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We have arrived on the Black Sea coast in Trabzon at around 8 am after an 18 hour bus ride from Istanbul. Inspite of that, we feel fresh as the bus ride has been very comfortable to say the least. 2-3 names of hotels and guest houses have been shortlisted to stay in Trabzon. Ask for help with wifi for directions and one restaurant owner at the Otogar (Bus stand) enables the same.
We start walking in the direction as indicated on google maps. Little tired as its been more than 30 odd hours since we have been on the road (Left for the Delhi airport at 1 am last night) and the cold wind of Trabzon doesn't help matters either. The sun finally comes in our direction as we spot 2 Lokantasis (local eateries) full of people with the sun streaming through the windows giving it a feel of real warmth.
Enter inside the second lokantasi and are lucky that a table has just become available. There is no menu as such and we ask for vegetarian options, the owner is very helpful and kind and announces to the entire restaurant when we greet him saying we are from Hindistan! He asks us to go to the kitchen and order anything that we like.
Çorba – lentil soup (6 TL per bowl). He orders 2 different types of vegetarian Çorba for us. It is served in huge bowls and is super tasty. Many varieties of freshly baked breads are laid out in a bowl in front of us. We eat to our heart's content. The lentil soup tastes amazing in the cold weather. We also realise it is a staple for the Turks in the winter months as almost everyone else in the restaurant is having some version of çorba only.
Delicious çay (tea) is served after we are done with eating. The owner doesn't take money even after we try our best. Thank him graciously for the tasty food and greet everyone in the Lokantasi before leaving.
We continue on our walk to the hotel / guest house in Esentepe Area. Feel much better now with food in our bellies. As we reach close to the Tahir Aga Konagi Guest House, we are pleasantly surprised by the aroma of freshly baked bread. Fresh simit from the oven at a small bakery. Tasty and warm, crispy and yummy for only 1 TL per piece.
Tahir Aga Konagi Guest House in Trabzon
Tahir Aga Konagi is an old family run boutique homestay established in 1890. It is a beautiful heritage building with antiques and other knick-knacks kept as decoration in the common area. We enter the building and ask for the price of a double room at the reception. Staff shows us a room on the top floor, it is bathed in sunshine and has a view of the gorgeous alfresco sitting area. Room is a bit small but comfortable and has all the facilities we need, and is centrally heated as well.
Other rooms at Tahir Aga Konagi are bigger but are located on the other side and therefore even colder. We have already mentioned at the reception that we could like a ucuz (cheap) room! Price quoted 180 TL. We settle for 150 TL including kahvalti (breakfast) that is served in the common area near the reception. Effectively we check-in at around 930 am.
From the main road we can see the Black Sea with snowy mountains in the far distance! Super surprised to see this sight. We chose Tahir Aga Konagi Guest House as it is conveniently located in Trabzon and is not very far from the Otogar. Most of the other options were located on the Black Sea Coast, were away from the town and would have required a mode of transport for us to roam around all the time.
Sleep for 2 odd hours. Centrally heated room, very cosy and fluffy bed and quilt. Have a shower after waking up. Feel nice and fresh after the relaxed sleep. Love the warm water in the taps that comes effortlessly in hotels everywhere across Turkey. After the sleep, when we go to the reception – Staff suggests walking in the opposite direction to the Meydan.
The most important sight in Trabzon – Sumela monastery (built in 386 AD) is closed for restoration. We are sad but happy to know this fact in advance, otherwise Sumela Monastery is at least 1 hour away from Trabzon and would have created a lot of trouble for us to go and find it closed.
As we start walking on the road, we spot autumn colours on the road itself, leaves are in an crimson-orange colour. Head to Uzun Sokak street. Randomly discover the popular Trabzon Pide on seeing a crowd gathered at Ertugrul Pide. Trabzon is well known across Turkey for Ekmek (corn bread) that looks like a huge half football.
Walk inside Ertugrul Pide and get peynir pide recommended. Chef making fresh pide in the stone oven as per the orders. Love the aroma! Upstairs sitting area, 15TL for a freshly baked peynirli pide. So so tasty, made with cheese and butter. Many varieties of pide all freshly made on order, ranging from 15 to 25 TL. Locals having 1 pide each with extra butter given separately and eating with gusto. As it is nearly lunch time, a lot of pide are getting packed as well. Hectic scenario, love it!
Mostly male customers in the entire seating area, very surprised to notice that. A woman serving tea and taking orders in the restaurant. An English speaking Turkish man on the next table tells us the right way of eating the pide is while sipping chai. Order çay too! For a change, çay is not complimentary and is charged at some 2 TL for a big cup. Enjoy the conversation with him, finish the pide, use the free WC and head out for walks in Trabzon.
Kestane (roasted chestnuts) on the street, 5 TL for 100 grams. Half price of what we get in Istanbul and the quality is even better! We are on Uzun Sokak street which is like a shopping street. Since it is our 1st destination in Turkey, check sim card shops TurkCell, Turk Telekom etc but see that the cost is coming to more than 250 TL for 18 days. Sim card cost 110 TL. Decide to not buy any sim card and rely on freely available wifi.
Go to Koton store on Uzun Sokak Street. Buy 1 sweat shirt for 50 TL. Have carried minimal clothes from India and figure that the space of oranges can be used for keeping clothes. Meet cool sales people at a nearby cosmetic shop. Bollywood and Hindi movies, they love it! Indirim on Clinique products if the bill is over 300 TL, 100 TL indirim (discount). Great offer. They understand and speak perfect English so I show them my research about Trabzon.
They recommend eateries etc and confirm that Sumela monastery is definitely closed and that it didn't make sense for us to go there. Walk around the Uzun Sokak Street, very lively and fashionable maybe because of Christmas approaching. Almost every shop has an indirim sign.
Beton Helva – Dondurma (milk flavour recommended) 2.5 TL, Helva Classic (10TL) & Turk Kahvesi (7TL). Seating upstairs in a nicely designed café space. Cute cup and tray with table. Beautiful setting and some old ladies also eating helva. Good dondurma for the price, helva is ok because the quantity is a lot and the server has given us only one flavour although we had asked for a mix of the 5-6 different flavours on offer. Seemed like a mix of tahini and almond flavour, and tasted similar to soan papdi in India at Haldirams.
Could only finish half the helva (funnily enough ate the last bite of it in Delhi after coming back) as it was tucked away in some corner of the day pack and we thought it was over! Saw big sale indirim signboard at LC Waikiki, locals going crazy. Turkey has excellent quality fashionable clothes at very reasonable prices and from our past visit we were very happy with the clothes brought at LC Waikiki.
In an inexplicable turn of events, we went crazy and shopped for 2 hours! We don't even realise when it is already evening! Buy 7 items and get a tax free bill that would enable to get us around 4-5 percent return at the airport. Dark when we get out of the LC Waikiki store.
Surprised at our own behaviour of buying things to carry back to India from the first city that we visit on this 18 day Turkey trip. Decide to be a bit more practical from now on. The collection at stores in Trabzon is really good though and we are happy to buy these clothes at reasonable prices.
Ask locals for recommendation on where to eat? Directed to CemilUsta, best eatery in the entire Meydan area and has a convenient location too. Interior seating and outdoor seating as well. Bit of a fine dine place, 2-3 floors, meshur, right in market centre. Eat Akçaabat Kebap or kofte (famous locally) and salad. Bit expensive but still reasonable compared to a fine dine in Istanbul or any other bigger city.
The server is a happy and polite gentleman, welcomes us when we tell we are from Hindistan. Rice and bread comes complimentary. Very very happy with the food. Tasty and quantity also excellent. Around 25-30 TL total bill. The staff doesn't ask for complimentary çay, and we also forget!
Walk back to the hotel, glad at our choice of Tahir Aga Konagi Guest House. Around 10 minute walk. Remember our way from the morning, even though the area is almost dark now with no crowds. Cold breeze blowing. Quite tired, long day for sure. Go to the open air garden at the Guest House to chill for a bit. Nice lights and setting. Magic of small heritage places to stay.
The Guest House is a family run sort of place with 2-3 staff. Autumn leaves are blowing and the aroma of wood being burnt is present since the area is a residential colony. Fill our water bottles from the filter and go back to our room. Write diary entry for the day and sleep like little babies. Warm and cozy, heated room. So we keep a small part of the window open so that it doesn't become too hot.
Wake up to a warm sunny day after a fabulous sleep. Have tea and coffee in the room from the mixes provided. Another point about even the simplest hotels in Turkey is that tea, coffee, kettle and cups are always provided in the room. Also, usually there will be a separate kettle for Turkish tea in the reception area from where you can take your fill of çay throughout the day.
Go for breakfast in common area. Have olives, oranges, eggs, varieties of jam, breads, choco hazelnut, çay and Turkish coffee as well. If there were more guests, the breakfast spread would have been larger. We head to the open air area and just chill for a bit. Have a bath, pack, check out from the room and leave our bags at the hotel to be picked up in the evening. Our plan is to catch a bus to Van (around 8-9 pm).
Walk to Dolmus point near Meydan to ask about the shared taxi to Aya Sofya Muzesi and spot the Metro Turizm bus company office. Kamil Koc, Ulusoy and other bus companies etc don't run buses to Van. So Metro bus seems like the only choice that we have. They have a 2+1 bus at 9 pm and seats are available. 150TL is the quoted price, and we settle for 140TL – pick-up is free from the booking office to the Otogar. So that saves us a fair bit of walking with our backpacks and we can conveniently have dinner before leaving.
Dolmus 2.5 TL for Aya Sofya Muzesi, dropped at the right place near crossroad of Cami (mosque). Dolmus passes through beautiful parks, autumn colour leaves, stunning views of the black sea on a clear sunny day. Spot a local fruit and vegetable market on the way to Aya Sofya Muzesi.
Love checking and tasting the excellent quality fresh vegetables and fruits, honey, sirke, dry fruit sellers, breads etc from many regions. Buy dry anjeer (10TL for 200 grams) – huge size and very tasty, shehtoot (mulberry) 4.20 TL(for 200 gram box), and walnuts (7TL for 100 grams) from 1-2 local vendors.
Buy Oranges 1kg for 2 TL. Taste multiple dry fruits. Finally after our perusal of the market is over, head to Aya Sofya Muzesi. 13th Century and very historic. Shut due to restoration. Little disappointed.
Aya Sofya Müzesi – Aya Sofya Müzesi (Museum) is the most important historical building in Trabzon. It was a former Greek Orthodox church that dates back to the 13th century and was converted to a mosque in 1584. It is located close to the Black Sea, and is considered a beautiful example of Byzantine architecture.
Not sure what to do, so sit and enjoy the views of the exterior from the museum cafe in the outdoors. Blue tiles on the walls and views of the Black Sea, autumn colours, sunshine and breeze, Turkish çay. Also free WC. Start walking back. Glad we spent some time browsing through the products at the local street market.
See a Tekel (alcohol) shop and buy dry red wine bottle for 35 TL (quoted 40 TL for the same), old uncle gives. Notice that the prices for wine in Turkey have increased around 8-10 TL per bottle since the last trip in 2018. Ask for dolmus point for Uzun Sokak street. It is around 1230 pm and since it is the only address we know – makes sense to head there itself and enjoy lunch at another recommended place. Find dolmus and grab the front seats.
Lunch at Çardak Pide, most famous restaurant for pide in Trabzon – recommended as the best pide in town! Sit in the alfresco area, cloudy sky now and a little cold but don't want to sit in the heated interiors. Servers are young, one guy sends a girl employee who likes watching Hindi soaps and bollywood movies etc! Interact with her and order a mix pide – half veg and half non-veg, comes with ample butter!
Amazing taste. People smoking Nargile (sheesha). It is a hectic place and almost everyone is having 1 pide each. It is quite heavy on the tummy and we wonder how is everyone able to eat an entire pide! Some pide are round ones. Çardak Pide is full of locals dining, old men and families playing cards on the table etc. Gave the serving lady masala chai that we had carried from India. Served delicious complimentary çay after asking for bill! 21TL only!
Go back to the market. Recommended Laz Boregi at Helvacilar shop. Tell from Hindistan so the owner makes us taste 2 types of baklava that was yum (for free)! Laz Boregi 5TL for a piece and tasted ok ok, not great. Saw a local hamami and asked the price for a full hamam treatment (oil massage, soap massage and bathing) for 90-100 TL. Much much cheaper than Istanbul. Instagram calligraphy shop in Trabzon market, really pretty stuff. Think about buying but decide not to buy because don't want to get into space constraints. Amazing diaries with calligraphy covers.
Go to Bedesten – old covered market. Nice old stuff but some shops felt out of place and a little touristy. Copper utensil maker, prices are quite reasonable for the fine quality stuff. Amazing cafe with antique collection – Bezmigah. Turkish music playing, locals and tourists chilling over cups of Turkish çay and Turk Kahvesi (Turkish coffee), pretty kilims hanging on walls! Love the interiors, think about sitting and check the menu. Super expensive!
From Bedesten, enter a different area of the market, coffee beans crusher is very cute and small, made of copper. Pretty and at 5-7 TL is a steal. 60 TL for coffee set with a tray etc. Reasonably priced but we have already decided to not buy anything. Cute stools, wish we can carry back to India for the balcony at home!
Meet Hasan, dry fruit shop owner. He is fascinated with Hindistan. Offers chai, we gladly accept. He is a cool guy, owner of a dry-fruit shop and staff also comes to chat with us. Share stories from India and Turkey travel with him and laugh over the incidents. Cold weather now, sort of evening at 3-4 pm and breeze blowing. Taste dry fruits from shop and discuss prices so that we know the right price to buy before leaving for India.
Çarši Cami (Mosque) in old market. Stunning roof design. Spot another proper local hamam for Bay (men) next to the mosque. The man at the Hamami – Google translates Turkish to English and quotes 75 TL for the entire hamam experience! So reasonable. Want to experience it but time is limited, we dont have a hotel room now and a bus to catch to Van in the night. Decide to experience a local Hamam in the latter part of the trip when our bodies are tired.
Walk past carpet shops and enquire about prices. Kasmir Hali, very big carpet shop. The best woven carpets priced as high as 40000 TL. Some nice ones at 4000 TL. 5-6 pm. Walk back to the main square of Uzun Sokak and back to Tahir Aga Konagi to pick our luggage. Try to find the Lokantasi where we had our first breakfast right after arriving in Trabzon – to give 2 masala chai packets to him as a thank you note, but unable to find it. Maybe it is closed in the evening. 🙁
At the Guest House, ask if we can sit in the garden and for wine glasses. Staff is ok with it! Enjoy a lot and relax too. 1 glass red wine each and pack the remaining bottle in our day pack. Take our bags, thank the staff and walk to Metro Turizm Office, pick up van will come at 815 pm, we keep our bags there and tell him we will be back at the office by 8.
Decide to head back to CemilUsta for dinner. Speak to the same staff and greet him, the guy is very happy to see us and makes us meet the manager! Offers complimentary tea and 4 pieces of complimentary baklava. Comparatively less crowded today.
Don't want to have heavy dinner since its an overnight bus journey. Recommended Kuymak (1 dish among the 2 of us – cheese with cornflour for 20 TL). Served with bread and complimentary pilav. Delicious and perfect for 2 of us as it is quite heavy on the palate. Very thankful to the manager.
Notable facts about Trabzon
Trabzon is Turkey's leading grower and exporter of hazelnuts. For football enthusiasts, Trabzon is home to the famous football team Trabzonspor.
A must-try local dish is kuymak, it is a sort of cheese fondue made with butter and cornflour. Eaten with bread, this dish is of moorish origin.
Laz Boregi, a dessert with layers of filo pastry is locally popular – of the indigenous Laz people of Trabzon.
Black cabbage grows in abundance around Trabzon and is widely used in salads and soups.
Pide is a national dish eaten all over Turkey. The Trabzon version is topped with an egg and is undoubtedly the best pide in Turkey.
Walk back to metro office and relax there itself. Shuttle bus comes at 820 pm for pick up and drop to Trabzon Otogar. Board 9 pm bus to Van. Trabzon-Erzurum-Van written on the bus signboard. Very excited.
Bus guys smoking in moving bus. Difficult night, not a good experience with Metro Turizm bus. Multiple tunnel crossings. Road not as good as usual roads in Turkey. Got only tea, no snacks in the bus. Erzurum Otogar stop in night, frozen cold. Brrr cold, snow on the road. Start of barren landscape. (2 am).


