harry if he has seen his magic hamster.
- 1992: Sir Nicholas de Mimsy Porpington's 500th Deathday Party takes place in one of the roomier dungeons at Hogwarts, and it is attended by many ghosts, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. Ginny Weasley, under the influence of Tom Riddle's Diary, opens the Chamber of Secrets for the first time in fifty years. The basilisk that is released from the Chamber petrifies Mrs Norris.
- 1993: Sirius Black enters Hogwarts Castle and attacks the Fat Lady when she refuses to give him passage to Gryffindor Tower. For security, all the students sleep in the Great Hall while the castle is being searched for any sign of Black.
- 1994: At breakfast time, Fred and George Weasley fail to pass Dumbledore's Age Line around the Goblet of Fire with an Ageing Potion. Later that day, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger visit Rubeus Hagrid and discover that he has a crush on Olympe Maxime. The Hallowe'en feast takes place at dinnertime and after it, the Goblet of Fire chooses the Triwizard champions — Viktor Krum for Durmstrang; Fleur Delacour for Beauxbatons; Cedric Diggory for Hogwarts and an unexpected fourth champion — Harry Potter.


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When a Mobile Motorcycle Accident Attorney Comes in Handy
Anyone who has gone through a motor vehicle accident of some sort knows it can be a stressful process. In addition to the stress of the accident and any medical issues that may be present, there is the stress of having to deal with an injury claim. Whether you were at fault or not, it is important to use the services of a Mobile motorcycle accident attorney. Proper representation can ensure that the outcome of the claim is in your favor. These attorneys have the experience and the know-how to get you any compensation that is owed to you so you can pick back up where you left off before your accident. You deserve to have support and assistance with your accident case, and you may even be eligible for pain and suffering for what you have gone through.
There are many reasons you will want to employ a Mobile motorcycle accident attorney, including the following:
Collection Of Information
There is a lot of information that needs to be collected when you are participating in some form of legal action by way of a motorcycle claim. All of the paperwork and investigations that need to take place can be overwhelming, especially for someone who does not have experience in this field. There are a number of different items that are often needed when presenting a motorcycle accident case, including medical records, statements from witnesses, statements from the parties involved in the accident, photographs and police reports. This information can be hard to obtain and very time-consuming. Professional attorneys know the right way to efficiently gather information.
Courtroom Politics
The legal system is designed to give parties a fair process by which to go through in order to reach a favorable outcome for one or both parties. Unfortunately, there is a lot of courtroom drama that can occur, and if you are representing yourself, lots of problems can result. A reputable and experienced attorney will be able to provide you with the representation you need in order for a good chance at winning your motorcycle accident claim.
If you have recently been involved in a vehicle accident, then you know you probably are not in the proper mindset to deal with a vehicle claim. Recovery should be your primary focus. Leaving the other work to the professionals will help you get through this tough time. It isn't necessary to put yourself through unwanted stress.
If you attempt to represent yourself through the process of a motorcycle accident claim, it is unlikely you will receive all of the retribution that is owed to you. It is a known fact that people who use the services of an experienced, professional lawyer typically obtain more money than if they represented themselves. You owe it to yourself to ensure that you get what you deserve. You may be eligible for an upfront compensation or ongoing payments are also an option. This can help make up for lost wages at work while you are going through the recovery process.


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Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Posted at 10:33 PM in Cultural Commentary, Current Affairs, Politics, Reformedom, TV / Movies | Permalink
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I was once taught that there are three levels of theological error - technical error, serious error, and fatal error. (These categories may not be the most helpful, but we'll use them for the moment.) So for example, someone who confuses God's aseity with His ubiquity is making a technical error that is simple and definitional with little or no consequence. However, someone who believes that drinking alcohol is always immoral for everyone is in serious danger of being unnecessarily divisive and legalistic. It is theological error with serious consequences.
Unfortunately, distinguishing serious error from fatal error is really tricky. How much theological error is too much? Can you reject God's immutability in favor of "process theology" and be a Christian? Serious or fatal? How about a mechanistic understanding of the sacraments? Serious or fatal? How about being a universalist? Serious or fatal? The list goes on and on.
