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**This is a guest post by Hannah Parker**
The cold weather can make you want to snuggle up next to a fire and drink hot chocolate during the winter time. But if you have an adventurous spirit, the cold weather just makes you wish for the warmth so you can get back to exploring the outdoors.
Luckily, you don't have to wait till summer to let your adventurous spirit run wild—not in Norway, at least. It is one of the best countries to visit during the winter season for any adventurer. Here are five amazing things to do while you're there.
Reading on an RSS reader? Click through to the original article to read it properly!
1. Snowkiting
Location: Hardangervidda
When: February - April
Price: $143.18 to $429.65 (depending on number of hours on course)
You no longer have to wait for long, hot summer days to whip out your kites. In Hardangervidda you can grab a kite and some skis and hit the slopes. Snowkiting is a popular winter sport in Norway and is relatively easy to pick up.
In Hardangervidda, you can rent a kite komplet for $67 and spend two hours on a course for $143.18, or ten hours for $429.65. This crazy winter sport will make you wish you lived in Norway so you can play all day. During the courses, you'll have a trainer with you to help you navigate the skis and kite. As soon as you get the hang of it, you're free to go alone.
On your next trip to Norway make sure to check out some of the awesome courses for snowkiting. You'll be happy you did!
2. Go Dog Sledding
Location: Geilo
When: December - March
Price: $142.35 (1190 Norwegian Kroner)
Dog sledding is not something you can do or see at any old ski resort. In the small town of Geilo in Southern Norway you can hop on some skis and explore the snowy mountains surrounding the town. There are many dog sledding companies throughout Norway, but our favorite one is in Geilo: Fagerlund Husky.
You will be surrounded by stunning views as you are pulled around by strong Alaska huskies. But the best part about this company in particular is that they allow you to be the one leading the dogs through the wilderness.
If you truly have an adventurous spirit, the sound of that should get your blood pumping. A guide will follow you just in case, but you have full control over leading the dogs where you want to go. The best time to go is during the winter time when there is the most snowfall. So pack your bags, choose a sledding company, and get ready to sled with the dogs!
3. Stay in an Ice Hotel
Location: Kirkenes
When: December 20th - April 20th
Price: $406.81 (3400 Norwegian Kroner)
If you really want the adventure of a lifetime and jaw-dropping stories to tell your friends, stay at the Kirkenes Snow Hotel. This hotel is no ordinary place to stay. You will be sleeping inside of a giant igloo right underneath the Northern Lights when you spend a night here.
Kirkenes Snow Hotel is definitely unique and not everyone can tough out the cold. That's what puts this on our list of the best things to do in Norway for the adventurous type. To help you out with the chilly nights, the hotel will provide you with thermal clothing and sleeping gear.
There are few other places in the world you can go to sleep inside of a real-life igloo, so don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity this winter season.
4. Visit the Rjukan Ice festival
Location: Rjukan
When: February 9th-11th
Price: Free
You must have a genuinely adventurous soul to attend the Rjukan Ice Festival this February. It is hosted in Rjukan, a town known for ice climbing, and is a celebration of ice climbers.
The event takes place over three days and consists of one single activity: climbing as many frozen waterfalls as possible. There are over 190 waterfalls for you to climb in Rjukan. You might be worried about your lack of experience climbing ice, but if you attend this event, you'll have nothing to fear. You'll be surrounded by experienced ice climbers to help you out.
If you're up for a serious thrill, then make sure to put this adventure on your list for the winter.
5. Go Ice Fishing
Location: Gjøvik
When: December - April
Price: Free
Ice fishing may sound like a dull activity, but it is the perfect venture for any adventurer. You start off by drilling holes into a frozen lake (bet you've never done that before). Then, you set up your gear and cast your pole through the small hole to catch some fish.
Unlike normal fishing, ice fishing requires a lot more skill. Instead of being able to cast your line into an open lake, you have to maneuver your line through a tiny hole. If you love a challenge and a good story to tell, then try your hand at ice fishing this winter.
It is a favorite pastime for many Norwegians and quite possibly could become one of yours too.
Norway has so much to see and experience, and the winter is the time to do it.
You don't want to miss out on the adventure of a lifetime, do you?
So book your tickets as soon as possible!
Would you be up for any of these activities?
Leave a comment below!
About the author:
Hannah Parker is a writer for trekbible and dreams of being an investigative journalist, or maybe a world traveling videographer, or perhaps the next voice of NPR; basically Hannah wants to be a multimedia journalist. Her voice is too big for her small body so she likes to stand on tall surfaces and shout very, very loudly. Hannah has many passions (some including poetry and the occasional chicken nugget or two) but is always searching for her next hobby.


