text:
Web of Science as a Research Dataset
November 14-15, 2016
Meeting Place:
Social Science
Research Commons (SSRC), Indiana University
Woodburn Hall, Room 200
1100 East Seventh Street
Bloomington, IN 47405
Web Indiana University Campus Map »
Katy Börner
Victor H. Yngve Distinguished Professor of Information Science
Director, CI for Network Science Center Curator, Mapping Science Exhibit
School of Informatics and Computing
Indiana University, Bloomington
Eamon Duede
Executive Director
Knowledge Lab
University of Chicago
James Pringle
Head of Industry Development
Clarivate Analytics
Mention the Workshop on TwitterTweet #WoSRD
Workshop Goals
This workshop brings together data scientists and data stewards from research centers that are using the Web of Science™ at scale. We will explore WoS from the perspective of a research dataset and work together on practical ways to better support our research in the future. While the main focus will be on the Web of Science, the results should be extensible to all similar metadata aggregations. This unique focus—bringing data stewards and data scientists from these centers together to work on shared needs in tandem with the Web of Science team—will enable us to redefine and fully repurpose WoS to fit our research goals. We intend to launch an ongoing community in which we will learn techniques and develop tools to improve the data that underlies our research.
Advance Preparations
- Data stewards will provide a short profile of how WoS as a dataset is being implemented in the context of their research center/university and the technical, content, and other challenges they are facing.
- Researcher data scientists will prepare a short profile of current research projects leveraging the WoS dataset, focusing on key challenges such as linking, disambiguating, mining, etc. that, if solved, would offer greater research opportunities.
Monday, November 14, 2016
|Arrival, Light Lunch
|Welcome and Introductions
|Session 1: Web of Science "Outside the Box"
Facilitator: Katy Börner
The Web of Science and similar metadata datasets are housed, maintained, and enhanced in local institutional enclaves. This session looks at how data scientists and managers set up the WoS dataset in an enclave, disambiguate the data (names, institutions, and geolocations), link it to other datasets, and build predictive models.
|Wrap Up: Discussion will focus on identifying key data challenges in these areas.
|Session 2: Breakthrough Research
Facilitator: Eamon Duede
A "lightning round" look at examples of new questions asked and answered in recent research across network science, science of science, scientometrics, and science policy. We will explore how WoS and related large-scale datasets enabled these new questions to be addressed and whether enhancements to the dataset could have better supported the research.
|Wrap Up: Discussion will focus on identifying key data challenges in these areas.
|Day 2 Preparation:
Establish "big questions" for the breakout teams. Set up for hackathon.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
|Breakfast, Initial Breakout Team Meetings
Session 3: Understanding Web of Science as Research DataFacilitator: Jason Rollins
For over 50 years, the Web of Science evolved as a dataset in response to changing research contexts and priorities. Today, more researchers are using the Web of Science "at scale" to ask and answer powerful new questions about the shape, dynamics, and veracity of science and scholarship. The Web of Science now appears both an object of inquiry its own right and a vast sensor network for discerning large-scale trends. What is changing in this dataset to support these new uses, and what could change further? Presentations and discussion led by Clarivate Analytics team.
Session 4: Hackathon Breakout Sessions
|Working Lunch
|Group Discussion
Facilitators: Katy Börner, Eamon Duede, and Jim Pringle
Group Discussion: Lessons, and results. What kind of community should we be?
Invited Participants
Titipat Achakulvisut
PhD candidate, Biomedical Engineering
Northwestern University
YY Ahn
Assistant Professor
Indiana University
Yadu Babuji
Chief Infrastructure Wizard
Computation Institute
University of Chicago
Linge Bai
Senior Data Scientist
Clarivate Analytics
Brenda Betancourt
Postdoctoral researcher in Statistical Science
Duke University
Sebastien Brien
Chief Analytics Officer
Clarivate Analytics
Grégoire Côté
James Evans
Professor of Sociology
University of Chicago
Diego Fregolente
Postdoctoral Fellow
Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems [NICO]
Lee Giles
Pennsylvania State University
Junming Huang
Postdoctoral research associate
Northeastern University
Matt Hutchinson
Data Manager
Network Science Institute
Indiana University
Ted Lawless
Solutions Specialist
Clarivate Analytics
Robert Light
Senior Systems Analyst, Database Administrator
Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science (CNS) Center
Indiana University, Bloomington
Lu Liu
Graduate Student
College of Information, Science & Technology
Pennsylvania State University
Jared Lorince
Postdoctoral Fellow
Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems [NICO]
Patricia L. Mabry
Executive Director and Senior Research Scientist
Network Science Institute
Indiana University
Helge Marahrens
Graduate Student, Sociology Department
Indiana University, Bloomington
Fil Menczer
Professor of Informatics & Computer Science
Director of The Center for Complex Networks & Systems Research (CNetS)
Indiana University, Bloomington
Staša Milojević
Associate Professor of Informatics
Indiana University
Nicholas Monath
MS/PhD Student
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Hao Peng
Graduate Student
Indiana University
Orion Penner
Postdoctoral Researcher
Chair of Innovation and IP Policy
Valentin Pentchev
Director of Information Technology
Network Science Institute
Indiana University, Bloomington
Adam Ploszaj
Assistant professor, Centre for European Regional & Local Studies EUROREG, University of Warsaw & Visiting professor at Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science (CNS) Center
Indiana University, Bloomington
Jason Rollins
Senior Director of Innovation
Clarivate Analytics
Matthew B. Ross
Ohio State University
Johanna Salazar
Assistant Director of The Johnson Center for Innovation and Translational Research
College of Arts & Sciences
Indiana University, Bloomington
Christian Schulz
ETH Zurich
Ben Serrette
Web Developer
Network Science Institute
Indiana University, Bloomington
Aditya Tandon
Graduate Student
The Center for Complex Networks & Systems Research (CNetS)
Indiana University, Bloomington
Vetle I. Torvik
Assistant Professor
School of Information Sciences
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Brian Uzzi
Richard L. Thomas Professor of Leadership & Organizational Change
Kellogg School of Management
Northwestern University
Emmanuel Thiveaud
VP, Research Analytics
Clarivate Analytics
Dashun Wang
Associate Professor of Management & Organizations
Kellogg School of Management
Northwestern University
Bruce Weinberg
Professor of Economics
Ohio State University, IZA, & NBER
Ian Wesley-Smith
PhD Student
University of Washington
Jevin West
University of Washington
Xiaoran Yan
Research Scientist
Network Science Institute
Indiana University, Bloomington
Ewa Zegler-Poleska
Information Science PhD student
School of Informatics and Computing
Indiana University, Bloomington
Sifan Zhou
Postdoctoral Fellow
Harvard University
Interested but could not attend.
Patricia Brennan
VP, Technology & Platform Product Management
Clarivate Analytics
Fil Menczer
Professor of Informatics & Computer Science
Director of The Center for Complex Networks & Systems Research (CNetS)
Indiana University, Bloomington
Tim Slaper
Director of Economic Analysis
Indiana Business Research Center
Kelley School of Business
Indiana University, Bloomington
Aditya Tandon
Graduate Student
The Center for Complex Networks & Systems Research (CNetS)
Indiana University, Bloomington
This effort is supported by Clarivate Analytics, the Knowledge Lab at the University of Chicago, the Indiana University Network Science Institute (IUNI), and the Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science Center at Indiana University.
About Us
Our Mission
Current Team
Current Students
Visiting Artists
CNS Talks
Data & Tools
Interactive Displays
News and Events
Latest News
All News
Events Calendar