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Sporting EventSports
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The Omaha Lancers are the original hockey team of Omaha. The 2018-19 season is the 33rd year for one of the USHL's most storied franchises. Games are played October thru April at Ralston Arena.

subset: commoncrawl


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From sci-fi flicks to published journal articles, the term 'dark matter' has often been used to describe some of the more puzzling and bizarre astronomical interactions observed by scientists. But what exactly is dark matter?
A hypothetical type of matter that has yet to be properly observed, researchers have inferred that dark matter exists as an opposing force to baryonic matter (such as neutrons and protons). It has been theorized due to the properties surrounding gravitational effects and other motions that drive not just us, but our galaxy. Physicists and astronomers believe that dark matter is part of an essential part of our world dictating motions, rotations and interactions of literally everything within our known universe.
Essentially the invisible matter than makes up the rest of our universe, it has yet to be observed, as modern technology is still not accurate enough to isolate or identify it. Part of the issue with finding dark matter is that its' properties make it incredibly hard to find, as it does not emit or interact with electromagnetic radiation or any other type of detection technology currently available. Although it can't be observed directly, dark matter's influence can be seen through the behaviour of other, visible matter.
Whilst it can be a hard concept to grasp, and has yet to be completely evidenced, it is far from being a far-fetched idea, with the existence of dark matter is an accepted fact within the astronomical community, and scientists work around the clock to try and prove its existence. However, as aforementioned, there is nothing currently available that can detect dark matter, but other technology and scientific machinery with other primary purposes can potentially help with uncovering it.
The Large Hadron Collider is one of the tools at their disposal, and could be the only way for scientists to observe the existence of dark matter within a laboratory environment. All other scientific equipment usually belongs to astronomers or physicists investigating other processes or phenomena, which happen to interact with dark matter in a way that may lead to an eventual – potentially accidental – discovery.
Like many other theories or projects that are ahead of their time, modern technology has yet to catch up with scientific demand and hypotheses. Although we are always improving as a species, there continues to be questions that we are unable to fully prove or find evidence for, and are left to hope that future generations will be able to either confirm or dispel our theories and other concepts.