In my dotage I am much more reticent to identify fatal error in someone who heartily affirms the Trinitarian and historical-Biblical-theological tenents of the Nicene Creed - even if they aren't familiar with the creed(s) at all. Heck, I think you could potentially strip-down what it takes to be a Christian even more. Hebrews 11:6 reads, "...because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Now clearly, Hebrews teaches a robust understanding of Christianity and the kind of faith that it entails. And yet... faith is simple and should not be overly complicated with theological nuance. Yes, we should pursue orthodoxy and Christian maturity, but we should be very cautious about citing fatal error in those who are simply immature and / or ill-taught.
I once had the opportunity to spend three hours with the Reformed theologian, John Gerstner. I asked him, "Is believing in the tenents of the Apostles' Creed enough to be a Christian?" He became very animated and said, "No! Not anymore!" He went on to say that the early creeds only dealt with controversies of the early church - there have been many important issues since then that simply must be affirmed and / or denied. I agree that there have been many issues that need to be wrestled with, but I would put almost all of them in the category of serious error and not fatal error.
Perhaps the reason for my reticence is that I am fearful of my own error(s) - and trusting and hoping for mercy now and in judgment. I willl be shown mercy as I show mercy, so I am in no hurry to condemn error as fatal if there is any hope or room for diagnosing serious error.
Is this not the practical outworking of "sola gratia?" How can those who hold to this be so quick to cite errors as fatal? Perhaps I am just a liberal afterall...
Posted at 08:10 AM in Diary, Heavy Theology, Reformedom | Permalink
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One of the reasons Baptists and Presbapterians fail to understand the full import of baptism is that they don't fundamentally understand the role of circumcision in the Old Covenant. The apostle Paul wrote of Abraham,
"And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe..." (Romans 4:11)
Posted at 07:53 AM in Reformedom, Theology - Sacraments | Permalink
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Anyone who knows me knows that my positions on any given subject tend to morph over time. We're not usually talking about wholesale changes, but definitely the tendency to drift from hard-and-fast to loose-and-open. The most recent and radical example of this is my position on using "contemporary" worship music in church.
Posted at 08:36 AM in Diary, Music, Reformedom, Theology - Worship | Permalink
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Last weekend I was in San Antonio, TX, for a business trip. I missed church in the morning because I was in transit, but I had the afternoon to myself. Since I had no commitments I decided to explore downtown - and as I did I stumbled upon one of the historic churches / cathedrals in the center of the city. It seemed very good and right to go in to spend time in prayer, so I went in to grab a pew and a kneeler and get to work...
"Guidelines for the Reception of Communion - For Fellow Christians"
We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this eucharist will draw us closer to one another begin to dispel the sad divisions that separate us. We pray these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ's prayer for us "that they may all be one" (John 17:21).
Posted at 08:19 AM in Diary, Reformedom, Theology - Sacraments, Theology - Worship | Permalink
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I am fascinated by organizational design and culture in business, church life, and wherever else I stumble upon it. Watching the way people behave as individuals within their working context is very revealing at many levels - and trying to change organizational behavior is even more interesting. I had to do a fair amount of reading on this during my MBA program so while I am not an expert in this area, I have developed a high appreciation for those who spend their careers trying to make sense of it all...
Yesterday I picked up a book called, "Tribal Leadership," by Dave Logan, John King, and Halee Fischer-Wright. The paradigm that they are asserting is based on years of research on "twenty-four thousand people in two dozen organization, with members around the world..." What they have discovered is that people operate in tribes of 20-150 people. Each person in the tribe and tribe itself is characterized by the language they use to self-assess as seen in this table:
For whatever it is worth, I think this is truly insightful and brilliant. It totally resonates with my experience. I haven't digested the whole book, but the goal is to chronicle how people move through the stages with tips on how to be an effective tribal leader. I can't wait to dive in deeper.
Think about this for a moment as it applies to church. How rare is it to find a "Stage 5" church? Rare indeed. The church is full of victims, warriors, and pockets of tribal pride. We need more tribal leaders in the church to lead us back to the heavenly experience of "innocent wonderment" where "life is great."