text:
And so we reach the end of the meal. All good things come to a close. Dessert is done, coffee is drunk, and night has a significant foothold on my consciousness. Trust me, I would eat more if I physically could. Colby and I are talking about complexity in games, a subject that has always fascinated me, and I am especially eager to get the opinion of such an avid Amerithrash designer.
DTD: Have you thought about making some gamers' game that's just insanely involved and complicated, just see what happens.
CD: I think Dead of Winter is really as complicated as we want to go.
DTD: And it's not bad at all. It's actually, it's always been my daughter's favorite game, is Dead of Winter. She totally digs it. And it's the thematic thing. And before that it was Betrayal at House on the Hill.
CD: Yeah, I like Betrayal.
DTD: We played it so many times, I think we burned through all the missions.
CD: Betrayal is one of those "feel like stuff is happening to you" games that I enjoy.
DTD: Well you feel out of control. There's so many unwinnable scenarios in that. But it's still fun.
CD: Like, [Tales of the] Arabian Nights is not for me.
DTD: It's kind of nuts.
CD: Lots of stuff happens to you in the game, that it's like…
DTD: It's a random story generator.
CD: But so is Betrayal, but for some reason it works in Betrayal. I think you have enough control, at least you feel like you have enough control, that makes it work.
DTD: I was just going to say it's the illusion of control. Did you play Betrayal Legacy at all?
CD: No, I watched Geek and Sundry, I had that on in the background while I was doing some sort of mindless work. So, I got to see how that stuff unfolds by watching though Geek and Sundry's play through. Never got a chance to play myself. It's hard to play a Legacy game. I think that's why they've fallen out of favor. I think it's still a super clever thing, but having the same group committed and showing up long enough to get through the whole thing is hard to do.
DTD: It's true. I've had the same group playing Gloomhaven for 70, 75 plays and it's nuts, and they're at like 2 to 3 hours per play.
Shout out Apathetic Gamers of Vacaville!
CD: How does that game support 75 plays?
DTD: We just never finished. There's 90-something scenarios and then that little expansion came out with more scenarios.
CD: Who needed more scenarios?!?
DTD: Well that's what I wondered. Gloomhaven opens this really weird quandary, that's like "Here is a game that has a jillion scenarios, that if you played it all it takes hundreds and hundreds of hours." So how many people have actually finished it?
CD: And it's complex, right? It's really complex? It's intimidating looking.
DTD: It's not that bad. In its heart, it is a puzzley card game at its heart, which is neat. And it's got an internal timer that your cards get burned up as you play them, and when you are out of cards you lose.
CD: It is intimidating looking. Maybe its not intimidating, but with that big giant box with all those things in it.
DTD: Yeah, that is intimidating.
CD: But it is #1 on BGG, right? At least it was for a while.
DTD: And I love the game. I think it really plays very, very well. But I have trouble believing anybody's finished it. It's so freaking huge. And yet, when the expansion came out, it sold out instantly. I always wonder, what percentage of people that bought that expansion have actually finished the game? And then they are Kickstarting the next one, Frosthaven. What percentage of people that have finished both the game and expansion are going to get that? But it's going to sell. It's got love. It's got weird love.
Exactly 50 days after this interview, on May 1, 2020, Frosthaven broke records and successfully funded when 83,193 backers pledged a total of $12,969,608. Congratulations Price, Isaac and the rest of the festive squiddy gang.
CD: At one point at Plaid Hat, I was shipped a prototype, and it was like a giant box, and it had hundreds and hundreds of cards in it. It had so much stuff in it. And this dude shipped this giant heavy box from the UK. I shipped it back. But I got this thing out.
DTD: This is an unrelated game; this is just one that was submitted to you.
CD: I don't know. This is where this is going. It had so much stuff going on in this box and it was all cluttered because it got messed around during shipping. And I looked at that, and I thought, there's no [redacted] way, I can't.
DTD: Well you said earlier, you don't like learning games. You don't pass it off to someone else, like "teach me this"?
CD: Because the whole idea of a game that had this much in it. I was like there's no way that people just don't become immediately intimidated by this. I feel so intimidated by this right now. This just cannot be a game. And then Gloomhaven comes out years later, skyrockets to number one. And I always wondered, was that Gloomhaven?
DTD: Not from the UK.
CD: OK, good. I've always worried that I just out-of-hand rejected the next big hit [laughs].
DTD: No. No, no, no, no. He's from Indiana I think. Rest assured, I don't know what that was. Probably something wonderful.
Cephalofair is in Lafayette, Indiana.
CD: I could have been first to that mega-game.
DTD: The coffin box mega-game that you could kill somebody with.
CD: It was much bigger than a coffin box. It was the size of an actual coffin. [laughs] So wild. I mean, it was bigger than a current Gloomhaven box. It was packed to the gills with stuff.
A "coffin box" is a box size used by Fantasy Flight Games in the 2000s with titles such as Descent (2005), StarCraft (2007), Runewars (2010), and Twilight Imperium 3rd ed. (2005). The original coffin box was 23×11.5×4 inches, although now it can refer to any big, rectangular box.
DTD: So, are you getting a lot of submittals to Plaid Hat?
CD: Not really these days.
DTD: I mean, I guess that kind of stopped once Plaid Hat was acquired, right?
CD: Yeah, I might start to see them again. Not a lot since Plaid Hat was acquired. And then Kickstarter came out, too.
DTD: People are trying to be their own boss.
CD: So, I think there's less, like "Let me send my game to a publisher." Less find a publisher that wants to do that. More, "Let me Kickstart my game, because Cool Mini or Not made $5 million doing it."
DTD: Well, yeah. Just on one game. There's so much of that out there, like Dark Tower did really well.
Exactly 37 days before this dinner, on February 4, 2020, Return to Dark Tower received $4,054,744 in backing from 23,661 backers. Congratulations to Justin, Isaac, Rob and the repair gang. Yes, the same Isaac. Showoff.
CD: Yeah, Dark Tower is one by an established company – Now I understand Kickstarter and that, but even at the little project.
DTD: And nowadays, there's actually whole businesses that support Kickstarter. Like, you want to get a video done? There's a business that will do that for you for Kickstarter. You want to design your campaign? There's consulting companies that'll do that for you for Kickstarter. It's fascinating, all the little ancillary businesses that have popped up around Kickstarter.
CD: Yeah, somebody in the industry had just said to me today, "You know, I'm going to be the guy in the Gold Rush selling shovels and pick-axes." I'll do a little bit of hunting for gold, but I don't want to be the guy doing the shovels and pickaxes. And that's exactly what those businesses cropping around Kickstarter are.
DTD: There's a need, so I'm going to be there, and I'm going to help. It's like the social media influencer. And I find it so odd how specific a job that is. It used to be that just people posted on social media, and said "This is cool, and this is what I think". And now it's almost a necessary job with companies.
CD: I remember at GenCon one year, seeing some of the ad buys, the big banners on the walls and stuff. It was a manufacturer that these ad buys were all like, "Make your dream come true." Like, he'll make your dream come true. And it felt so… It just felt so dirty to me. He was just praying on somebody's hopes and dreams to get them to spend a bunch of money getting their game produced with no concern over whether they had any plan, or any big… It's just no limit that you were going to make yours. I'm not saying that the people who did this had that intent, but that's exactly how I read it.
DTD: Yeah. I think it's kind of good that they've got at least sources to talk to. The board game industry is getting big enough, it used to just be people talking amongst each other, and comparing notes. But having consultants now…
CD: It might have just been the dark place I was in at the time, but it just seemed to me like they were trying to take advantage of somebody there. That's what it felt like. Not that they were, but this idea that everybody who's playing games has some big idea for a game and wants to see it happen.[waiter check up. Doing awesome]
CD: … And I print games, so instead of my ad campaign being about business-to-business, it's going to be about Joe Schmo spending his life savings.
DTD: Let me fulfill your dreams. Yeah, I see that.
CD: And there's been some Joe Schmo's, including myself, who have made it happen.
DTD: It was Joe Schmo who made Summoner Wars?
And by Joe, I mean Colby. And by Schmo, I mean Dauch. Just to be clear.
CD: But it just felt predatory, I guess to me.
DTD: No, it's a little scary. I'm waiting to see what happens when the rest of the world realizes that we are a relatively big industry. We still have kind of got that small feel, even at GAMA. I mean, one of my favorite things about the GAMA convention, is you can just kind of go sit on those couches, and whoever sits next to you is going to have a great story. And is going to be friendly. And it's all good. But once corporate recognizes us, and lawyers recognize us…
CD: They're starting to.
DTD: I know, I know. I want to pretend they haven't. But how much is it going to change our little world and turn us into the big world, you know?
CD: The barrier to entry is still low enough, and the passion is there, that I think there's going to be small companies. Like my goals with Plaid Hat now aren't… they used to be around like, "Get big! Get big! Aim for the stars! Aim for the big dogs! Aim for Fantasy Flight!"
DTD: You were big. Big is hard.
CD: And now, maybe big happens, but my goals are much changed. It's like, "Let's do what we love, and find an audience that gets enough satisfaction from it that they're willing to support us, spending our lives, doing what we love."
DTD: That's really good to hear, because for a long time, I very firmly believed that you could only make a game if it was a passion project, it was something you really loved. Because it's hard. And all the iteration, and all the fine-tuning and everything, you got to really be in love with that project. But I think there are a growing number of companies that can churn out games that they don't like. And just hope for that little bit of money. You still believe in the optimistic, naive approach, that you can only really make a good game if you truly love it.
CD: I mean, when you get investors and everything. But when you get investors and stuff involved, when you get enough corporate structure, like quarterly reports and stuff start coming in.
DTD: And meetings. [sarcastically] Meetings are the best part. That's where you really shine, is in meetings.
CD: And meetings… [laughs] But some of that stuff, there's some serious expectations there, and so I don't know that people are setting out to make a game they don't like. Some of it is like, "We said we were going to release a game quarter 4, and quarter 4 is here." So I don't know that it's ill intent by the people that are actually in the trenches making it or anything like that.
DTD: No, I guess I did make it sound pretty malicious.
CD: Maybe there's some of that, like "Hey, let's go and get this license because it will sell to this crowd in this amount", and it doesn't matter if the game sucks, because…
DTD: Well, what do you think about IP games? Would you go for IP games, or would it not matter, like if you Like making a game, it doesn't matter if it's IP or not?
IP = Intellectual Property. IP Games refer to games that feature some already well established subject matter. Like "Snoopy" Monopoly. I actually just picked that out of my brain, check afterwards, and it does exist.
CD: I think it has to be the right IP, because I think for, I think its tough. I'd like to believe that just a really great IP would draw people in. But it seems to me that it just ends up excluding some people. It's going to draw in certain people; it's going to get the eyes. But now if we are looking at a Venn diagram, how many people are gamers and also know about and care about this property? Because it's only the crossover that you're going to get. So if you got Star Wars, like "Boom." It's 100% crossover, you got them.