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Let's talk 1880s baby names!
1880s favorites Clara, Alice, and Grace are back. William and James never really went away, while Henry, Arthur, and Charlie are all fashionable once more.
And yet some of the most popular names from the 1880s have yet to make a comeback. Conventional wisdom says that most names will return to popularity about one hundred years after their last peak, but that's only true some of the time.
Looking at the Top 100 for the decade of the 1880s as listed on the Social Security website, there are plenty of 1880s baby names that have long been neglected.
A quick note on the data: the Social Security Administration didn't start collecting name information until the 1930s, so these are names are reported by adults about themselves, rather than parents about their newborns.
Now, on to the 1880s baby names that are overdue for revival!
1880s Baby Names: Girls
Ida was once a Top Ten favorite, as common as mini names like Ava or Mia today. With ties to Greek myth and a Tennyson poem, Ida could be quite stylish today. But it's definitely among the more neglected of the 1880s baby names. Just 144 girls were given the name in 2014 – though that's up from 99 in 2012.
Florence – The Vampire Diaries' Candice Accola and her musician husband Joe King recently gave the name Florence to their new daughter. The name of pioneering nurse Florence Nightingale, as well as the famous Italian city, Florence has been huge in the UK in recent years. But in the US, it's been consistently overlooked. A mere 182 girls were given the name in 2014 – it left the US Top 1000 back in 1981, and hasn't been back since. But with great retro nickname options like Flossie, this name could wear beautifully today.
Martha is as homespun as Hannah, as tied to early America as Abigail. And yet, Martha – a former Top Twenty choice – charted at a frosty #735 in 2014. If you're looking for a vintage, nickname-proof name that's smart and steady, Martha is your girl.
Mabel – Back in the 1990s, we were all watching NBC sitcom Mad About You, especially when Paul and Jamie couldn't settle on a name for their daughter. They eventually named her Mabel, from the phrase Mothers Always Bring Extra Love. (Of course, Mabel comes from the Latin name Amabilis – lovable, so that's a double dose.) The year was 1997, and a mere 42 girls were given the name. But it started to show signs of a tiny revival even then, with 90 Mabels born in 1990. The name recently returned to the US Top 1000, but remains relatively rare. Just 424 girls were given the name in 2014. A pop culture reference more likely to appeal to children today is Gravity Falls' young Mabel Pines.
Helen is a tailored classic. Like Penelope, this name comes straight from Greek myth, but it sounds more like modern favorites than a romantic antique. The name was big in the 1880s, and would continue rising until it peaked at #2 from 1900 through 1919. But today? It hovers around the 400 mark, less popular than alternate form Elena and distant cousin Eleanor. Crushed that Charlotte and Evelyn are so popular? Move right down the list to the lovely, legendary Helen.
Maude – In medieval England, the regal Matilda became the everyday Maud. (Probably via the Norman French form Mahaut.) Add an 'e' and you'll have the form of the name that Americans embraced in the 1880s, when it ranked in the Top 40. But in 2014? A mere 14 girls were named Maude, and just 5 Mauds. It's a short, complete name that feels unexpected and delightfully vintage. Plus Gabrielle Blair, better known as Design Mom, has a teenaged daughter named Maude, and Hollywood power couple Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann are parents to a young Maude, too.
Agnes – While we're talking Hollywood baby names, Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany made me notice this name when they welcomed Agnes Lark in 2011. Abby and Maddie are huge, and Maggie is making a comeback. But somehow Aggie – along with formal names Agnes and Agatha – remains in obscurity. 187 girls were given the name in 2014. That's not the most obscure name on this list, but it's still well outside of the US Top 1000.
Mamie is a former First Lady name. The future Mrs. Eisenhower was born Mamie Geneva Doud, but it was often short for Mary or Margaret. That makes it tough to track just how many Mamies there were at the name's peak, but it was a Top 100 fixture among 1880s baby names. Just 25 girls were named Mamie in 2014, but this Cosmopolitan article pointed to one baby Mamie – a good sign, I think, that Mamie is prime for a comeback.
Mae – Do I really need to declare Mae ready for revival? The name reentered the US Top 1000 in 2010, and has climbed into the 600s since. But that's just it – a name ranked in the 600s is still decidedly underused. Mae has all the glamour of the larger-than-life Mae West, but a sweet simplicity, too, thanks to Edith Wharton's May Welland, from The Age of Innocence, and the name's ties to the merry springtime month. The name is as mini as Mia, but was given to just over 400 girls in 2014.
Della – Ella is huge. Stella isn't far behind. And yet, Della has yet to return to the US Top 1000. Just under 200 girls were given the name in 2014. The 2015 birth of musician Billy Joel's second daughter, Della Rose, might spark some more interest in the name. Looking at 1880s baby names, Della was a Top 100 mainstay, not far behind Ella and Stella, so it makes sense that all three names would be in the spotlight again.
1880s Baby Names: Boys
Louis – We love Lu- names like Lucy and Luke. But the Lous have been passed over. Louisa just re-entered the US Top 1000 in 2014, and Louise remains in style limbo. Meanwhile Louis barely cracks the US Top 300, despite being chosen by Sandra Bullock for her son, and as part of Prince George Alexander Louis' name. (And, of course, new dad and One Direction alum Louis Tomlinson makes this name feel plenty young.) Louis was the 19th most popular of the 1880s baby names for boys, so even though the Top 300 isn't obscurity, this name still has far to climb.
Martin should be bolstered by the heroic Martin Luther King, Jr. as well as the cocktail cool of actor-singer Dean Martin. But Martin, too, is currently in the US Top 300 – quite the tumble for a name once in the US Top 50. If you're after a classic name less expected than William or James, Martin is one to consider.
Grover brings to mind one thing only for most parents: the fuzzy blue muppet from Sesame Street. Today's generation grew up with him. We expect to share Grover with our children. So how can it possibly be a child's name, you might ask? It really isn't these days – just 15 boys were named Grover in 2014. But it was a nickname for the kiddo in 2002 bestseller The Nanny Diaries. Grover also has the stylish 'r' ending of other surname names like Carter and Hunter. Factor in that stylish 'v' sound, and Grover could fit right in with Oliver and Everett.
Harvey – Speaking of that stylish sound, is it any surprise that Harvey is showing signs of life? It's like classic Henry, but turbo-charged by the letter v. On the small screen, legal drama Suits gave us a lawyer called Harvey beginning in 2011. After more than a decade outside of the US Top 1000, Harvey returned in 2011. But while this name is in the early days of a revival, it's just barely inside the current US Top 500. As 1880s baby names go, Harvey remains an underused gem.
Clyde was given to fewer than 300 boys in 2014. While that's a number the name hasn't seen since the 1980s, it's a far cry from Clyde's status as Top 100 boys' name of the 1880s. Of course, back in the 1880s, Clyde was yet to be associated with the outlaw of Bonnie and Clyde fame, or Clint Eastwood's pet orangutan in 1978 comedy blockbuster Every Which Way But Loose. In 2016, Clyde has shed any negative associations and sounds like a retro name that's less cowboy than Colt, more vintage than Kai.
Chester – Yes, I know. There's the rhyming nickname. But whenever this comes up, half of the audience says "Huh?" It's an association that's fading. Instead, Chester could be one of those great ends-in-r surname names like Parker or Cooper. As a bonus, Chester comes with jazzy nickname Chet. 83 boys were given the name in 2014, making this one of the rarer names on the list – but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Homer – Centuries before The Simpsons made this name the spokesperson for doughnuts and Duff Beer, Homer was a poet. And he's still a widely read poet, the author of The Illiad and The Odyssey, a legendary name from the ancient world, at the heart of the Western canon. Homer was among the Top 100 1880s baby names, and would become even more popular in the early twentieth century. Today, the name is obscure, given to just 28 boys last year. And yet, if you can overlook a few D'oh jokes, it could be an edgy, cool name for a son born in 2016.
Floyd – File Floyd with Clyde. They're both names associated with crime – in Floyd's case, Pretty Boy Floyd, an American bank robber who made the most wanted list during the 1930s. Other famous Floyds abound, including a fictional character on The Andy Griffith Show, but real world Floyds have been in short supply recently. Just 86 boys were given the name in 2014. And yet, with a short, retro sound, Floyd could make a comeback.
Julius – How can it be that Julius isn't more popular? Julian is big, and we're wild for ancient names nowadays. But Julius hovers just above the 300 mark in the US. That's not nearly as rare as Floyd, Homer, or Clyde, but neither is it as mainstream as Julian, Elias, or Silas.
Rufus – While we're talking about ends-in-s names for boys, what about Rufus? Rufus was just outside the US Top 100 for 1880s baby names. It's fallen since then, and today it sounds sort of quirky-indie (I'm looking at you, Rufus Wainwright) or possibly British. (Hello, Rufus Sewell.) Over the past dozen decades or so, Rufus has gone from ordinary name to one teetering on the edge of extinction. Just 20 boys were named Rufus in 2014. So if you're looking for a vintage rarity that your son will seldom have to share with another child? Rufus is one of the 1880s baby names that absolutely belongs on your list.
What are your favorite 1880s baby names?


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Science fiction has given us a vision of the future where humans might one day enjoy super-strength and abilities while wearing a rigid robotic exoskeleton suit. But back here in reality, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a soft bio-robotic socks designed to assist those who have difficulty with something as simple as walking.
Working alongside collaborators at Harvard, MIT, USC, and a company called BioSensics, the Carnegie Mellon researchers decided to make the orthotic device from soft plastics and other non-rigid materials so that it was able to better reproduce the natural motions of an actual human foot and ankle.
Pneumatic artificial muscles—three in the foreleg and one in the back for the ankle—work alongside lightweight sensors to facilitate the actual movement for the wearer. And the prototype was able to produce a sagittal motion of the ankle—rocking the foot from side to side—of 27 degrees which is enough to reproduce a normal walking motion.
For the immediate future the super sock is intended to assist patients dealing with neuromuscular disorders in the foot and ankle caused by conditions like strokes, multiple sclerosis, or even cerebral palsy. But eventually, as the technology and prototype is refined and streamlined, it could lead to whole body suits designed to enhance our body's existing capabilities as science fiction has promised. [Carnegie Mellon via Gizmag]