Posted at 09:55 AM in Book Reviews, Cultural Commentary, Current Affairs, Diary, Reformedom | Permalink
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And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you..." (Matt 28:19,20)
Almost every time I have heard The Great Commission uttered, preached, or explained, people seem to understand it as taking the Gospel to every individual person in every country. It is as if they translate it as saying, "Go and evangelize every person everywhere." I have come to believe that it means so much more than that.
Without getting into a lexical debate, check this out for kicks. One Greek lexicon defines the Greek word, "ethnos," (nation) as, "The largest unit into which the people of the world are divided on the basis of their constituting a socio-political community." In the New Testament, "ethnos" is also used to denote "Gentiles" or non-Israelites, but in many texts it also has clear political / nation-state connotations (Mt 24:7, Mt 24:14, Mk 11:17, Jn 18:35, Acts 24:17). I suppose you could argue that the word in the context of Matt 28 could just as easily be rendered, "heathen," or "Gentiles," but I think you would be ignoring the rest of Scripture.
The good news of the Gospel is that God is restoring the whole world, not just individual souls residing in each country on earth. The Gospel extends to every part of life and every system - even political ones. Jesus isn't called the "Lord of lords" and "King of kings" for nothing. God's promise to Abraham wasn't just that he would be the father of the Jews. God's promise was that Abraham would "be a father of many nations." (Gen 17:4-6) In Romans 4:13, Paul interprets this as meaning that Abraham would "be the heir of the world."
It is unsettling for many Evangelicals in America to realize that the United States is not a Christian nation. Our systems may have the residue of "Judeo-Christian" ethics, but our nation itself has not been discipled. Individual souls may have been converted, but our systems are fundamentally secular and separated from the Gospel and the word of God. I don't know what to expect in the case of the United States, but I do believe that in time the church will succeed in discipling all nations. (Acts 3:19-21)
Posted at 04:32 PM in Cultural Commentary, Politics, Reformedom, Theology - End Times | Permalink
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If you find yourself in a "Reformed / Presbyterian" church and your pastor says that your covenant children need to be "evangelized," I've got news for you. Your pastor isn't really Reformed or Presbyterian. He is really a Baptist. He may not be dispensational. He may not be Arminian or immersionist. But he is a Baptist nevertheless.
Don't get me wrong, I love Baptists. I just don't appreciate Baptists masquerading as Presbyterians on this issue. Covenant children need covenant nurture and catechism, not evangelism. Covenant children need to hear the Gospel, but they don't hear it as someone outside of the promises and oracles of God. No. They hear it as part of the family. They hear it as those to whom God has said, "I will be your God and you will be My people." It isn't an "if-then" statement, it is a "is-and" statement.
Evangelism is for those who aren't family yet. They're invited to be a part of the family. We proclaim, persuade, and pray for them to become brothers and sisters. But we are aware that they have no share yet in the "covenants of promise." It is a whole different animal than covenant nurture.
And that is the rub. Consistent Baptists and inconsistent Presbyterians flatten the distinction between children of believers and people outside of the faith. They think they both need to be evangelized. What a cruel knot for covenant children to untangle. "Ok, Billy, let's pray together before bed." "Billy! You need to repent and believe or you will go to hell!" "Billy, let's sing, 'Jesus loves me.'" "Billy, you need to make a profession of faith before the church!" "Billy, great job memorizing your Bible verse this week!" "Billy, I hope you accept Jesus in your heart at church camp." "Billy, you can't have communion until you're old enough to understand what you're doing."
Let's help Billy and stop the schizophrenia. Let's start by recognizing Baptist theology when we encounter it.
Posted at 11:16 PM in Raising Children, Reformedom | Permalink
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I participated in a new small group this morning at church and we started by going around the table sharing testimonies. We came to one of the elder statesman of the church and he started by saying, "I became a Christian during my mother's second trimester." I don't believe he was kidding.
Beautiful. I love that statement. My pastor in Austin, TX, would say during baptisms that his hope and prayer was that the children of the church would never know a day they didn't know Jesus. Amen!