DTD: So, if someone came to your door, and said here's the Star Wars IP for free, you wouldn't cry.
CD: If there's a great amount of crossover, then great.
DTD: I guess that was kind of a naive question, because you already said BSG was pretty high on your list.
CD: At the time, that was a great amount of crossover. What I think can be true, or at least what I found with BioShock, there was a lot of people who had become fans of Plaid Hat, and now we are releasing this BioShock game. But the feedback was like, "Well, yeah, I haven't played BioShock, so I'm not interested." Because they weren't video gamers, or whatever. They just weren't interested.
Bioshock was a 2007 first person video game from 2K Boston/Irrational Games/Ghost Story Games, programmed by Rowan Wyborn and Christopher Kline, and written by Ken Levine.
DTD: That's right, we didn't even talk about BioShock. Yeah, it was a good video game IP, but it certainly wasn't all invasive. I have a copy of BioShock.
CD: And that's kind of where I developed my Venn diagram structure, was I love… It was a chance to work with Ken Levine; that was huge. I wouldn't trade it. But you have to be careful that you aren't making…
DTD: It's way too specific.
CD: Or too much of it. Like, that you know what your audience is, and that you make the right amount of it for that audience. Because its not something that you can just expand to everybody.
DTD: I can't believe it slipped my mind that Bioshock was there. Because that was a fairly early one.
CD: Oh, we did an IP in BioShock. We also did one for Video Game High School. We only printed 3000 of them, because that's all I could do.
DTD: That was an IP?
CD: Video Game High School was a YouTube series done by Rocket Junk.
DTD: I didn't know the connection.
CD: And it was just an opportunity to work with some people who impressed us, that I thought were cool. It was very much a "we are going to hit their audience, and certain people that will come with us." So we printed 3000 of them, we sold 3000 of them. And it was a good experience. So with BioShock we printed too many of them, because we printed 10,000. We sold 9,000. It's like, "We better get that [second] print going!" Then it's like, "We should have stopped at 10,000."
DTD: Wow. With Bioshock, did you have the game going first and then put the IP on it, or did you start fresh, with "We now have the IP, what are we going to do with it?"
CD: I got contacted out of the blue by Irrational, and it turns out its because of a mutual friend. But they're like, "Hey we want to do a board game, and we like your stuff. Do you want to work together?" And it's like, "Yeah! I want to work together!" And so we developed a few different games trying to make something that would be right for that IP.
DTD: That would feel like it. That's awesome. It's always kind of a crapshoot. You draw in people from the IP, and even there they may love it, they may hate it. They're so protective of their IP.
CD: That's the other thing. Even if I'm drawing in BioShock Infinite fans, if I just made a hobby game, how many of them are going to get and try to play it, and go "This is way too complicated."? So in a way, it just doesn't please enough people you're trying to please.
DTD: I think it's more that it insults the IP. So, IP people love their thing, and they get upset if you don't do it justice. They get mad.
CD: I think we did a good job of that. I don't think we got people mad because of that.
DTD: I have the game. I like it.
CD: I think the only reason for people getting mad was, some of the feedback on Amazon reviews and stuff, was like, "It is so complicated. I can't figure it out." Well, for a gamer, not so much. But for somebody who is just a BioShock fan and is a fan enough that they want this cool looking game with all these minis, they get it then realize its more complex than what they're ready for. Which is more like Risk level. Probably would be better off if we were USAopoly and made BioShock game version of Risk.
DTD: They are now "The Op". They are licensing everything.
USAopoly has rebranded into The Op. And they do tend to do a lot of licensed IP games. Including Risk.
CD: The Op. I saw that. It's like Dunkin Donuts is now Dunkin.
DTD: I know. I love the rebranding in America. KFC. They're not allowed to say the word "fried".
CD: The Plaid. The Plaid. No, it's only going to be one syllable.
DTD: You would be The Hat.
CD: The Hat.
DTD: Shortened to just "THat". See, there you go. I'll send you a bill for consulting, marketing, logo branding. I'm an influencer. I got to tell you, when I saw that you had broken away from Asmodee, I was excited. I want to see what's coming out of the studio. I've always liked the stuff that's come out. And I really appreciate it, that you guys were so open about it. Your posts about what was going on, and Jerry's [Hawthorne] posts about what was going on. They are touching. I can understand all that; it's tough. It was a high cost.
CD: One of the things we want to do with going independent, is have the ability to be more open. I feel like that's where we started. I talked about my past and Heroscape, and the fact that a lot of people that formed Plaid Hat had come out of that Heroscape community. So that was part of our background, was building a community around a game.
DTD: And your blog posts and newsletter posts were always great.
CD: So that's what we tried to do with running the company. We did podcasts and stuff like that as a way to try to appeal directly to a community. But that's difficult to do inside of a bigger organization.
DTD: A lot of permissions, and…
CD: What was clear to us, is that there would be issues around discussing internal process, when we were working for a bigger organization.
DTD: A very big one.
CD: They are going to frown on that. So, we took the Plaid Hat podcast and we decided let's just pull it back, and we'll just play some role-playing games on there, and we will still have our personalities on there. And we could even do the Star Wars role playing game, because Fantasy Flight is now our sister studio and they make that. And so, it's like a little cross pollination. And I'm feeling good about it. And so we were putting out some of those, and then one day I get a call from the licensing department at Asmodee, and they said "You can't do this! If Star Wars listens to this, and they don't like something you said, or a way they represented their characters, that puts our relationship at risk." And so, I didn't predict that. So that's when I realized there's too many things that you can't predict when you're not in control of everything. We are better off to become a little more corporate to not step in the wrong thing.
DTD: To be able to do what you want to do.
CD: Well I also that that's hard to… the size that we were, I think that's … It's hard to not appeal to a particular fan base. Or at least support them in a way that they feel appealed to.
DTD: Well, I have to respect, it had to have been a ridiculously difficult move. And I'm excited. I want to see whats going on. Was there anything else that you wanted to talk about, any future projects or anything like that? You want to tell me all of your top secret things?
CD: I've told you all I can tell you about secret projects. I'd love to tell you more about Jerry's game, but it's too good of an idea, I don't want someone to steal it.
We touched briefy on Jerry Hawthorne's new game last time, in part 6.
DTD: I would steal it instantly.
CD: I mean your listeners, I've heard they're creeps. Readers, I mean readers.
DTD: They are, they are the worst. I'm the only listener, so I can make money on this [pointing to recorder] as much as I want.
CD: I mean, Emerson [Matsuuchi] told me that your readers are creeps.
DTD: Well, he's probably right.
CD: I want that to make the article.
DTD: I only went and interviewed Emerson a couple of weeks ago.
He sounds really interesting, someone should interview that guy.
CD: So, this will release soon after that?
DTD: I can make it right after Emerson.
I didn't… I lied. I am a bad, bad man.
CD: [to the readers] Last week, or episode, or article, you listened to Emerson, and he really convinced you he is a sweet and nice guy. I want you to know, he called you creeps.
DTD: It's true. It's true. I edited it out. But now, I have corroborating evidence. So I can't edit it out anymore.
CD: Well, I don't know that he said it to you, but he said it to me. He said to me, "They're all creeps."
I have to interject that the reason this is so funny is that Emerson Matsuuchi is perhaps the nicest, most soft spoken, most delightful person I've ever met. It's like saying a little fluffy puppy is a hellhound.
DTD: [laughing] I need to write Emerson and tell him. That's awesome, thank you so much. I'm going to kill it [the recorder] if you're OK.
CD: Yup.
Thank you so much to Colby Dauch for an amazing meal and great conversation. Plaid Hat Games has always held a special place for me, introducing me to the wonderful world of high quality, thematic board games, and meeting all my expectations all these years now. I couldn't imagine a better last-outing before the pandemic hit. Be safe everyone!
Well, this is, as I've said, the last interview I did before our friend COVID changed the game. However, I have not remained idle – one must eat. Stay tuned for my feeble attempts at dinner over social media! Don't set your expectations too high.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
"Mad Men at Downton Abbey" – Publishers Weekly
Leeds Castle has long been hailed as the loveliest castle in the world. Originally built in the twelfth century as a Norman stronghold, the castle once housed kings and queens but fell into disrepair for nearly a century until Anthony Russell's grandmother, Lady Baillie, purchased it in 1926 and restored the fortress to its former glory. It was in the castle's fairy tale setting, surrounded by a moat and acres of sprawling grounds, that Anthony spent his childhood in the 1950s.
Although it was a life of spectacular beauty and privilege, for a shy boy it was often lonely and fraught with the fear of breaking some unwritten rule of the "Castle Way."
As Anthony reveals in his extraordinary vivid and frank memoir – called "a little masterpiece" by author Bevis Hillier - such a childhood was perhaps not the best preparation for modern life beyond the castle walls. By the end of the 1960s, the polite reserve of the Castle Way was starting to yield to unconventional music, manners, and social freedom---simultaneously alluring and alarming to a young man who had grown up in splendid isolation in a world that would soon be gone.
Anthony Russell was educated at Stowe School, England. For more than five hundred years his family has served kings and queens of England as ministers, privy counselors, generals, and prime minister. He was raised at Leeds Castle, Kent, where his childhood was centered on the feudal world of his very rich grandmother, Lady Baillie, with occasional excursions to the much less grand castle of his other grandmother, Lady Ampthill, in Ireland. A writer, musician, and composer, he currently divides his time between Los Angeles and France.
In its review, The New York Times, noted Outrageous Fortune is a …"well-observed memoir, in which he [Anthony Russell] reminisces about spending childhood weekends and holidays in Kent at Leeds Castle, the moat-surrounded, 1,100-year-old 'former stronghold of Saxon kings' that his grandmother, Lady Baillie, purchased in 1926. An indomitable and severe matriarch, she oversaw both her staff of 50 and her social circle in a manner the author likens to that of the conquering Normans. Family members and guests sometimes complained about always being at Lady Baillie's beck and call. Meanwhile, her shy young grandson made repeated attempts to get her and her courtiers to engage him in conversation. Most of them, however, seemed to think of children merely as small people who can't spell Gstaad."
Read the entire review at The New York Times.
"Outrageously Entertaining…This is a memoir that is in turns humorous, poignant and bittersweet. It captures a way of life filled with hunting, seasonal migrations to warmer climes, exclusive boarding schools, Beatle concerts and high class hookers. It's a story about coming of age in a privileged environment that is sure to appeal to Anglophiles and other fans of 'Downton Abbey' ".
Read the entire review at The Examiner.com