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"I Feel Like a Fake"
…and eight other secrets of brilliant high-octane people with ADHD.
The other day I was at a meeting with a room full of accomplished women — CEO's, entrepreneurs, business owners, and mothers—when I heard a comment that made my head snap up.
A woman said, "Some days I just sit on the couch in the morning, thinking about going to work, and I wonder… when are they going to find out I'm a fake."
I couldn't believe it. Not just because you would never believe a comment like this could come from this woman, who looked pulled together, competent, and held an excellent job.
[The Stars Who Aligned ADHD with Success]
I also couldn't believe it because I had said the very same thing. Between my quirky brain, my ADHD/OCD, and my struggles with anxiety and mood disorders, I had often wondered, "When am I going to be found out?"
While working as a CEO and on my journey there, I looked like the epitome of the confident woman — smart, with good instincts, a willingness to work my butt off, and a genuine passion for any cause I represented. I'd always been a good strategist and able to sum up any situation, very quickly. I was told by people who knew me well, "You don't get paid for your time; you get paid for your brain. You deserve it."
But I didn't believe them. I still felt like a fake. I felt like a fake because I certainly wasn't "normal" and the things that seemed so easy for other people sure weren't easy for me. I didn't do things in a "normal" way — and that always felt wrong, no matter how much I accomplished.
Does any of this sound familiar?
1) You struggle to get up in the mornings.
You look like one of those people who hop out of bed and hit the yoga mat, with a green tea and acai berry smoothie in hand. But you're not. Instead, you wake up with a head full of oatmeal and the first five minutes of your day is pure pain as you try to shake off the fog living between your ears.
[Free Download: 11 ADHD Coping Mechanisms]
2) The ideas in your head demand immediate attention.
Once awake, your head is popping! It feels like a tidal wave has moved in. You plunk down in front of your home computer to capture all the stuff that is whipping around inside your mind.
Your brain sees the forest, not the trees. As a result, you struggle to get any of the smaller tasks completed, and they heap up on the side of your desk.
3) You are late, once again, for work, but you have a good excuse.
Scrambling out the door, you jump behind the wheel and off you go fighting the traffic on your morning commute while downing a banana and a cup of coffee while driving. Once at the office, you see your colleagues staring up at the clock and want to shout, "But I was working!" Instead you slither to your desk and try to ignore them.
4) You skip lunch and keep pounding away at your work.
Once you are rolling, it's impossible to stop. The ideas, strategies, and visions fill your brain. You feel you should take a break, be normal, be social, sit around the lunch table with colleagues and discuss the benefits of kale, and you feel you should take a walk…but you don't. Truthfully? Small talk bores the heck out of you, so you graze on carrots and trail mix and keep going.
[A Get-Things-Done Guide for the Overwhelmed and Overloaded]
5) You avoid work-related get-togethers.
Despite the fact that you seem like an extrovert, you are really an introvert. But nobody knows it. Social gatherings, unless they are with good friends, stress you out. You would rather be home, cuddled under a blanket, resting your tired brain so you can get through the next day.
6) You feel like a fake while you smile through the strain.
With your supercharged mind, you are probably struggling with other things — ADHD, OCD, anxiety, or mood disorders. But you don't want anyone to know because then how could you possibly be in charge of anything? Who wants someone "broken" to be at the helm?
7) You struggle with the mundane.
Sometimes you stare in wonder and listen to the minutiae that gets discussed. You don't want to appear rude, you try to participate, but you can't understand the relevance of any of it. Everything for you is big picture and life changing. Filling out a simple form is excruciating.
8) Sleep is your only escape.
You love your family, your kids, your friends, but by nighttime you are whipped. Anything planned for the evening is something to get done and feels like a to-do list. You need brain-numbing TV to get your mind to slow down. And sleep. Because you are so…very…tired.
If any of this sounds familiar, then know that you are not alone. Most brilliant people struggle with elements of "fake-dom." So take the time to realize that you are among an exceptional group of achievers and believe that everything is exactly as it should be.
As Maya Angelou said, "I have written 11 books, but each time I think, 'Uh-oh, they're going to find me out now." Even Albert Einstein suffered from feeling like a fake. A month before his death he reportedly confided in a friend "the exaggerated esteem in which my lifetime work is held makes me very ill at ease. I feel compelled to think of myself as an involuntary swindler."
Realize that it is your struggle to be "normal" that drains you, not your supercharged mind. Believe that you are exceptional instead! Your brilliance makes you challenge the status quo and want to color outside the lines. This is your gift.
So embrace it — in all of your supercharged glory. Don't suppress it. Make a decision to stop and savor those mental high points and forgive yourself your inability to comply with everyday norms. Understand that many people just won't get you — and that is just fine. Learn to own all that is you and walk your truth.


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💌 Love Philly? Sign up for the free Billy Penn email newsletter to get everything you need to know about Philadelphia, every day.
A diverse group of young Philadelphians in Germantown have banded together to create a special kind of grocery and general store.
Based in a warehouse just down the road from popular cafe and bookstore Uncle Bobbie's, it's stocked with essentials like food, diapers and toiletries. But this is not like most shops you'll find on a big city commercial corridor.
Everything is available for free.
The Germantown Supply Hub Mutual Aid & Protest Support, developed in response to both the pandemic and the protests against racism and police violence, opened its doors about two weeks ago. The neighborhood is already digging it.
"I think it's needed and it's appreciated," said nearby neighbor Leona D. who stopped in to check it out. "I think people need to take more advantage of the things that are being given, and not just walk by."
Ashley Davis, a 29-year-old teacher-turned-artist who helped establish the hub, noted that mutual aid has a long history among oppressed groups and in Indigenous communities, even modern ones.
"Especially groups of Black queer folks, it's always been about, 'How are we caring for each other?'" Davis said. "How are we building homes and chosen families with one another?"
Mutual aid in African American communities dates back to the Revolutionary War. In 1780, a group of free and enslaved Black men in Rhode Island chartered the African Union Society, which kept track of births and deaths, collected resources for funeral expenses, and helped fund abolitionist causes.
Two hundred years later, it was a staple in the Black Panther Party, which in the 1960s provided a free breakfast program for neighborhood children, along with free legal aid and drug and alcohol education.
Throughout the 20th century, sociedades mutualistas have formed in Latinx communities, from the Tejanos in the American West to workers in the Domincan Republic. And some African and Caribbean cultures still use a mutual aid system based on an ancient West African practice. Called sou-sou, it encourages friends and neighbors to contribute to a pot of money that's paid out to each participant once a fundraising goal is met.
Though the concept has been less prominent in the United States, the idea of centering a positive symbiotic relationship between community members is regaining a foothold.
West Philadelphia's Sankofa House recently started a mutual aid community, and Food Not Bombs, which has been running similar operations for decades, is giving away groceries and produce in Malcolm X Park at 51st and Pine.
Intentional community building, not just freebies
Germantown Supply Hub is different from "buy nothing" Facebook groups because it facilitates intentional community building, said cofounder Shanel Edwards..
"It isn't as leisurely," Edwards said, "because we want to do this continuously. That means we need donations…we need people to give continuously."
People seem to understand how it works. One woman who stopped by the hub on Wednesday to pick up a pack of extremely in-demand size 5 baby diapers promised to return with a donation of adult diapers the next day.
"I'm gonna drop them off probably tomorrow, when I get off at 3," the neighbor said.
Some of the stock is coming from other like minded organizations. A volunteer food distribution group called the West Philly Bunnyhop has been a faithful donor, and the Hub is waiting to hear back from nearby Weaver's Way Co-op, per Edwards.
In the meantime, they're urging individuals to give what they have — especially wealthy white people, said Sulaiha Olatunji, another Hub cofounder who is herself white. Olatunji, 35, said she's launching a "white accountability" group to encourage "other white folks to do their work on their own and educate themselves."
Germantown Mutual Aid sets up Wednesday from 2 to 6 p.m. and Saturday starting at 10 a.m., at 5424 Lena Street. Monetary contributions are not accepted, but donations of food or goods can be dropped off or shipped to that site.
Davis set up a mock baby registry featuring a list of needed items. Other supplies organizers are looking for include:
- Feminine hygiene products
- Nursing supplies for moms
- Fresh teas and herbs
- Rice and pasta
- Canned goods
- Hand sanitizer and other PPE
- Toilet paper and paper towels
- Books
- Epi pens
- Brown paper bags to put items in for neighbors


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December 29, 2011
ABH Miratorg completed a campaign on providing four new farms in Trubtchevsk and Potchep districts of Bryansk region on December 13 with Aberdeen-Angus breed cattle from new shipment in amount of 14,000 heads.
The animals which arrived after one month voyage from Australia to Novorossiysk port on two special comfortable vessels were promptly transported to the farms. More than 200 units of modern transport and over 4,000 employees were involved in the process of cattle acceptance and transportation.
The first shipment of breed cattle arrived from Australia to Bryansk in amount of 6,000 heads within the framework of ABH Miratorg project implementation beginning June. Thus, the total amount of cattle on six farms of ABH Miratorg in Bryansk region is 20,000 heads. The next shipment of animals is being prepared for dispatch from the US in December 2011.
50 horses of world known "cowboy" Quarter Horse breed, which were specially bred to work with animals on the farms, will arrive together with 6,000 heads of cattle.
Before the year 2011 is out, 14 cattle farms will be constructed in Bryansk region. By the end of 2012, the total cattle breeding stock on farms of ABH Miratorg in Bryansk and Kaliningrad regions will be 80,000 heads. By 2014, 37 cattle farms will be constructed to house 274,000 animals, 112,000 heads of which will be breeding stock.
Feedlot, constructed within the framework of the project, will make it possible to keep up to 37,000 animals on feed at a time. Productive capacity of the project makes up 48,000 tonnes of beef per year. High-tech enterprise, second to none in Russia, will be constructed in Bryansk region for cattle slaughtering.
150,000 hectares of land will be required for project implementation. More than 2,000 working places will be created. Volume of project investments amounts RUB24 billion (US$753.9 million).


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Domaine de Coussergues
Denomination: I.G.P d'Oc
Vintage: 2019
Vine varietals: Merlot (100%)
Alc: 13%
Destemming, maceration with frequent pumping over, malolactic fermentation, matured in stainless steel tanks.
Tasting notes :
Intense ruby red with subtle purple highlight. Fresh and fruity aromas of black cherry, pomegranate and raspberry. The palate is warm and silky, displaying crisp fruit with dense-packed glossy tannins.
Food pairing:
pairs well with honey-barbecued chicken, roast duck, lechon, stews, roasted tomatoes, ricotta risotto, full-flavoured pasta dishes.
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About Summerhill
Established in 1970
We originally came to be as Gropp Optics, founded in 1970 by Dr. John Gropp. After 16 years in the original location, Gropp Optics moved into its new location in 1986. Our practice has been located there ever since.
Passing the Torch
In 2012, Dr. Gropp retired, passing the practice on to its current owner, Dr. Naeem Abdulla. Like Dr. Gropp, Dr. Abdulla has a strong passion for eye care and a genuine love of people.
Dr. Abdulla changed our name to Summerhill Optometry, a reflection of the community we reside in and the people we serve.
If you're lucky, you may catch Dr. Gropp stopping by - he regularly consults on new frame selections and technologies.
Dr. Abdulla purchased Summerhill Optometry from its original owner and founder, Dr. John Gropp, in 2012. Since, Dr. Abdulla has continued Summerhill's mission of superior service, exceptional eyewear, and a welcoming environment for everyone.
Dr. Abdulla is from St. Catherines and has travelled and worked all over North America.
Education & Experience
Dr. Abdulla graduated from Queen's University in 1997, going on to graduate from the Illinois College of Optometry in 2003.
After his graduation, he founded a family-focused Optometry practice in Sante Fe, New Mexico, where he worked with a diverse group of patients over the course of five years.
In 2008, he returned to Canada where we continued to practice Optometry working in both Optometry and Ophthalmology clinics.
2014 Brings a New Look!
In the fall of 2014, we completely renovated our practice. We've made space to accommodate updated technologies and machines for comprehensive eye examinations, and we've given ourselves a modern look with clean lines to best showcase our wide selection of glasses and sunglasses in the Eye Wear Boutique. Come check out our new look!
Naeem Abdulla In the News
Check out the CBC video below that features Dr. Naeem Abdulla of Summerhill Optometry,
speaking to the impacts of reading in low-light and on your computer screen.
Framework Foundation
The Framework Foundation invests in Canadian artists and nonprofit organizations. Since their inception in 2003, they have donated/raised over 165,000 hours of volunteer time and supported nearly 11,000 non-profit organizations.
Timeraiser directly supports new and upcoming Canadian artists and local non profits. Art is purchased through volunteer hours and not money. We have a piece in our showroom (you should have a look, it's fantastic!) as do many other businesses all over Canada. Dr. Abdulla "purchased" it with 150 volunteer hours in 2010.
Making Faces
Making Faces provides much-needed support to kids with facial differences. It supports anti-bullying initiatives in schools and youth organizations, organizes interactive workshops, and helps kids build confidence, self-esteem, and communication skills.
Friends of 519
The 519 supports the Toronto LGBTQ community by providing counselling services, coming out resources, safe spaces, and leadership workshops.
Taylor Statten Camping Bursary Fund
The TSCBF provides financial assistance that can be applied towards any camp that is a member of the Ontario Camping Association or the Canadian Camping Association. Sending kids to summer camp really resonates with us. Our office proudly displays pieces we purchased from the annual bursary art fundraiser. Ask us for details about the fund. We sponsor it every year!
Fighting blindness canada
As all eye care providers endeavour to prevent vision loss, unfortunately right now, some diseases have no cure or prevention. The Foundation for Fighting Blindness has recruited the smartest minds in science to find these cures. We are honoured to help them with this search.