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Allows overriding the default behavior when current connection parameters do not allow connecting to a data store.
Namespace: DevExpress.DashboardWin
Assembly: DevExpress.Dashboard.v19.1.Win.dll
public event DashboardConnectionErrorEventHandler ConnectionError
Public Event ConnectionError As DashboardConnectionErrorEventHandler
The ConnectionError event handler receives an argument of the DashboardConnectionErrorEventArgs type. The following properties provide information specific to this event.
|Gets or sets whether the operation performed on the processed event should be canceled.
Gets the name of the connection for which the event has been raised.
(Inherited from ConfigureDataConnectionEventArgs)
Gets or sets parameters used to establish a connection to data.
(Inherited from ConfigureDataConnectionEventArgs)
|Gets the data source name for which the event was raised.
|Gets an exception that caused the ConnectionError event.
|Gets or sets whether default actions are required to connect to a data store.
The ConnectionError event is fired when current connection parameters do not allow connecting to a data store (for instance, the database is inaccessible). You can handle the ConnectionError event and override the default behavior in this case.
To override the default behavior, do the following:
To cancel connecting to the data store, use the ConnectionErrorEventArgs.Cancel property.
To get the exception that caused the event, use the ConnectionErrorEventArgs.Exception property.

subset: commoncrawl


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It's not unusual for us to find him staring down in a windowwell having a snit fit because of a wayward reptile. He's fallen in the wells too and gotten stuck, butt up in the air, in the need of being rescued.
Watching a movie after we got home from the show/trailer return and almost drifted off to take a nice nap. The Ms is riding her bike up and around the "neighborhood", almost a 2 1/2 mile trip. I figure that all the barking going on is because of her being on the road in front of the house goofing around. Well it sort of was--side track here, as she says it, forgot to stop and had an emergency bail into the ditch when she was trying to make the corner. Daydreaming I believe was the issue there. Anyway, she was walking the bike back for a small handle bar adjustment.
15 mins of barking. I finally had had enough--see the peepers post--I wanted some sort of peace and quiet today! Frank is next to the window well, staring. Barking. Staring. Looks at me when I say shut up and then almost bounces with a "humrpf" and stares more at the same spot. I yell at Alec to "go save what ever frog/toad it is that wandered in the yard" He goes out and this is what we find......
Can you see it? Yes that small, that harmless. A baby bull snake. I fear that's not the first one we'll see this year. Last year we found a nest of bullies near the garden and garter snakes in the mulch pile.
Needless to say, Frank was damn proud of himself. But I do wonder how many he ate before he got full and just started that damn barking?
Later gators...


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- 1 / 9Steamed TreatsMy favorite street food in Istanbul was midye dolma, or stuffed mussels. Street vendors haul drums of the prepared shellfish, packed with aromatic rice, to popular nightlife spots like Taksim Square. Late-night revelers slurp up as many of the mussels as they please, then the vendor counts the empty shells and charges one Turkish lira for every two pieces. It might be the strangest tipsy bites I've ever had, but I still crave them. —Danielle Walsh, associate editor
Photo by Leticia Barr/Flickr
- 2 / 9TapiocaTapioca is a traditional Brazilian dish made of...tapioca (there isn't another word in English for it). It's amazing! You cook the flour (made from cassava root) with just a little oil in a pan. It's not greasy, and you can eat it plain or put fillings inside. I eat it with good cheese and oregano. —Ana Luisa, art intern
Photo by @kactus_lanches
- 3 / 9Shave IceShave ice! OK, OK, it's not exactly nutritious. But it is healthier than ice cream, right? Try it at Ono Shave Ice in Portland or Tege Tege in Kapaa, Kauai (the lime + condensed milk is delish). —Aislyn Greene, associate editor
Courtesy of @shaveice_tegetege
- 4 / 9O.J.The best orange juice I have ever tasted was at Marrakech's D'jemaa el-Fna. —Jeremy Saum, executive editor
Photo by Steve Calcott/Flickr
- 5 / 9Bacon-Wrapped ShroomsBacon in small doses is healthyish, right? I snagged a few of these weird bacon-wrapped mushrooms at the Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok. They're a beautiful balance of sweet and savory and the texture is delightfully weird. I've been trying to make them again at home to very little success. But they're delicious. —Maggie Fuller, editorial assistant
Photo by Maggie Fuller
- 6 / 9Kebab ToppingsThere are about 101,000 Turkish immigrants in Berlin, which explains the city's wealth of kebab joints. What makes Mustafa's Gemüse Kebap so distinct are the crispy grilled veggies and feta they top their chicken and vegetarian options with. That and the fact it's open super-late. Drop a pin here to top off late-night adventures. —Andrew Richdale, senior editor
Photo by @adamant_wanderer
- 7 / 9Mango Sticky Rice
- 8 / 9CevicheI can honestly say that the ceviche from the Mercado de Mariscos in Panama City changed my life. For years before visiting Panama I refused to eat fish, but ceviche was such a must-try that I begrudgingly gave it a try. It was so fresh and full of citrus and flavor that ceviche has become one of my all-time favorite foods. —Maggie Fuller, editorial assistant
Photo by LWYang/Flickr
- 9 / 9