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I've been talking to many individuals lately who have experienced ectopic pregnancies, chemical pregnancies, and complicated deliveries. During all of these conversations, I noticed a theme of disenfranchised grief. Disenfranchised grief refers to "the types of loss that are not so readily recognised or supported by society." Grief therapist Lisa Zoll explains that this type of grief happens in one of three ways: 1) the relationship is not recognised, 2) the loss is not recognised, or 3) the griever's right to grieve is not recognised.
When it comes to the death of a partner or child, society can empathize. It's clear: there once was a person, and now this person is no longer here. However, when situations are not as clear-cut, it's as if others don't understand how to support us. Our grief experience is real and intense; yet, it feels we're not entitled to our sadness and distress. There is little acknowledgement or validation of our experiences.
Examples of disenfranchised grief:
- Grieving someone you didn't like or who did not treat you well. There are many confusing emotions when our abusive partner or parent passes away. In this moment, it is so important to recognize dialectical thinking. We can be relieved that we are no longer experiencing abuse AND grieve the loss of this person. With complicated relationships like these ones, there are many questions that will be left unanswered (e.g. Why did you do this?) There is also the finality of circumstances, which prevents us from ever repairing this relationship. It's very easy in this phase to get caught up in "what if" questions.
- Parents who have experienced difficult child birth experiences (e.g. NICU visits, unplanned C-sections). Friends and family can feel confused by the grief experienced when a baby comes home, but parents are still caught in a state of mourning. These parents have had many components of their pregnancy and postpartum care taken from them. They have lost weeks of blissful pregnancy. They have had days or hours taken away from them as they watch their baby in the NICU uncertain when they will be able to leave safely. It feels like there is no closure or resolution to the sense of panic despite having left the hospital. These parents can experience difficulties with attachment to their little one, or low self-confidence in their parenting because they are caught in that moment of loss.
- The loss of a partner from an extramarital affair/taboo relationship. Grief is grief, irrespective of how the relationship formed. When we lose someone we love, it hurts. Because affairs are taboo in our society, publicly mourning the loss of this partner is met with less support or compassion. Similarly, individuals who are not ready or able to identify openly as LGBTQ (+) can experience disenfranchised grief when mourning the end of relationship. If these individuals have not informed others about their sexual orientation, there is no space or safety to grieve the end of a relationship.
- Our loved one has not passed away, but is no longer available to us. This can occur for a variety of different reasons such as: divorce, moving away, family conflict, mental health, etc. In these moments, grieving individuals are often given dismissive feedback such as :"You're better off with him", "It's a normal part of life, why are you so upset?" or "I would be so angry if I were in your shoes."
- Our loved one has passed away due to suicide, overdose, or some form of mental health struggles (e.g. complications from eating disorders). Unfortunately, because the circumstances surrounding these deaths are complicated and often stigmatised, community members may not know how to address the grief. This can often lead support people to avoid the topic, or worse, avoid grievers in order to prevent an "awkward" conversation.
- Reproductive loss: e.g. chemical pregnancies, miscarriages, still births, elective abortions. Parents can experience a variety of emotions when facing the struggles of reproduction. Miscarriages are so common, occurring in approximately 1/4 pregnancies. Infertility issues happen in approximately 1/6 couples. These individuals are on a roller coaster of hope and grief with each attempt in reproduction.
- Becoming a parent. By transitioning into this new stage of life, old friendships may fade. There is less time for our former hobbies and interests. A solid night's rest is no longer guaranteed. Body shapes and sizes may fluctuate following delivery. When others come to visit, we are more likely to receive positive feedback about the baby. However, there is limited discussion and less acceptance about a parent's sadness in adjusting to this new lifestyle.
- The grief has happened a long time ago: Somehow, a metric was created that classified grief as "complicated bereavement" after 6-12 months from the date of a loved one's passing. This metric suggests that after a year, the grief should have become integrated into your life. While it's okay to be sad about the death, it's not considered "normal" to feel grief as intensely.
What can I do?
- Recognise that your symptoms are in relation to the grief. Grief can vary for each individual. It may show up as anger, avoidance, endless tears, guilt, emotional numbing, or other forms of expression. Allowing yourself to accept that you are grieving helps you shift away from dismissing your own experiences. Your loss is real and valid.
- There is no time line for grief. You do not have to be okay after 12 months. This loss meant a lot to you. It had a significant impact in your life. Why should you feel at peace after a year? That doesn't mean you will not adapt, or that there is anything wrong if you feel better after a year. We all process and cope differently. It is not a race, there is no magic formula that will tell us how quickly we'll be "over it."
- Let go of the pressure to "get over it". You can decide if or when you want to talk about the grief. Writer and psychotherapist Megan Devine has a beautiful framework she uses with grief called "the vomit metric." Whenever you feel the pressure "to move forward" from the grief, think about how intensely the thought makes you want to vomit. For example, if thinking about decluttering your child's room 4 years after they have passed away makes you want to vomit, it means you're not ready. This is okay! Again, it's helpful to shift away from focusing on what we "should do" by accepting what we are ready to do. Whenever you feel motivated to declutter, that is the best time.
- Find like-minded people. While your immediate social circle may not understand the ins and outs of this grief, there may be others who are struggling with similar grief. Sign up, whether it is via an informal facebook group or a formal support group, to connect with others who are sharing these experiences. Examples of support groups include: Pregnancy and Infant Loss Network, Family and Caregiver Support (for those whose loved ones have mental health diagnoses), and Divorce Care Recovery.
- Consider how you want life to look like today. You may not be ready to think of a five year plan just yet. However, when you consider your readiness and your current distress, what would you like to do today? What are you able to manage? What can you push for, and when do you need to stop? Every day will vary, and this is normal.
- Create a ritual that works for you. Give yourself the opportunity to remember your loss on a regular interval (if you want to). This may involve writing a letter to your unborn baby on the day of her birth. You may chose to journal regularly whenever the grief is at its peak. Perhaps you send a financial contribution to the mental health organization of your choice on specific anniversaries. Alternatively, you may decide to stay in your pyjamas, take the day off work, and allow yourself to cry and reminisce about your loved one on the day of his passing. There is no right or wrong way to do this ritual. It truly depends on what feels most natural and comforting for you.
- If and when you're ready, speak up. Talk about the loss as much as you need to with your support system. Do this when you are at a place of patience, as many of your friends and family will likely botch up in knowing what to say. If you have the patience for it, guide them in what you need from them. Be clear when certain comments are not helpful. None of these people will make the pain or sadness go away; however, there is incredible power that comes with knowing you are cared for.
Every social system is different. Some individuals experience grief, and are met with support and empathy by friends and family. I hope this is the case for you. However, if you are struggling with loss and finding yourself isolated, please reach out. There is no right way or right time to work through these emotions. When you want to work through the grief, please know that there are a variety of options to support you in processing these feelings, such as journaling, support groups, or individual-counselling.