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Kyoto always has a kind of traditional feel to it, no matter where you go in this city. This, of course, means that the stationery sold in Kyoto made of Japanese paper like the letter paper, letter covers, and other things also have a traditional feel to them. The specialty of this Kyoto-style stationery can be found in how carefully they are made, and in their seasonal patterns. Of course, there are also some that have more modern designs, but they often have something traditional in them too. So if you like stationery, Kyoto is calling for you! Don't just enjoy a matcha parfait in Kyoto; remember to also look at some stationery!
You can find Washiclub right by The Path of Nene, and this store is famous for their Kaishi paper, which is usually used in tea ceremonies but can be used to make chopstick holders and other things as well. In the picture, you can see examples of how you can incorporate Kaishi into your everyday life, like using it as a chopstick holder or case.
They also have these cute little envelopes that are usually used when giving money to other people. Among these envelopes, the most popular ones are the ones with pictures of Shiba dogs on them. These are great to give as presents, especially to those who like Shiba dogs!
|572-3, Giommachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 605- 0074
|Open Hours
|10:00 ~ 17:00
Uragu Hatch is located just by Yasaka Pagoda, and it's a cute little store selling stationery that is great as souvenirs. Their most famous product are their tiny notepaper blocks called Mamemo. The Mamemos are all so cute it's hard to choose which one to get, and the notes are convenient to use at meetings to pass notes or to leave messages for other people.
These cute note-inserts called Kotomori, take their form from Japanese amulets sold at shrines called omamori. You put your message inside and then give it to someone who matters to you. I think this is a great souvenir, and they not only look great but can be useful too.
You can find this stationery store inside the Museum of Kyoto, and they sell all kinds of other products besides paper for letters. The notebooks in the picture look very cute but they have something simple in their designs, and they make for a great notebook or even a sketchbook.
They have all shapes and colors of Japanese paper on sale too, so you can make your DIY-paper dreams come true. This is probably the best store possible for those who enjoy DIY!
|The Museum of Kyoto 1F Sanjo-Takakura,Nakagyo-ku Kyoto 604-8183
|Open Hours
At Suuzando Hashimoto you can get all kinds of products made of Japanese paper, but they're especially famous for their postcards. The idea here is that you can convey your message better through the medium of postcards than with an email, that the postcards sold here have more warmth to them.
They also sell scented bags, which have a slight fragrance to them, and you can put them in your wallet or in a letter, and this way the receiver of your letter will get to smell a nice fragrance when they open it. This is another thing that makes you appreciate the refined culture of Kyoto. The products here make you almost feel like you were back in the Heian period, a thousand years ago.
|110 Yaoyacho Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi〒604-8072
|Open Hours
|10a.m – 6p.m
Suzuki Shukudo sells Japanese products that are dyed using the traditional kimono dyeing Kyo-yuzen method, so their products have that extra amount of Kyoto-ness to them. So all their products have a special Kyoto-like feel to them, such as you can see in the glasses cases and tea caddies in the picture.
They also sell Japanese paper by the meter, so you can get just the amount you want. This is great if you want to use Japanese paper to tune your stationery or lamps!
|409・410 Izutsuyacho, Nakagyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 604-8113
|Open Hours
|10am - 7pm
|Vanessa[ Sharing Kyoto Staff ]


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Monday, March 06, 2006
Making a Slanted Face at the Slanted Door
Getting back to my lunch experience. . . I had towering expectations for the Slanted Door. Although I am not the type to fervently hop on any ole' bandwagon, I tend to trust restaurant hype from my friends, and I had heard good things about the Slanted Door.
To start, our table ordered the "friend-recommended" green papaya salad with tofu, rau ram and roasted peanuts. The salad was fresh and light, and absolutely wonderful. The tofu had absorbed all of the acidic tang from the fish sauce and citrus flavorings, and the roasted peanuts provided a delectable crunch.
Our order of spicy Monterey squid with pineapple, sweet red peppers, peron chilies and Thai basil was equally fabulous. The chef immaculately balanced the contrasting flavors of spicy, sweet, and salty with the unique and rubbery texture of the fresh sea squid. However, because I kept hearing the echoing voices of my Vietnamese family remaking on the hefty price tag of the dish, it was a little less pleasurable than it would have been otherwise.
Unfortunately, my experience quickly turned sour. I was disenchanted by the grilled chicken over rice noodles with imperial rolls, cucumber and mint. I mean, come on now. I order this stuff take-out from the Vietnamese restaurant next-door at least once a week, except there, I only pay $3.99 for it, and not $9.50. Now I am not one to "bag on my ethnic homie," but I was not impressed. A restaurant of Slanted Door's stature should not be making this dish without some sort of gourmet twist, unique ingredient addition, or ostentatious presentation.
I felt the same about the spicy Japanese eggplant with green onions and coconut milk. My Dad makes this stuff for under $5 bucks for the entire family of four, and you're telling me I paid what?!?
As I polished off my meal, I came to the wise conclusion, that when you set your expectations too high, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. My Slanted Door experience had been marred by the vehement praise of the many Slanted Door lovers that came before me. Ironically, my overall dining experience wasn't bad. I enjoyed the food, but it is just hard for me to get used to treating common foods that I grew up eating as "haute gourmet cuisine."
11 comments:
- Anonymous3/09/2006 12:59:00 AM
Yeah sometimes it's hard to feel that you're getting good value for money when you eat something supposedly 'simple' at a restaurant. I find that with dishes like fish and chips, or spaghetti bolognese. They put it in a fancy bowl (sometimes not even that!), chuck some extra garnish on it and *surprise!* It costs at least $10 more than you're happy to pay! I stick to my local fish and chip shop and Jac's spag bog now, anyway!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous3/09/2006 07:59:00 AM
I'm so practical I find it hard to pay for 'fine dining'. I sit there an calculate (in my head) how much I could have made this for at home and usually how much better it would have tasted! It's my frugal Mennonite ancestor voices in my head!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous3/09/2006 11:59:00 AM
This seems to be the thing w/ more 'haute' asian cuisines. They'll take a dish you're familiar with and add a miscellaneous boost: duck noodles with foie gras tempura= $18.50. We have vietnamese restaurants in the westside that charge 2-2.5x's the regular cost of the dish. and you know what, it is often unappealing in taste. i remembered paying $10 for a bowl of pho - disappointing.ReplyDelete
i had heard about the slanted door when i was up in SF. good thing i didn't try it.
Very well put The Food Pornographer! Hilarious comment about the "fish and chips" and "spaghetti bolognese"! I mean, what are those dishes anyway except for deep fried fish and potatoes (relatively cheap) and noodles and ground beef (even cheaper)! It is like a MasterCard commercial: Canned Spaghetti Sauce, $1.00; 1 lb of Ground Beef, $2.00; Dry Pasta, $1.50; Spaghetti Bolognese--priceless! ... Or too pricey at a posh restaurant.ReplyDelete
Very cute Rachel, I know what you mean exactly! My mom taught me how to do that. For some reason, I have no math skills when it comes to calculating tax and tip, but when it comes to calculating how much money I would have saved had I eaten at home, my mind is like an abacus!
Oops. I'm sorry Eat, Drink, and Be Merry, I think I may have been the one who recommended the Slanted Door! (But I promise, that I did so only because three of my ultra-close friends recommended it to me first!) Well, now those friends have become enemies. JK!
- Anonymous3/10/2006 08:44:00 AM
Excellent post as always. And I know what you mean. I have a theory that enjoyment of Vietnamese food and Mexican food is inversely proportional to the price you pay for it.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous3/10/2006 05:02:00 PM
Thank you for reminding me why I've never been to the Slanted Door! Beautiful job -- again.ReplyDelete
Great theory Elmo Monster! I agree entirely! I like your idea so much, that from now on, I am going to refer to it as "Elmo Monster's Theory." Theories always must be prefaced with the names of their intelligent originators!ReplyDelete
You're welcome Cookie Crumb! ... I feel terrible if I am taking away from the Slanted Door's business. I'd go there for the ambiance and the service--but hey, why pay more if you can get the same at home or next-door for cheaper? Maybe it's like that saying: "Why buy milk if you have the cow at home?" (I hope I got the saying right...)
- Anonymous3/10/2006 07:40:00 PM
Hi Jone -- have to chime in on this one. I exepcted more creativity out of Slanted Door. It's not my fusion spot -- my recommendation in that vein is EOS in Cole Valley. The decor is really nice, though. Hope all is well in SF -- when you are coming out to NYC? :<)ReplyDelete
I'm glad that you added your thoughts to the discussion Shane. Thanks for your recommendation--I trust your tastes in terms of restaurants! As for SF fusion places, I have tried Roy's and Tangerine, and I dislike Roy's and think Tangerine is pretty good. Other than that, my experience is limited.ReplyDelete
Also, as for NYC, I don't think that will be happening any time soon. Maybe the summer? Thus, seems like the next time I'll be seeing you is in the Bay Area!!
- Anonymous3/17/2006 05:20:00 PM
I'm sorry to hear one more negative take on Slanted Door. It seems that when Phan started out, he was very much the purist and he was in spaces that allowed him to charge less.ReplyDelete
Now he has the overhead of one of the hottest locations in town, and less custom from knowing diners, more from tourists. This does not in any way excuse the comments I've heard about terrible service, small pours in the wine department, and less that stellar food.
Too bad. He's a very sweet man. I have enjoyed so much the dishes prepared by him at several organic benefits.
I agree with you Kudzu, in that he is definitely catering to a different set of clientele, and that Phan is a talented gentleman. He was featured in one of the Summer 2005 issues of Food & Wine magazine, and I was impressed with the recipes that he contributed to the article and his interview responses. However, I'll have to stand by my experience, in that I enjoyed his food, but wasn't particularly impressed.ReplyDelete
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment! I read and enjoy every comment, and will try to reply if time permits. If you have a blog, please leave a link. I love to discover new and delicious sites!