Posted at 12:08 PM in Diary, Meditations, Raising Children, Reformedom | Permalink
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This was a fun project to work on with Dr. Joel Garver a couple of years ago.
During my Ancient Hope (CREC) days I had big dreams and PPT was a result of some of those. I am heartened by those who signed the document and the renewal movement which it has helped spur on. I was and continue to be disappointed by those who only seized it as an opportunity to further factionalize, but... I did what I thought was right. Go ahead, call me an ecumaniac. I can take it.
Posted at 09:16 PM in Diary, Reformedom | Permalink
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Malcolm Gladwell: Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
Malcolm Gladwell: The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference


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Mohammed Shehab and Mohammed Al Joakar of UAE Team 'A' crashed out at the semifinal stage of the Second West Asian Championships snooker team event, but Hani Al Howri lifted the pal of gloom with a gold medal-winning performance in the 8-ball pool singles.
Al Howri, who has been at the forefront of the UAE pool for a long time, turned in a superb show to demolish Ahmad Al Jalaad of Jordan 9-4 in the title showdown on the last day of the Championships at the Concorde Fujairah hotel on Saturday.
The prize presentation ceremony was presided over by HH Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, the Crown Prince of Al Fujairah, who also inaugurated the new official web site of the UAE Billiards & Snooker Association (UAEBSA). The new bilingual UAEBSA web site aims to provide billiard sports fans with timely coverage of the events taking place not only Emirates but also the entire West Asian region.
The Second West Asian Championships featuring more than 60 top players from 13 countries was staged under the auspices of HH Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, an ardent sports supporter.
Al Howri was beaming with joy and pride after capturing his first major title in the past six years.
He said: "My first match had been against the top Kuwaiti player and beating him 7-2 has been the key to my success in this tournament. It was a big win for me and I felt very confident.
"Later on, there were only tough matches for me but I kept my cool through them and was rewarded with victories. The 7-6 triumph over the Iranian professional Takhti Zarekhani in the quarter-finals came as a further boost.
"Then when I beat Salah Al Rimawi, who is the top-ranked pool player in UAE at the moment, in the semifinal, I knew I was in with a realistic chance of winning the gold medal and I am happy that I did.
"I am grateful to my teammates for being on my side throughout those games in the tournament."
As for the snooker team competition, there was dejection in store for both pre-tournament favourites -- UAE Team 'A' and Iran.
The UAE Team 'A' pair of Shehab and Al Joakar was upstaged 3-2 by Syria and Iran, spearheaded by reigning world amateur champion Hossein Vafaei, came a cropper against the spirited Qatari duo of Ahmed Saif and Moshen Bukshaisha in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon.
The gold medal was eventually won by the Syrian team of Omar Alkojah and Karam Fatima, who vanquished Qatar 3-0 with ease in the final.
The UAE campaign in the Second West Asian Championships ended with a respectable haul of one gold, one silver and one bronze medal.
The third episode of the West Asian Championships will be staged in Lebanon next year.
This press release has been written by Hanif Hassan, UAEBSA International.
Shehab Settles for Silver in West Asian Snooker Champs at Fujairah, FIF,
Star Shehab Goes Down Fighting in Snooker Championship at Fujairah, FIF, 17 January 2012.
UAE Assured of Place in Snooker Finals at Fujairah, FIF, 16 January 2012.
Snooker Progress at Fujairah and the Knockout Stage Draw, FIF, 15 January 2012.
Al Joakar Leads at Second West Asian Snooker Champs at Fujairah Concorde Hotel, FIF, 14 January 2012.
Schedule and Times for West Asian Billiards and Snooker Champs, Fujairah, FIF, 14 January 2012.
Concorde Fujairah Hotel on Cue for International Billiards & Snooker Champs, FIF, 12 January 2012.
13 Countries to Compete in Billiards and Snooker at Fujairah Concorde Hotel, FIF, 10 January 2012.
Geoff Pound
More Fujairah news, resources, info and photos is posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.
Images: Hani Al Howri of the UAE proudly poses with his 8-ball singles trophy on Saturday.