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I've long distrusted the 'Aah, it's great, you'll love it' approach to downloading apps on smartphones.
Here's one reason why, and it's as new as this morning's headlines. Please–make the time to check out this information. I hope it makes you as wary as it does me.
This isn't fun, exotic or entertaining. Those behind this hope for that reason you'll glance at the stuff below in red, shrug, yawn and delete.
DON'T. LISTEN TO THE CLIP, JOT DOWN WHAT IT SAYS TO DO, AND PASS THIS ON. Yeah–I DO think it's that important. I believe you will, too. I also think it'll slow you down as you choose what apps to swallow just because they're so easy to download.
Not every new app is your friend.
Thank you.


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'Apprentice' host, contestant to headline NOM/ActRight/Family Leader event
Certainly not the first time the National Org. For Marriage has gone uber-conservative. However, it does seem to mark the first NOM event in which both a reality TV host (Trump) and his onetime contestant (Baldwin) co-headline:
[Family Leadership Summit]
Trump actually makes sense. What better time for a dwindling organization to have on-hand a man who is known for firing others?


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The Satanic Bible [Amazon, Abebooks, Bookshop, Local Library] by Anton Szandor LaVey, reviewed by Majere, Pr.ODF in the Bkwyrm's Occult Book Reviews archive.
Where to begin? This is undoubtably the most popular treatise on Satanism that has ever existed – but is it any good? The main problem with the "Satanic Bible" lies in it's commercial singularity – such has aided more than a few Church of Satan spokesmen over the years in arrogantly claiming they are the only "true" upholders of Satanism since other groups hold no desire to come forth into the public eye with a marketable introduction. But the real issue, of course, is what the book contains. It is divided into four parts – the first section being primarily paraphrased from Arthur Desmond's "Might Is Right" and revised by LaVey. It is basically a collection of elitist proclamations presented in "verses". The second section could be easily said to be the primary part of the book, expounding the philosophies of Anton LaVey and his Church of Satan in relation to a variety of subjects, covering "God", love, hate, life, death, sex, and "psychic vampirism". It's an interesting read to be certain, although the actual personal appeal of LaVey's philosophies depends mainly on the attitude and tastes of the reader. It has been often said that the appeal of LaVey lies mainly in his accessibility – especially to teenagers, who no doubt form a large part of his following. The language used, and the rationale LaVey applies, made this book pretty much an assured bestseller – and indeed it has been so. In essence, LaVey's brand of "Satanism" is mainly a blend of rational self-interest (with emphasis on hedonism), materialism, and anti-mainstream sentiments – mixed together with a magickal system that is itself a blend of historical, cultural, and psychodramatic ritual applications (also borrowing from Aleister Crowley and other modern magickians). All this is nicely "packaged" together under the symbol of that age-old Christian archetype – The Devil, Satan. The third and fourth sections relate to the aforementioned magickal system, although the rites presented are basic ceremonies designed for the purposes of invoking lust, compassion, or destruction. LaVey outlines the principles of his system with a fair deal of (accurate) logic and explains the nature of the tools applied. The book is concluded with his own revisions of John Dee's "Enochian Keys", which are basically much the same as the originals save for the inclusion of Satan. In summary, whether you love or hate LaVey, the book is certainly worth a read. For those seriously interested in the doctrines of the late "Black Pope" and the Church of Satan, it is an essential purchase. For anyone else, it is a good reference text on the basics of American Satanism as well as an interesting read in it's own right. Decide for oneself.


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Trump Names Editor of the National Enquirer His Pick for the Head of the CIA
by Hugh Jashol
March 28, 2016
Enquiring Minds Want to Know: why did Republican Party front-runner Donald Trump choose Dylan Howard, the current editor of super-tabloid The National Enquirer, as his pick for head of the Central Intelligence Agency? We think we have it figured out, folks.
In the wake of a potentially career-shattering revelation that Republican presidential contender Ted Cruz had five-count-them-five extra-marital affairs, Trump rushed to secure the support of the Enquirer staff, garnering both the magazine's political endorsement and the personal support of its editor.
While The National Enquirer is perhaps best known for simply making shit up about celebrities and political figures, intelligence officers caution against rejecting the magazine's collection capabilities.
"I know people downplay The Enquirer as 'just a tabloid,'" said former Director of National Intelligence Michael Hayden. But look, OSINT (open-source intelligence) is a completely legit means of collection," he continued, "In fact some people say it's the most important intelligence discipline out there. And the Enquirer is a master of it. Sure they've been known to straight-up invent stories, but they only do that when it's a slow news day. And when it comes to inventing stories to tell the public, let's be honest, nobody beats the CIA. I mean, the Enquirer uses lies to create print media firestorms, the CIA uses lies to create country-bankrupting wars. It's a natural fit."
Candidate Trump clearly agrees. "Sure, the Enquirer might make up a story or two about how half of all hookers are aliens, or that Bill Clinton hired a three-breasted intern, or that President Obama wasn't born an American citizen… wait that last one is actually true… anyway, the point is, through the Enquirer, I was able to find out things that eluded all of Mr. Cruz's supporters, the Democratic National Convention, and the entire Republican Party," Mr. Trump explained during a press conference at a fortified compound in northern Oregon, right before it was broken up by angry illegal alien protesters, both earth-born and extra-terrestrial.
"The Enquirer was right when it reported on the extramarital affairs of O.J. Simpson, Tiger Woods, John Edwards, Mother Teresa, and tons of others," Mr. Trump's new spokesman, Shaun King. "Bringing the editor of the National Enquirer on board will allow them to do for the Trump Presidency what I did for the Black Lives Matter movement. #AllLiesMatter!"
Reached at his office in Los Angeles, Mr. Howard had no comment for us, but he did say he was wondering when he was going to get one of those "Men in Black" neuralizer thingies.
Article 107 of the military's Uniform Code of Military Justice covers "False Official Statements." As our name implies, we are a satirical site, and you shouldn't think anything we publish is real. You should, however, mercilessly mock anyone who does. You can follow Article 107 News on Twitter at @Article107News. If you're looking for real news, check out our sister site The Havok Journal. Or you can follow us on Twitter at @HavokJournal.
As far as we know, Mr. Trump has not approached anyone at the Enquirer for a position in his cabinet, and to be honest, most of the people who work at a place like The National Enquirer probably aren't huge Donald Trump fans. But they are definitely good at finding stuff out about people… maybe this ideas isn't so crazy after all?
An Article 107 News Publication
The best place to get the facts before they happen!
Article 107 of the military's Uniform Code of Military Justice covers "False Official Statements." As our name implies, we are a satirical site, and you shouldn't think anything we publish is real. You should, however, mercilessly mock anyone who does. You can follow Article 107 News on Twitter at @Article107News. If you're looking for real news, check out our sister site The Havok Journal. Or you can visit us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @HavokJournal.


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2006 Awardee: Kirsty MacKinnon
I thank the trustees … most sincerely. The clàrsach is essential for my studies in Scottish Traditional Music.
Kirsty MacKinnon has lived all her life on the beautiful Isle of Mull. Her family has a long tradition in Gaelic music, especially singing. She has been involved in many arts projects run by An Tobar in Tobermory over the years.
Now eighteen year old, Kirsty is about to leave Mull and embark on a degree in traditional music at RSAMD, specialising in the clàrsach and Gaelic singing.
Kirsty is already an experienced performer, having appeared in concerts and ceilidhs as a soloist and as part of ensembles and choirs. She also performed as lead singer with the Tobermory rock band Speechless, writing some of the lyrics and melodies for their singles. Kirsty is also a talented multi-instrumentalist, playing piano and guitar as well as clàrsach.
Kirsty is a skilled performer in many different musical genres, as well as being a talented songwriter with experience in producing. A successful career in music is a given; Kirsty is spoilt for choice as to which direction she will go in.
How the Award Helped
The Dewar Arts Award contributed towards buying Kirsty's first good quality clàrsach.
I thank the trustees … most sincerely. The clàrsach is essential for my studies in Scottish Traditional Music.


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This song is stuck in my head today and this video is also today's cutebuster. [No I don't have baby fever, this kid just reminds me of a Sesame Street muppet. Plus how can you go wrong with earthworms? Octopi's friendly cousins.].
Friday, September 24, 2010
Cutebuster du Jour
Posted by Genevieve at 11:55 AM
Labels: Cutebuster, Earthworms, Octopus, Ugly Casanova
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Let me show you the aquatic plant on Facts about Lotus Flower. The biological name is Nelumbo nucifera. The common names include lotus, lotus flower, bean of India, sacred lotus and Indian lotus. It is included in the family Nelumbonaceae. The current name for the species of lotus flower is Nelumbo nucifera according to the Linnaean binomial. The seeds of lotus flowers will be viable for many years if it grows in the suitable environment. That is why this aquatic plant has perennial status.
Facts about Lotus Flower 1: the oldest seeds
The oldest seeds of lotus flower were found in northeastern China at a dry lakebed. They were traced back in 1,300 years ago.
Facts about Lotus Flower 2: the native areas
Lotus flowers are originated from Queensland, Australia and Tropical Asia.
Read Also: 10 Facts about Lima Beans
Facts about Lotus Flower 3: the status
Lotus flower has an important status in Vietnam and India. It is called as their national flower. Lotus flower is mainly cultivated for water garden for it is an aquatic flower.
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The river bottom and pond soil feature the roots of lotus. The leaves are floating at the surface of water. The flowers are seen above the leaves.
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On average, the height of lotus plant is around 150 cm. It spreads around 3 meters horizontally. Some cite that it reaches the height more than five meters.
Facts about Lotus Flower 6: the size of leaves and flowers
The diameter of lotus flower reaches 20 cm, while the diameter of leaves is around 60 cm.
Facts about Lotus Flower 7: temperature regulation
Lotus has an amazing way for regulating the temperature of flower. This ability is often compared with the warm-blooded animals and human beings. Even though the air temperature is reduced at 50 degrees F, the lotus was capable to maintain the temperature at 86 to 95 degrees F according to the study of physiologists at the University of Adelaide in Adelaide Botanic Gardens.
Facts about Lotus Flower 8: the edible parts
The edible parts of lotus flowers include the young leaves, seeds, rhizomes and flowers.
See Also: 10 Facts about Liverworths
Facts about Lotus Flower 9: how to use lotus
The leaves are used for wrapping food, while the flower petals are used for garnish.
Facts about Lotus Flower 10: cooking
It is recommended for the people to cook the lotus before eating due to the risk of parasite transmission of raw lotus.
Do you like reading facts about lotus flower?