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Chester and June Wallace became the owners of this resort for daytrippers in 1956, four years after two guys named Laucks and Yonkers built a dam, a small beach and refreshment stand on a small farm lake at the base of Sparta Mountain. Every year since, the Wallace family has made improvements, and today's Tomahawk Lake is a treasure for the families that come here.
The 200 acre property, part of Sparta, Byram and Hopatcong townships, includes a large perimeter around the 25 acre lake, assuring contamination-free water and allowing spacious picnic and recreation areas. Two brooks, one from the top of the mountain and one from Seneca Lake, provide constant flow through Tomahawk during the summer. In winter, the lake is drained, depleting most all vestige of the season's growth. The result is weed-free, crystal clear water for the ultimate summer refreshment.
For the more traditional, Tomahawk Lake provides an immaculate sand bottom (no concrete, no chlorine) that slopes gently out to floating rafts. Outside the swimming areas, you can enjoy rowboats, paddle boats, and kiddie & adult bumper boats. Back ashore you can visit a large refreshment stand, outdoor beer garden (with live weekend entertainment), an ice cream trailer, a novelty trailer, an arcade, an 18 hole miniature golf course, a putting green and a brand new ball field.
Eight hundred picnic tables inhabit lawns and groves throughout the park, and four spotless bathroom facilities are a quick walk from anywhere.
Tomahawk Lake provides an outstanding value for groups or large family reunions (50 people or more). Food prepared on site in the original 1857 farmhouse and served under large circus tents keeps guests happy eating all they want, all day long. Homemade donuts on arrival; homemade clam chowder at mid morning; hotdogs, burgers and salads for lunch; lemonade, birch beer, ice cream, cotton candy, and popcorn all afternoon; and freshly killed barbequed chicken with Jersey corn on the cob and ziti for supper.
There is a large 200 ft. Kiddie Area with a variety of props for the under 4 set, including three kiddie slides, a Tarzan Swing, Lily Pads to walk on, a Tom Sawyer raft, and a splash fountain called Raindrop. Every move in this section- and all over the lake- is carefully surveyed by a team of 25 lifeguards.
Tomahawk Lake is a survivor; a classic summer place where you can bring your grill and do your own cooking. Or leave it all to a capable staff, knowing you have all the advantages of a family-run facility. The Wallaces are always there to make sure things are the way they're supposed to be.
For admission prices and information check the website or call the lake office at (973) 398-7777 or Group Sales at (973) 478-7490.
The Tomahawk Lake is the host to many group functions, big & small from corporations to birthday parties, church groups & family reunions. We offer our Old Fashioned Country Picnic which we cater your picnic under large red and white circus tents with our "All You Can Eat Menu". If you prefer to do the work yourself we have many picnic areas available for groups.
Started in the '50s on a run down potato farm, a lake was constructed and developed into a private picnic and swimming club, Tomahawk Lake has since grown to be a popular recreational stop and water park specializing in family fun.
There's always something fun happening at the Sussex County Fairgrounds. Visit our web site for a full year of family fun, right in your own backyard.
A mix of historic buildings of varying architectural styles, a walkable downtown, and plentiful eateries surrounded by rural tranquility make Newton a fusion of the then and the now, with great expectations for the to be.


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Meet the Author:
David Michael Williams has suffered from a storytelling addiction for as long as he can remember. With a background in journalism, public relations, and marketing, he also flaunts his love affair with the written word as an author of speculative fiction.
His most recent books include the sword-and-sorcery trilogy The Renegade Chronicles and The Soul Sleep Cycle, a genre-bending series that explores life, death, and the dreamscape. If Sin Dwells Deep, his newest novel, will come out on Oct. 2, 2018.
David lives in Wisconsin with the best wife on this or any other planet and their two amazing children. He joined the Allied Authors of Wisconsin, one of the state's oldest writing collectives, in 2005, and the Wisconsin Writers Association in 2018.
Connect with David:
Check out his website and blog, One Million Words, at https://david-michael-williams.com for more information about his published works, upcoming books, current projects, and life as an authorpreneur.
You can also connect with them on your favorite social media platform:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onemillionwords/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/1MillionWords
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14427025.David_Michael_Williams
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-williams-7229626b/
Don't forget to check out If Souls Can Sleep!
"A blend of sci-fi and fantasy that manages to transcend both!"
"David Michel Williams uses sleep and dreams to create an engaging thriller that is not uncomfortable with wrong-footing a reader's expectations."
"This is the kind of book that lingers in the back of your mind long after you finish reading it."
"I couldn't put it down. Very much looking forward to the rest of the trilogy!"
Available in paperback and for Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Souls-Can-Sleep-Soul-Cycle/dp/0991056280
Or pre-order If Sin Dwells Deep!
Even good girls have secrets.
When straight-laced Allison sleeps, the rebellious goddess Syn wakes. Having a fling in the dreamscape may seem like harmless fun, but when a sadistic predator learns her true identity, the fantasy begins to bleed into real life.
If Sin Dwells Deep — a parallel novel to If Souls Can Sleep — exposes the hidden world of dream drifters and explores the war between gifted government agents and those who would use their abilities to corrupt life, death, and that which lies beyond.


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How close are you to that vehicle in front of you as you drive down the road? Would you have enough time to slow down if the other vehicle suddenly braked? Your answers depend on many factors.
You may have learned in drivers' education class to allow for one car length between you and another vehicle for every ten miles of speed you are traveling. This is great advice for private passenger vehicles and light trucks, but it can be difficult to calculate.
Three-second Rule
An easier rule of thumb for a following distance is the three-second rule. Pick a fixed object on or near the road, such as a road sign or lane stripe. Once the lead vehicle passes the object, start counting one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three. If you reach that fixed object before you've said one-thousand-three, you are following too closely.
Driving Commercial Vehicles
Commercial vehicles like large trucks take longer to stop and should have an even farther following distance. If you're driving a larger vehicle and your speed is less than 40 mph, the rule of seconds suggests that you allow at least one second for each 10 feet of your vehicle length. For speeds of more than 40 mph, add another second to the total time.
Likewise, the next time you pass a large truck and get in front of it, ask yourself if you're giving the trucker enough space to stop in an emergency. You may still be able to stop suddenly, but will the trucker be able to stop before he or she strikes the back of your vehicle? If you've encroached in their following distance, the odds may not be in your favor.
The suggested distances apply during favorable weather and road conditions. Driving through rain, fog, heavy traffic, or on poor pavement will require even more time to stop in an emergency.
Tailgating can be seen as aggressive behavior by other drivers and can lead to road rage incidents. Saving a few seconds during your trip isn't worth increasing your chances of being involved in a collision. Even a minor fender-bender will be an inconvenience to all of the parties involved, and the repairs could be expensive and time-consuming. An incident involving a fatality is life-altering to many people, including loved ones. Being late to an appointment beats not making it there at all. If someone is tailgating you, focus on maintaining your proper speed so you remain in control of your vehicle. Driving is a privilege, not a right.
Driving safely is everyone's responsibility, and maintaining an adequate following distance helps to ensure everyone's safety.
This bulletin was designed by SECURA Insurance to inform you of important safety measures that can prevent injuries and save you considerable business expense.


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Cobalt Blue12:00 PM
I hope everyone's day is as bright as this banana republic shift dress. I decided to pair it with a bold statement necklace that was gifted to me by a dear friend. Spring is finally getting to New York, so I'm excited to pull more bright colors from my closet.


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Our four principal publications (websites) on the subject of Biblical Textual Calculus are:
Biblical Digigraph
Several downloads are freely available.
Aurum Verses
Several downloads are freely available.
IAV: International Authorized Version
Numerous downloads are freely available, including several editions of the IAV (International Authorized Version). This website includes all of the downloads of the two websites above.


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Souvenir Sunday is coming up tomorrow, so if you're at an airport today and find a great souvenir that's under $10, "of" the city or region, and sort of offbeat, please snap a photo and send it along.
In the meantime, today is Snack Saturday, in honor of something unique I came across while researching a story about service at very small airports.
While telling me about the outdoor observation deck (officially "The Promenade") and the other charms of the New Bedford Regional Airport (EWB) in Massachusetts, airport manager Ed DeWitt let slip that the airport is also home to what he believed to be a "rare" vending machine dispensing Ben & Jerry's ice-cream.
Rare? Well, sure enough, it is. Joseph Beaudette, the owner of Scoopless Ventures, told me that he's placed some of these vending machines in colleges and other places in New England, but that the New Bedford Regional airport is indeed the only airport in the country that has a Ben & Jerry's vending machine.
And here's a twist: while at many airports ice-cream, coffee, and just about everything else costs more than it does in your neighborhood, Ben & Jerry's ice-cream purchased from the vending machine at New Bedford Regional Airport is about 20% less expensive than at most convenience stores or carts. And, says Beaudette, "These machines hold twelve different flavors."
Do you have a favorite snack you indulge in when you're stuck at the airport? Tell us about it! Before you scarf it down, take a picture and send it along to us here at StuckatTheAirport.com.
We're thinking about making Snack Saturday a regular dish.
Thanks for visiting Stuck at the Airport. Subscribe to get daily travel tidbits. And follow me on Twitter at @hbaskas and Instagram.


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Advken Notch RDA is a rebuildable dripping atomizer that comes with dual posts design, it is compatible with Notch coil and other rebuilding coils.
Advken Notch RDA Features:
- Dimensions: 32mm x 24mm
- Thread: 510 Thread
- Gross Weight: 44g
- Construction: 304 Stainless Steel
- Pin: Gold-plated Pin
- Color:SS,Black
Package Includes:
- 1 x 24mm Notch RDA
- 1 x Doctor Coil Accessory Bag
- 1 x Advken Card
- 1 x Clean Cloth
Customer Reviews
- Good Review by Jody K. Smith
it is better with my own cotton(for the "nice amount") haha. Then DIY my coils today, performs good. This would be my "weekly boby" haha (Posted on 12/13/2019)
- impress me Review by Jason C. Eadie
As seldom RDA will installed with a coil for selling. Two coils, 3.0mm,
I think less cotton would be better. Can't wait to try it. (Posted on 12/13/2019)


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Incumbent mayor behind by 2
The results of this month's
Elections officials next week will recount by hand votes in the race for
City Councilman Patrick Rushing's lead over incumbent Mayor Matthew Pederson grew in the latest tally to two votes.
He only led by one after the previous count on Nov. 10. The new vote came from an Airway Heights resident who cast a ballot by Election Day but either didn't sign it or submitted a signature that differed from the one on file, said Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton. Voters who cast ballots with signature problems are informed by the county. They have until the vote is certified to present a signature.
Rushing has 281 votes to Pederson's 279. State law requires that races within 0.25 percent be recounted by hand.
The Spokane County Canvassing Board voted unanimously on Tuesday to certify the results of the Nov. 2 election. That decision finalizes all the counting except for the
Thirty-three voters in
"That's what's so important about people getting their ballots, researching their decision and marking their vote because every single vote does count,"


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Tuesday, November 2, 2004
Murky anxieties
There are no anxieties except the ones you create. And just as you created them, you can let those anxieties go.
What has happened has happened. What will come will come. You can make a difference. You can take positive action.
And your actions will be infinitely more effective when they're not burdened with anxiety. Your awareness will be remarkably more rich and clear when it is not clouded with worry.
Open your eyes to the possibilities of this moment. Put your considerable energy into living the best of those possibilities.
Free your mind, your body and your spirit to be productive, effective, and full of life. Let go of those murky anxieties and fully live.
Ralph MarstonChallenges build you No matter what
Copyright ©2004 Ralph S. Marston, Jr. All Rights Reserved. The Daily Motivator is provided for your personal, non-commercial use only. Other than personal sharing, please do not re-distribute without permission.


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By Karuna Dharini Devi Dasi
When Krishna leaves Vrindavana to become the ruler of a great kingdom, He remains the same Krishna, the treasure of His devotees' hearts.
The Krishna deity worshiped at the Hare Krishna temple in Los Angeles, where I live, is named Dvarakadhisha, "the Lord of Dvaraka." Dvaraka is the pristine island Lord Krishna rules in His adult years. (Although Krishna lived in Dvaraka when He was present on earth five thousand years ago, Dvaraka exists eternally in the spiritual world. Therefore, in this article I'll sometimes use the present tense when referring to Dvaraka and Krishna's activities there.) Generally devotees of Krishna think of Him primarily as the Supreme Personality of Godhead who speaks the Bhagavad-gita and performs wonderful spiritual pastimes in the cowherd village of Vrindavana. In that rural setting, He plays and enjoys life among many relatives and friends. Gaudiya Vaishnavas, or followers of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, know that Krishna as a cowherd boy exchanges the most intimate feelings with His devotees. Still, Krishna is always Krishna, and devotees love Him when He displays Himself in other ways as well. For example, He is also endearing in His role as Dvarakadhisha.
Krishna is no ordinary ruler. Kings or presidents represent what is grand and powerful in this world. Yet even the finest and most awesome personality is only a small indication of the opulence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His very body is constituted of eternity, knowledge, and bliss.
Though Krishna as Dvarakadhisha enjoys many sporting battles, He has no one to conquer and nothing to achieve, being always complete in Himself. He always knows exactly what to do in His regal duties in relationship to His citizens, ministers, and soldiers. His brows are never furrowed with the anxiety of diplomatic responsibilities.
Though Krishna rules as an adult, He is in fact nava yauvanam, eternally youthful. According to Brihad-bhagavatamrita, by Sanatana Goswami, the king of Dvaraka has "all of the beauty of youth made even sweeter by traces of childlike innocence."
As a ruler, Dvarakadhisha has only the best of motives. His only objective is to defeat demoniac influences and protect His surrendered, pure devotees. His authority is original and inexhaustible. To obey His authority is the primary nature of every living being.
An Extraordinary Kingdom
Srila Prabhupada's book Krishna: The Supreme Personality of Godhead describes Dvaraka as the most superb and beautiful city in the history of the world. The island of Dvaraka is decorated with 900,000 extraordinary mansions built of first-class marble, with gates and doors made of silver and jewels. The clear blue-green ocean lies on all sides. The residents of the mansions, all pure devotees of Krishna, are of very fine beauty.
Dvaraka's innumerable gardens and parks are full of a variety of sweet, colorful flowers, and orchards abound with an array of fruit. Beautiful chirping birds, intoxicated peacocks, and ponds filled with lilies and lotuses delight the senses. The residents decorate every lane and walkway with water pots, festoons, banana trees, and fragrant flowers, just in anticipation of Krishna's strolling there.
Srila Rupa Goswami's Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu describes, "The servitors in the abode of Dvaraka always worship Krishna as the most respectable and revered Personality of Godhead. They are captivated by Krishna because of His superexcellent opulences."
From Brihad-bhagavatamrita we learn that although Dvarakadhisha is truly the absolutely powerful king of kings, enjoying in all opulence, He is also humble, friendly, and full of unlimited love. His devotees, in a mood of ecstatic servitude, awe, and reverence, are absorbed in loving sentiments for their Lord.
One such devotee is Sri Rukmini, the single most exalted feminine personality, the Lord's principal queen. She is an expansion of God's pleasure potency, so she is God incarnate in female form, full of every feminine grace and virtue possible. She exhibits exquisite beauty specially designed to please the Lord of Dvaraka.
Sri Rukmini is always fully satisfied with Her Lord and submissive to Him. She understands His every mood and keeps within her heart the details of His childhood and youth. Although hundreds of qualified maidservants attend to His every need, She fans Him Herself, holding the snow-white chamara in her young bejeweled hand. Jealousy and anger never beset her.
An Extraordinary King
In His youth, Krishna left Vrindavana and traveled to the city of Mathura, where He assumed His leadership role in the Yadava dynasty. He fought with and killed the most feared despot of His time, Kamsa, and released His parents from Kamsa's prison. He then built a fort on the island of Dvaraka and transferred all of the citizens of Mathura there to protect them from the attacks of Kamsa's ruthless relatives who sought revenge.
Shortly thereafter Lord Krishna kidnapped His queen, the young princess Rukmini. Her brother had arranged a marriage for her as part of a political alliance. But she only wanted Krishna as her husband, so she requested Him, through a messenger, to come to her aid. Kidnapping a princess was common for kings in those days, but Krishna did this single-handedly against an army of angry, heroic princes. Krishna took the hand of many other superbly beautiful, opulent princesses in various daring ways. He rescued 16,000 princesses being held captive by the cruel king Bhaumasura. He married every one of them and provided each a royal palace on the island of Dvaraka. For many hopeful lifetimes of penance and austerity they had prayed for Krishna's favor upon them.
The Nectar of Devotion states, "While Krishna was living in Dvaraka, He expanded Himself into 16,108 forms, and each and every expansion resided in a palace with a queen. Not only was Krishna happily living with His queens in those palaces, but He gave in charity from each palace an aggregate number of 13,054 cows completely decorated with nice clothing and ornaments daily. This means that 13,054 multiplied by 16,108 cows were being given in charity by Krishna every day. That was the system of Krishna's daily affairs while He was living in Dvaraka."
Many amazing battles took place between Krishna and a variety of rival demoniac kings. King Jarasandha, Kamsa's father-in-law, attacked Dvaraka with numerous military phalanxes consisting of tens of thousands of chariots, horses, elephants, and soldiers. Krishna observed the immense strength of Jarasandha, which looked like an ocean about to cover a beach at any moment. He thought about the situation and His mission to rid the world of demoniac influences, so He took this opportunity to face and destroy the military phalanxes.
Subsequently Lord Balarama, Krishna's brother, arrested Jarasandha. Krishna feigned compassion for Jarasandha and had him released, but He had a plan: Jarasandha would in the future besiege the city of Mathura seventeen times, and each time Krishna and Balarama would be able to destroy hundreds of thousands of demoniac soldiers. Jarasandha himself was eventually defeated in a fight with Krishna's cousin Bhimasena.
The Syamantaka Jewel and Other Episodes
Because of intrigue involving a jewel known as Syamantaka, Krishna was once wrongly defamed. The Syamantaka could produce gold by its mystic power. Many people coveted the jewel, and when it went missing, some people accused Krishna of stealing it. The jewel was actually in the hands of persons who could not properly take care of it and were almost driven mad by its potency. One citizen finally surrendered both the jewel and his daughter to Krishna, having come to realize that all valuable things are the measure of Krishna's benevolence and should be offered in His service.
One crazy rival named Paundraka was so jealous of the superexcellent qualities of Krishna that he became convinced that he himself was Krishna. He set out to defeat Dvarakadhisha by donning an extra set of arms and carrying imitation weapons only wielded by Vishnu Himself. Declaring himself to be God, he set out to kill the Lord. Eventually Krishna beheaded Paundraka, who achieved liberation for having meditated so intensely on the Personality of Godhead in his meager attempt to be Him.
Lord Dvarakadhisha's fellow king and cousin Maharaja Yudhishthira once held a great sacrifice, which included a ceremony to honor the best person in attendance. Although Krishna was posing as an ordinary king, Yudhishthira adored Him as none other than the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and so he selected Him to be honored and worshiped in the ceremony. But Krishna's envious cousin Sishupala disagreed with Yudhishthira's decision and berated Krishna, who eventually cut off Sishupala's head with His disc and allowed Sishupala's soul to merge into His own body.
During Dvarakadhisha's reign, part of His mission was to enthrone His great devotee Yudhishthira, religion incarnate, as emperor of the world. The Lord of Dvaraka acted as a peace messenger on Yudhishthira's behalf to try to prevent the war with the ill-motivated Kurus. When negotiations failed, Yudhishthira's brother Arjuna employed the Lord as his chariot driver in the battle. At that time, Lord Krishna, His head adorned with a golden helmet, spoke the Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna to enlighten him (and us) and encourage him in the fight. The Lord was fully capable of fighting the battle and winning it at once for Arjuna. But He wanted to serve and glorify His devotee Arjuna by engaging him to fight as a matter of Krishna conscious duty.
Most Amazing Events
If Krishna's reign as a king seems full of amazing events, just consider how amazing He seems to His reverent, respectful servants at Dvaraka. They are often surprised by His unpredictability. They remember when Sudama, Krishna's friend from His school days, came to visit. Krishna's guards and wives witnessed what looked like a homeless person going into the Lord's rooms unchecked. To their wonder they saw how Krishna reacted with spontaneous love at the sight of His dear old friend.
Though Sudama was very thin and dressed in shabby cloth, Dvarakadhisha embraced him, sat him down on His own bed, and bathed his feet while Rukmini fanned him. When Sudama shyly offered Krishna his only possession, a bag of plain dried rice, Dvaraka's queens observed with amazement the way the Lord took the rice as though it was the most irresistible gift.
More cause for surprise is found in Uddhava-sandesha, where Rupa Goswami says that Dvarakadhisha becomes emotional by remembering His family and friends in His old cowherd village home. He misses them too much. He asks Uddhava, His cousin and closest friend, to deliver a message to them from Him. Though a king with many wives and a great kingdom to govern, to Uddhava's amazement the Lord remembers every person and detail that Uddhava will encounter when he tours the cowherd village.
Perhaps the most surprising event occurred at a great festival held at Kurukshetra during a solar eclipse, when the residents of Dvaraka met the residents of Vrindavana. The simple Vrindavana cowherds felt extremely fortunate to see Krishna again. From within their hearts they spontaneously recalled all of Krishna's childhood pastimes. Though unhappy seeing Him dressed as a king, they could not think of going back to Vrindavana without Him, so Krishna stayed in Kurukshetra longer than He had planned. Upon seeing the simple villagers' love for Krishna, the residents of Dvaraka felt great ecstasy. The Jagannatha Rathayatra festival commemorates this pastime. In Krishna, Srila Prabhupada writes, "The Rathayatra festival observed by Lord Chaitanya is the emotional process of taking Krishna back to Vrindavana."
The King of Kings
Krishna is not a material person, and His actions are not the activities of this world. His unique, unrestricted pastime of rejoicing in the association of His simple cowherd family and friends is at the heart of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Lord Chaitanya teaches that above reverential worship of God is pure love in the most intimate relationships, such as friend, son, or lover. If the Lord sets aside His kingly worship in awe and reverence for the sake of Vrindavana's sweet, familiar, and spontaneous love, it is only another example of His transcendent love as the God who is the loyal devotee of His devotees.
Krishna is the original supreme enjoyer. To meditate on Him as the king of kings is solid spiritual nourishment. It helps us understand the unlimited dimensions of pure power and pure love in their original spiritual forms. Dvarakadhisha's pastimes give us transcendental insight into the love, potency, and compassion of the greatest spiritual hero and leader of all eternity.