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33 members
49 members
LeAnne J. King has not received any gifts yet
I recently had the privilege to witness firsthand many, many acts of kindness. We had the privilege of organizing a relief effort to aid those in Alabama whose lives have been totally torn apart after the tornados ravished their towns. What transpired was amazing and through the efforts of these patriots, hopefully, we will make a difference and provide some hope and supplies to these affected areas. I would like to give thanks to the following businesses and…Continue
Posted on May 8, 2011 at 10:35pm — 9 Comments
LeAnne, you asked me about some sound help for one of these group meeting in December is it still on?
For Trivia Night I suggest we have questions on Government, Civics and American History and very little to nothing on Pop Culture.
Just a thought: For guest speaker our School Board member for District 1. This would not be for the whole evening, but in addition to the main speaker. It is the School Board who decides on the education of our children, quite often the wrong way. Just like our Legislature who decided to give in-state tuition to ILLEGAL ALIENS.
Thanks for letting me be your friend. Please be advised, I don't tweet, tweeter or text and I'm not computer literate. I have just learned to use my e-mail. Clint
Is there a meeting for May, is it at Chelo's, is there a speaker, etc. I'll post the info on the website if you want. Jeanne DeSilver
Good Morning LeAnne!
Thanks for your encouragement. I intend to make videos that are fun and encouraging to all Tea Party Americans.....never surrender....fight the good fight...and have a lot of fun doing it!


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Leaders in Animation and Multimedia Training
What is Arena Multimedia?
- Arena Multimedia, a Brand of Aptech Ltd., is Asia's leader in Animation and Multimedia education.
- Arena's range of courses mainly comprise of training in areas such as 2D, 3D, Multimedia, Animation, Graphics, Web Designing and Gaming.
- This Diploma course duration is 2 years.
Some facts About Animation & Multimedia
- The Global Animation industry will reach US $ 600 Billion by 2020 : as per Research and Market.
- Nollywood, the Second Largest Film Industry in the world, will have a high demand for creative professionals trained in Contemporary Animation and Multimedia Technologies.
- The Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) say's Nigeria's creative industry is capable of contributing more than NGN 1 Trillion annually to the nation's economy.
- Animation and Multimedia technologies are used by Animation Studios, Web Designers, Advertising Agencies, Multimedia firms, Publication houses, Film and Television Studios, etc.
- Other non-entertainment industries where Animation technologies are used are – Medical illustration, Architectural rendering, Interior Design, etc.
Well-known Creature through Multimedia & Animation
Jurassic Park
Stuart Little
Star Wars
Lord of the Rings
Toy Story
- Jurassic Park, Stuart Little, Star Wars, Anaconda, Matrix, Lord of the Rings, Toy story… Movies that cast a spell with their unforgettable characters and more unforgettable visual effects.
- Now, you too can liberate those thousand ideas that tickle your imagination. You too can mesmerize millions of people worldwide. You too can create characters like Stuart Little, who stay with the audience long after they have left the movie halls. Because now, everything that you have ever imagined can come true.
"Any Sufficiently Advanced Technology is Indistinguishable from Magic." – Arthur C.Clake
A gigantic extinct animal taking us centuries back…
an Animated ice-cream van screaming for attention…
An Action hero performing mind-blowing stunts.
We have watched all these, experienced the thrill they create and wondered how human imagination can be translated into such fantastic imagery. ……
This is the magic of Multimedia and Animation!
Be it Special Effects in Movies, Imaginative Advertising, Social Media, Virtual Games or quite simply a Cartoon Film, Multimedia and Animation industry both are gaining its ground in the global entertainment industry and is growing at a rapid pace:
- This new opportunity along with the fast-growing demand for skilled multimedia and animation professionals will provide professionals infinite career prospects all over the world in Field of:
- NEW AGE CAREERS After doing Multimedia and Animation Education….
Arena Multimedia Specialist program is the leading Career Course from Arena Multimedia.
Course Structure – AMSP
Course Details:
- Software Taught :
- Adobe Illustrator
- Corel Draw
- Adobe Photoshop Extended
- Adobe Design
- Career Options :
- Graphics Designer
- Page Layout Designer
- Visualizer
- Image Editor
- Software Taught :
- Sound Forge
- Adobe Premier Pro
- Adobe After Effects Professional
- Career Options :
- Sound Editor
- Film Editor
- Special Effects Designer
- 3-D Animator
- Software Taught :
- Sound Forge
- Adobe Premier Pro
- Adobe After Effects Professional
- Career Options :
- Sound Editor
- Film Editor
- Special Effects Designer
- 3-D Animator
- Software Taught :
- Maya Unlimited
- Career Options :
- Art Director
- Animation Director
- Special Effect Manager Cartoon Animator
- Character Developer
- Delivery Pattern:
2 Hrs a Day X 3 Days a week.
Note: This is a Career Program No Direct Entry allowed in AMSP Program .
- Certifications
Certificate Name Semester 4: Arena Multimedia Specialist Program
The Route to an International Degree
The AMSP course entitles you to transfer your credits and gain entry into the Final Year of B.Sc. (Hons.) Degree as per details given below.
Study AMSP at Arena Multimedia
B.Sc. (Hons) from Middlesex University
Study in London, Dubai Mauritius and Malta
B.Sc. (Hons) Information Technology
DISCLAIMER: In our effort to serve our customers better, the courses are upgraded to add new technologies and the course outline may change accordingly. The credit transfer arrangement or the University alliance may change over time. The customer is requested to check the exact course outline and credit transfer arrangement at the centers before enrolling for a particular course. All trademarks acknowledged.


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Active Pest Control
Pest Control
Rome, GA
4.6 · 144 reviews
4.6 · 144 reviews
Dennis Jacobs
Rome, GA
Good service.
Keith & Angela Winslette
Rome, GA
Very pleased with our service and our technician. Kwinslette.
Tommy/April Weaver
Rome, GA
Love the service!
Jerry/Darlene Kichler
Rome, GA
Pauline is great. Always upbeat and helpful.
Brian Segrest
Rome, GA
Does what they say they will do and promptly follows up with any requests I may have had.
Jaye Ware
Rome, GA
Great service from caring people.
Jeremy Oshansky
Rome, GA
Great service and very professional.
Lacey Kinsey
Lindale, GA
Christy is awesome! She does a great job & is always professional.. they're very responsive & reliable.
Tom Booth
Cartersville, GA
Not many companies these days call a week ahead to let us know we are on their schedule and they also call the
day before to confirm their appointment. They are more than happy to answer any questions we may have and
their customer service is excellent. We would highly recommend this company without reservation.
Steve & Lynn Edge
Lindale, GA
Still have issues with ants and cobwebs, etc. But our technician is always willing to address the issues.
David & Sandra Terrell
Rome, GA
I particularly like the mosquito treatment.Danny, my service guy is very good and understanding of our needs.
Lynn Williams
Rome, GA
Great service to our home, very informative. Appreciate the quick response time!
Steve Willingham
Armuchee, GA
The service itself is really good, friendly and efficient technicians.
We have multiple accounts, there seems to be an issue on billing when they try to charge
for all accounts at the same time.
phone calls and emails saying there was a problem, like it is our problem or our card that has the issue.
Would love to have these calls to stop, and for the billing office to correct their issues.
Steve Flowers
Rome, GA
Happy Happy Happy *****.
Edward D. Depuy Jr.
Cartersville, GA
Great guy that services our home!
Dustin Howe
Rome, GA
Very courteous and informative. Thank you.
Robert Brooks
Rome, GA
Fast pest control, friendly and helpful staff.
Highly recommended.
DK Properties
Rossville, GA
DK Property Management is very pleased with the service we receive from Active Pest Control.
Soraya Collins
Rome, GA
Always there when needed and we are also saving money!
Country Inn & Suites
Rome, GA
I have been very please with Active monthly service for all three of my hotel's. Active is very accommodating in all my needs regarding re-treatment. Everyone at the Rome, Ga office is very professional....Thank you.
Ellen Beysiegel
Rome, GA
I was writing a review when I lost it. Think it was submitted but I as not ready.
Kevin and Susan Wiggins
Summerville, GA
This company does a great job. Always trustworthy and reliable helping control pests around our house and yard. Their staff member, Billy, always calls a day in advance, and shows up on time. Great response time in trouble shooting pest issues.
Mike & Teresa Littlejohn
Armuchee, GA
Active is always prompt. They let us know a day ahead when they are coming for our monthly treatment. Our technician is always friendly and courteous.
Oak Bridge Academy
Rome, GA
Active Pest Control is a great company to work with. They go out of their way to make you happy, offering to do whatever is needed to get the job done.
Mary Stephens
Rome, GA
The staff of Active Pest Control are professional, friendly and most gracious. They provide a great service. I would recommend them to anyone.
Alex Routt
Rome, GA
Kind, honest, reliable and affordable service. We are very pleased with Active Pest Control. Very easy to work with.
Katrina Meehan
Rome, GA
Active has been great. We have the VIP service and anytime we notice an issue, they are quick to come to our home to investigate.
Anne Tate
Rome, GA
This company is professional and all the field people know what they are doing and do it well and fast. They come any time there is a residual problem and work hard to remedy the problem.
Lucille Bailey
Rome, GA
I am very satisfied with the service and the ones who administer it.
Murphi Swann
Rome, GA
When setting up for a technician to come, the representative I had was very helpful.
Michael Dovell
Euharlee, GA
Robert was very professional and left no trace behind.
Rozzena Starr
Summerville, GA
Staci was great! Friendly and knowledgeable (thus a 5).
I'm only rating the service a 3 because I haven't received it. I can update the score once that occurs. He only came 2 days ago for the consultation, and I don't have an invoice yet (thus, rating of 3).
Pam Ergle
Silver Creek, GA
Punctual and explained what he was going to do. Got the job done quickly.
Clifton/Chris Cabell
Rome, GA
Always professional. Always willing to work with us to arrange a day to perform. Always very nice. Thanks for the service.
Paige Presley
Rome, GA
Very nice and professional. She also made the time to spray inside of my home at my request b/c only the outside was scheduled and I really appreciate that she made the time.
Taylor and Company Realty group
Rome, GA
Always timely! Easy to work with very friendly. The clearance letter is easy to read and understand. Would strongly recommend !!!!!
Yvonne Soprano
Rome, GA
Love working with Pauline. She is always professional, helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. Pauline takes the time to explain things and offers little hints about ways I can help in keeping my house free of nasty little critters.
Brandy Macdonald
Thomaston, GA
I would not suggest Active Pest Control for any kind of wild life removal. I paid them several hundred dollars to get rid of my squirrel issue only have to have them return a couple of months later. I have called 4 times over the last 2 weeks and can't get a call back. Unfortunately, I have done business with them for several years, but will be taking my business elsewhere due to their lack of professionalism.
Sheila Barton
Rome, GA
Friendly and efficient technician. Arrived on time. Answered all my questions.
Lonnie Bowman
Rome, GA
Hard to review. His report says he was here 10 minutes It could have been less. Don't think he could have found all the stations within that time Report said I was not available. I was here.