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For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."
Reward for keeping commandments.
Requirement to teach children.
Requirement to display in homes.
They are the only verses that we are commanded to post in our homes (Deuteronomy 6:9). Therefore, the Ten Commandments is the most important passage of Scripture.
The commandments put into the Ark of the Covenant.
That civil rulers hold their commission and authority under Christ. Not that Christ has pointed out the form of government, or the persons to rule and govern; in this sense his "kingdom is not of this world" But Christianity enforces the law of nature; and has confirmed the several constitutions of states and kingdoms, and called our obedience to the higher powers, as the gospel finds them. The should obey the Ten Commandments Ten Commandments. The mode of government, and persons to govern, are submitted to the wisdom of men, in pursuance of a divine ordinance, that second causes might operate. It being the method of God to carry on the designs of his government in this world, by the instrumentality of subordinate Agents. When therefore, a people unite in a form of government, and choose persons to rule and govern them and pledge their faith to be obedient to, and support the government, "though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth or addeth thereunto." The Magistrate then, called to office by the voice of the people, and solemnly sworn, becomes an ordinance of God, and receives his authority from him, "by whom Princes rule, and Nobles, even all the Judges of the earth." And the apostle, when he enjoins obedience to civil rulers, "because the powers that be, are ordained of God," means to include in his idea, the methods by which they become possessed of their power, and likewise the use and improvement they make of it: If they rule for God, and for good to the people, they are to be subjected to, otherwise, "we ought to obey God, rather than men."
Martin Luther Teaching on Ten CommandmentsMartin Luther had plenty to say about the Ten Commandments. Martin Luther and Ten Commandments
Martin Luther had sermons on the Ten Commandments. Martin Luther and the Ten Commandments
Christian 10 Commandments in honor of Martin Luther bring you these weekly Bible verses:
Deuteronomy 6:7-9


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'Je Suis Charlie' message goes viral after Paris attack
Messages of condolence, outrage and defiance over the Paris terrorist attack on a newspaper office spread quickly around the world Wednesday with thousands of people taking to the streets to protest the killings and using the slogan "Je Suis Charlie" on social media.
Many who poured into Place de la Republique in eastern Paris near the site of Wednesday's noontime attack waved papers, pencils and pens. Journalists led the march but most in the crowd weren't from the media world, expressing solidarity and support of freedom of speech.
Similar gatherings, including some silent vigils, took place at London's Trafalgar Square, in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, in Madrid, Brussels, Nice and elsewhere.
"No matter what a journalist or magazine has to say, even if it is not what the majority of people think, they still have the right to say it without feeling in danger, which is the case today," said Alice Blanc, a London student who is originally from Paris and was among those in the London crowd, estimated in the hundreds.
Online, the declaration "Je Suis Charlie," or "I Am Charlie," replaced profile pictures on Facebook while Twitter users showed themselves with the slogan on signs with words of support for the 12 victims who were killed at Charlie Hebdo, a weekly newspaper that had caricatured the Prophet Muhammad.
The "Je Suis Charlie" slogan grew into a trending hashtag on Twitter and spread to Instagram, along with an image of a machine gun with the words "Ceci n'est pas une religion," or "This is not a religion."
One user on Instagram sent out a simple black-and-white drawing of the Eiffel Tower with the message: "Pray for Paris." Another wrote: "Islam is a beautiful religion. This is not what we see on TV. Terrorists are not real Muslims. #IamCharlie."
Masked gunmen methodically killed the 12 people, including the newspaper's editor, as they shouted "Allahu akbar!" — or "Allah is the greatest" — while firing, then fleeing in a car.
The newspaper's depictions of Islam have drawn condemnation and threats before. It was firebombed in 2011 and also satirized other religions and political figures.
There were also protests in some American cities.
In San Francisco, hundreds of people held pens, tiny French flags and signs that read "I am Charlie" up in the air outside the French Consulate in the financial district. A handful of the participants lit candles that spell out "Je Suis Charlie," while others placed pens and pencils and bouquets of white carnations and red roses by the consulate's door.
Julia Olson, of Nimes, France, said she wanted to be in the company of other people after hearing the news.
"There is nothing we can do but be together," the 26-year-old said.
Several hundred people gathered in Manhattan's Union Square amid chants of "We are not afraid" and holding signs in English and French saying "We are Charlie."
The Newseum in Washington displayed "#JeSuisCharlie" on its atrium screen as a show of support for free expression.
In Los Angeles, a small group gathered outside a French restaurant with people holding up signs and cell phones that read "Je Sui Charlie" and "I am Charlie."
About 1,000 people gathered near the European Union's headquarters in Brussels to express sympathy and outrage. In Spain, about 200 people in Madrid gathered outside the French Embassy to voice outrage. Some also held pens in the air and chanted "Freedom of Expression" and "We Are All Charlie."
In 2004, bombs on rush-hour trains killed 191 people in Madrid in Europe's most deadly Islamic terror attack.
French students in Stockholm organized about 100 people to lay flowers and candles in front of the French Embassy in Stockholm.
A handful of women in the swank Roman piazza where the French Embassy is located had "Je suis Charlie" banners taped to their jackets.
"I still cannot believe what happened," said protester Linda Chille. "It is cruel and very shocking."
The Newseum in Washington is dedicated to the subject of journalism and planned to project "#JeSuisCharlie" on its atrium screen later Wednesday in a show of support for free expression.
Tens of thousands join France rallies for attack victims
France attack suspect gives up; police hunting 2 others


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Observation of the day
When I lived in Ontario, I often suffered from migraines caused by the change in barometric pressure. I usually could tell if there was rain or wind on the way. My migraines were rarely, if ever, induced by food like so many of my fellow migraine sufferers. I find it interesting that since we've arrived in Costa Rica, I've not experienced one episode of headache trauma (for those who are blessed not to know what a migraine feels like, the use of the word 'trauma' is no exaggeration in my estimation). So, I'm not sure what the difference is as we certainly live through all kinds of barometric pressure change in the mountains. All I can say is that I'm ever glad that I've been spared so far.
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Dave and Krista are a couple from the Pacific Northwest that led overwhelmingly busy lives.
Click here to pick up your copy of Anne's book! It's all about their adventure and the establishment of Hush Valley Lodge: from leaving their middle-class suburban lifestyle in Canada to reinventing themselvess in the beautiful mountains of Costa Rica. Check it out and if you enjoy it, please spread the word! Thanks!
May 2018