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Its NOW time for YOU to quit smoking permanently with the help and guidance of Stop Smoking expert Jonathan Gilchrist, and you are probably looking for the best method to use.
You have found it – This is it !
YOU know that if YOU stop smoking YOU will save many thousands of pounds but the most important –
For more information or booking your Fast Track Session. Click Here
The Consequences of Smoking – Years of Smoking
Over my years in practice as a Master Hypnotherapist in Europe. I have seen and heard just about everything that can happen, health wise, to smokers and I have listened to them describing their symptoms to me. The human body can protect itself and eventually recover from many severe and emotional problems that are related to smoking .However, after about 20 years the body cant cope….Click Here to read more
The Three Stages of Smoking a Cigarette
Below is a picture of a cigarette split into 3 parts with explanations for each third of it smoked. Stage 1 First 3rd After the first few inhalations of a cigarette the serious harm has begun. Smoke has to travel through the entire …. Click here to read more
Smoking and Health Issues
Smoking is the biggest cause of ill health and premature death in the U.K. by claiming well over 120,000 lives per year. Smoking being the cause of one third of all cancer deaths (40,000 and 82% being lung cancer). I have produced this list to highlight the main deadly ingredients a cigarette contains. Click here to read more…..
The Benefits From Stopping Smoking
When you permanently stop smoking, the benefits begin within minutes of your last cigarette smoked. Immediately: The air around you is no longer harmful to people around you. 20 minutes after you quit: Your blood pressure and pulse rate decrease and your body temperature of your hands and feet increase. 8 hours: Carbon monoxide and oxygen….Click here to read more…..


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Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Historical
Director: Takahiro Omori
Studios: Brains Base (Animation), Aniplex (Music)
Number of Episodes: 13
Licensed? Yes (FUNimation)
After watching all thirteen-episodes of Baccano, a question comes to mind: why has no one watched this show? The mafia of Prohibition-age America – immortal alchemists – bank robbers – guns – sadistic and graphic torture – broads and dames – and that's just the first episode! This testosterone-fueled ride spanning more than two (or two-hundred) years has more kinetic energy than a barrel of gasoline-soaked fireworks.
Baccano, Italian for "cacophonous noise," follows a cast of over ten well-crafted and diverse characters across two seemingly separate stories. By the end of the opening credits, you learn how perfectly the title fits. The opening theme "Gun's&Roses" is a rhythmic brass drive that rivals "Tank!" for smoothest opening theme. Fans of Guy Richie's film Snatch will enjoy the mono-chromatic close-ups of the characters.
Did we lose the plot amidst the noise? Well, on one hand is the mystery of New York mafia playboy Dallas Genoard, whose sudden disappearance expedites a feud between crime bosses. On the other, the cross-continental train ride aboard the treacherous Flying Pussyfoot bubbles into a powder keg of violence as four colliding, gun-wielding parties struggle for control of the train and its passengers. There's also an alchemist cult crossing the Atlantic during the 1700's, but that's just baccano…
What separates this series from every other anime experience of 2007 is its groundbreaking slaughter and rebirth of story-telling structure. Baccano jumps around time with a blur that would make Quentin Tarantino's head spin. But it does this between two stories! Disorienting? Yes. Rewarding? Beyond your expectations.
Tarantino would praise Baccano for its graphic violence, barrage of badass characters, and structure that holds the same logic as a Bingo board. I do not hesitate to say that the blood-level is gratuitous and even an R rating would be generous. Therein lies the problem in establishing a fan base: even desensitized viewers today can be unnerved by Baccano's absurd level of violence, bloodshed and torture.
Without the violence, however, the impeccable humor (both character and situation-driven) would not shine through as brightly. You may cringe at Ladd Russo's gleeful puppetry of his mangled comrade's skeleton, or you may be taken by gallows laughter. Either way, the scenes move with breakneck velocity, skipping from heavy-handed to light-hearted with a masterful grace. The darkness of the comedy plays off well with the tongue-in-cheek severity of the bloodshed.
The series struggles to find a main character and, in fact, dedicates its entire first episode to guessing who should be the central protagonist. But finding the central character in Baccano is like naming the badass in Bleach: it's not gonna happen, but it's fun as Hell to wonder. I cannot mention my favorite dozen characters without leaving out my second-favorite dozen, so I will sum up the bombardment of amazing personas with four words: Sweet Suzumiya, Rail Tracer.
Even with its cluttered narrative, Baccano delivers, brilliantly wrapping itself up in a finale that is chaotic, disorienting and unquestionably satisfying. Strap yourselves in, 'cause this bumpy ride makes an offer you can't refuse.
(3.75 stars)
|Voice Acting:


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Whether you sell products and services online or have a physical location, you're likely looking for ways to increase revenue. People are currently staying home and looking for new hobbies or ways to improve themselves. One smart way to make money while you also stay safely at home is by selling online courses.
Online courses are a great solution for any business that can teach a new skill: cooking, exercising, painting, playing an instrument, writing, meal prepping, and more. Since courses don't require physical product development or shipping, they're affordable, fast to create, and can generate passive income for years to come.
But how do you sell online courses and make sure that they're the right fit for your business?
Who can sell online courses?
You can sell courses and workshops by themselves or in combination with existing products and services. Here are just a few possibilities:
Let's say that you normally teach art classes and workshops in a physical storefront, but it's temporarily closed. To generate extra revenue, you could sell online painting courses, some geared towards kids and others towards adults. You might include quizzes on color theory, printable painting templates, and videos walking students through techniques. You could even sell courses that include a physical kit with everything they need — paint, paper, brushes, and more. Not only would this supplement your income, it would offer a new hobby for people bored at home that wouldn't require a trip to the store.
Here's another example: Maybe you're a chef at a restaurant that's only fulfilling takeout orders right now. One way to generate extra revenue is to sell produce and online grocery boxes like these companies did, but another option is to offer cooking classes that customers can use to improve their skills. Film videos of yourself preparing dishes (using items from your grocery boxes!) and provide downloadable recipes. You might offer one series about baking bread and another about summer grilling to meet the varied needs of your customers.
Or perhaps you're a tutor, with students that are all studying from home. You could create a course for third grade reading or high school SAT prep. Include fun quizzes, downloadable worksheets, and printable activities that keep kids on track. Not only will students benefit from the extra study time, parents will love the help — especially those who were unexpectedly thrust into homeschooling.
The options are endless! Whether you work in food, education, nutrition, music, art, or any other industry, courses are a perfect way to make some additional income.
How do I sell a course online?
Automattic, the people behind WordPress, created a seamless way for you to sell courses, reach new customers, and offer additional physical or digital products all from the same website. Here's what you need:
- WordPress: a free website-building platform that powers 35% of the web
- WooCommerce: a free, customizable eCommerce solution
- Sensei LMS: a free online education tool with quizzes, lessons, grading capabilities, and more
- WooCommerce Paid Courses: a premium extension that allows you to monetize the courses you create for just $149.00
Combine these tools to generate regular, passive income during (and after!) the pandemic. You can also:
- Break up courses into modules and lessons. Make your courses more digestible by categorizing content into smaller groups.
- Embed videos from outside sources. Include instructional videos from YouTube, Vimeo, or another solution by simply pasting an embed code into your course.
- Leverage the power of quizzes. Use quizzes to strengthen key concepts and evaluate students' progress.
- Protect your courses. Ensure that paying customers are the only ones who can access your courses.
- Communicate with students. Send messages back and forth with students directly from the WordPress dashboard and answer any questions they have.
- Deliver helpful feedback. Add notes to each incorrect answer when grading quizzes so students know how to improve.
AdvantageLearn.com is a South African education company that uses Sensei LMS to provide educational support to students. Parents can purchase a class — like Maths Online, geared towards grades 8 through 12 — and gain access to video lessons, practice questions, progress tracking, and online support from teachers. This is an excellent way for students to keep up with their skills and continue learning from home.
Sensei LMS is backed by the WooCommerce support team, which is available to answer any questions you may have, and provides detailed documentation to walk you through the setup process.
Ready to start selling courses online? Here's how to get started:
- Follow the steps in the WooCommerce Getting Started Guide.
- Install and set up Sensei LMS.
- Create your first course.
- Purchase and install WooCommerce Paid Courses.
- Link your course to a product and start selling!
For additional details and information about creating quizzes, adding lessons, managing students, and more, view our full documentation.
What else can I do with online courses?
Since every company, website, and customer is different, it's important that you offer courses in a way that works for your specific situation. That's exactly why Sensei LMS integrates with a variety of other extensions, like:
- WooCommerce Subscriptions: Allow customers to subscribe to your courses and pay on a recurring basis. This is a great way to generate consistent revenue.
- WooCommerce Memberships: Sell courses as part of a membership package, alongside other content like articles, product discounts, downloads, and more.
- WooCommerce Bookings: Let customers schedule appointments to ask questions, get feedback, or benefit from one-on-one learning.
- Sensei Course Progress: Allow students to keep track of their progress so they know exactly where they are, even if they're completing the course over several weeks.
- Sensei LMS Certificates: Award students with completion certificates they can print out and frame.
- Sensei Media Attachments: Attach media files (like reading materials or worksheets) to courses and lessons.
- Sensei Course Participants: Show other site visitors how many people are currently taking each course, to encourage participation.
- Sensei Share Your Grade: Allow customers to share their progress on social media, which gives them a feeling of accomplishment and encourages their friends and families to join.
- Sensei Content Drip: Specify when students can access lesson content based on a fixed date or the course start date.
Use any of these extensions on their own or in combination with one another. For instance, Bariatric Food Coach includes courses as part of their membership program. After purchasing a membership, students get access to an online meal planner tool, grocery list generator, library of recipes, and collection of courses and videos. Customers can search courses to find exactly what they're looking for or filter them based on subject.
Be creative! Think about what your customers need — especially during this time period — and adjust your courses to meet those needs.
Start sharing your knowledge
You have unique knowledge and skills that your customers can benefit from — start sharing it with them now! An initial investment in creating online courses can not only help you get through the pandemic, but can generate reliable, passive income for years to come.


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By Ise-Oluwa Ige
ABUJA— Factional Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh has written the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) over the alleged mischievous roles being played by INEC boss, Prof Maurice Iwu, to destroy the lawful leadership structure of his party in order to weaken its chances of winning elections in the country.
Umeh who has already commenced a committal proceedings against Iwu over his decision to disobey court order which declared him the lawful leader of the party is begging Andoakaa (SAN) to use his good office to call INEC boss to order and save the party's leadership from collapse.
He invited Andoakaa to intervene as a matter of urgency to stop Iwu from dragging the good image of the President Umaru Yar'adua's administration which is anchored on respect for human rights and rule of law in the mud for his personal interest.
The passionate appeal to the Federation Attorney-General came just as an Abuja high court fixed June 18, for hearing in the committal proceedings pending against Iwu and the Deputy Secretary of INEC, Steve Osemeke over disobedience to court order.
In the letter by Umeh to Andoakaa (SAN) dated June 2, 2009 and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Monday, Umeh said, "we have watched with bewilderment, Prof. Iwu's continuous flouting of subsisting court orders on APGA leadership in a most bizarre manner. Knowing that this action negates President Yar'adua's zero tolerance to disrespect for rule of law.
"We are compelled to bring this matter to your attention as the Chief Law Officer of the country. On January 1, 2005, our former Chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie was expelled from the party alongside two Deputies in line with relevant sections of APGA constitution. In his place, Chief Victor Umeh was appointed Acting National Chairman.
INEC was informed of the development and after investigating the leadership dispute through appropriate committees, the Commission accorded recognition to Chief Umeh as Acting National Chairman through a letter dated June 28, 2005.
He further stated that "Okorie through suit number FCT/HC/CV/278/05 challenged his expulsion from the party. He sought a declaration that his expulsion along with his two Deputies was null and void."


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Proverbs 19:2
Desire without knowledge is not good—
how much more will hasty feet miss the way!
The young girl is 11 years of age. She sits on her suitcase on the side of the road. Where is she going? Anywhere but here is how she would answer. She is looking down and doesn't notice the flowers behind her, nor the blue sky and the hills that surround her. Why is she alone? She has friends and family waiting for her at home. She doesn't think her friends care much about her. She wishes she was older, wiser and prettier. She is locked inside a world where everyone is better than her – Instagram has made this evident to her. She doesn't like the path she is on, so she is searching for a new one.
This is the scenario I imagine when I look at the girl in this picture. Yeah, I know, my imagination goes a bit dark rather than seeing the bright side of things. But this scenario describes me for most of my life, and pictures have a tendency to project what we experience in life. I have always wanted to be on a different journey – not the one I was on. I was in a rush, bumping into people and saying sorry and moving on, fluttering here and there and everywhere. I was that girl looking down in the middle of a beautiful field.
On my 40th birthday I woke up depressed. I had been married for five years but was still childless. Money was tight and the thought of buying a home seemed impossible. I kept thinking, "I should be further along in my life than I am right now." Everyone around me seemed to be getting pregnant, buying houses and settling into the life I thought I needed. The one I had to have.
Only five months later my husband and I waited in a hotel restaurant in Nanchang, China for the orphanage director to bring us our 16-month-old baby from a Chinese orphanage. My world slowed down, and a lifetime was lived within those few seconds, when she was placed in my arms and I became a mother. Those seconds are now 22 years later, and it is etched in my mind as one of the greatest defining moments of my life. This was a day in my life when I embraced the journey God had placed me on.
I would like to say that from that point on I stopped rushing the moments in my life. But I didn't. We bought a house one year later, and for the next four years I stared at the linoleum on the kitchen floor, the popcorn ceilings, the metal sliding door that wouldn't open without shoving it, and I longed for the day we could renovate the house. Our daughter, Lian, was morphing and changing and reaching all kinds of milestones. Though I took time to glance and marvel at these moments, I continued to move at gale force as I tried very hard to keep up with my new career in Information Technology.
This isn't the whole story of who I am. Yes, I have spent countless hours over the years sitting on my living room couch reading my Bible and crying out to God to help me with this or that. And God did reveal himself to me time and time again. But I wasn't always listening. Now that I am 62 years of age, I look back and realize I tend to rush the journey.
Present day: I live in Medford, Oregon, divorced and my beautiful 23-year-old daughter lives with me as she attends Southern Oregon University and works at Pier 1. I'm still working in Information Technology, but remotely for a California bank. I don't have to rush out of the house and get on a California freeway, park the car in a garage that is a mile away from my desk and log into the network while wishing for that cup of coffee I didn't have time to buy.
God has blessed me with a wonderful church family and friends that care deeply about each other. I look out my window and see the Oregon mountains and evergreens in the distance and Roxy Ann Peak at the end of the road to my right. As I drive through town, I see views of the valley speckled with vineyards, cows, horses, pigs and goats. I often walk a path near my home that runs parallel to the valley below where a span of 20 miles can easily be seen at a single glance. God has brought me to a place that prompts me to slow down. A place where it is awkward to honk your horn or be in a rush. A place where nature trumps over things and stuff.
I must admit I don't think I deserve this place. God has given me this moment in time where I have a second chance to listen to what my daughter has to say and be present when she shows me something on her iPhone about some social injustice that has occurred. God has given me a second chance to be aware of what she is feeling and be more concerned about her heart. God has given me the opportunity to be ok with being uninteresting. What am I going to be when I grow up? My answer is what I have become right now, in this moment. Yes, my personality thinks I should be changing the world and being fantastic, but all God wants is my heart. I'm listening to God and He is telling me, "Don't rush the journey."
Let's go back to the feature picture of this blog. I wish this young girl sitting on the suitcase would hear the words of wisdom spoken by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 11:9-10:
You who are young, be happy while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you into judgment.
10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart
and cast off the troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are meaningless.
When we are rushing, are we really trusting God in those moments? This is my goal in 2020: To not rush conversations or move too quickly or think too much about the future. I want to be living in the here and now. I want to hear the voice of God in my daily quiet times. Yes, this is not my natural tendency, but I'm not rushing this journey anymore. And if I do, please remind me of this blog post. ?
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.[a]