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This mod is not designed for hard core gaming but rather is a simple arcade game akin to last year's Nerf Arena Blast and this year's Laser Arena.
The third person game resembles the disk game made famous in the movie "Tron". Here is Valve's description of the mod from their design notes:
Instead of traditional ammunition, you are armed with three discs. Your ground space consists of pads that are navigated by directional jump arrows. Points are scored by using your discs to knock your opponent from their pads.
One big thing about Ricochet is the absence of a jump key. Your jumps are made only by moving onto the directional jump pads in each arena.
There are power-ups in the game that can change how your disks operate. Valve describes them as follows:
- Powershot: Grab the swirling red powerup and you get discs that hit your opponent harder.
- Triple Shot: These three spinning purple discs turns each of yours into a deadly triple-disked attack.
- Fast Shot : Green circles will make your discs move much faster to catch your enemy.
- Freeze Shot: Blue fragments create a disc that slows your opponent to a crawl.Hmmm, ik vraag me af of deze mod wel past bij de rest, maar goed: een beetje afwisseling kan geen kwaad...?
Ook kregen de mensen bij Stomped nog even de kans met Gabe Newell (van Valve Software) te praten over CS 1.0:Stomped: Why do you think the Counter-Strike mod has become so successful over the Internet?
Newell: They've done a great job with the game design and they have been listening to the community and constantly updating the product with that feedback in mind.
Stomped: Why was the decision made to create a Counter-Strike retail product?Newell: Counter-Strike is the most popular action game being played online. Developing a retail version makes it more accessible to those who haven't tried it yet. We were also curious to see what would happen if we packaged together a bunch of the multiplayer games and sold them as a stand-alone product without requiring someone to have purchased Half-Life. Half-Life is in the top 20 games sold by units after two years, but it looks like from early reports that there are still a bunch of people interested in buying a stand-alone version. Hier vind je het complete artikel over zowel Ricochet als CS 1.0.


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We at Max Bupa are very keen to hear about the aspects of your Policy that you believe can be improved. If something does not go well and as expected or promised, here are some simple ways to ensure that your concerns are dealt with as quickly and effectively as possible. Know more
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Did you know that Bupa has no shareholders? This is important because it means that profits are reinvested into providing better healthcare, responding to customer's changing needs and constantly learning and improving to ensure that expectations of customers are exceeded.
Click here to visit the bupa website: www.bupa.com


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Chrome plastic "Hideaway" rear axle cover w/33mm lugnut covers
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This rear axle cover hides all your lug nuts. Installs with 10 screw-on type 33mm diameter lug nut covers (INCLUDED). Must have 3 or 4 stud threads sticking out of the lugnut in order for these lugnut covers to catch and hold. Center cap is removable for easy installation and axle maintenance.
These are sold SINGLE, per wheel.
These are sold SINGLE, per wheel.
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Price: $66.49
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Storm Front and Fool Moon are the first two books in Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series. Like the other younger Harry, this Harry is a wizard. He works out of Chicago. Like a private eye, he hires out his talents. His main source of income is working with the Chicago police on various crimes that involve magic. In Storm Front, Dresden investigates a disappearance that leads to supernatural attempts on his life. A gang selling a magical drug called ThirdEye also figures into the plot. Fool Moon concerns werewolves. Who knew there were many types of werewolves. Dresden takes on all the very different forms and flirts with death with each encounter. These early books aren't great (the series gets better), but are entertaining, breezy reads. If you're looking for some light reading, these books are fun.
22 thoughts on "FORGOTTEN BOOKS #194: STORM FRONT & FOOL MOON By Jim Butcher"
Jeff Meyerson
I agree with you, George. The first book in particular was different from the later ones as it took him a while to get the character(s) down, but they are fun. I have quite a few sitting on the shelves unread and may pull out the next one to read one of these days.
Did you ever see the short-lived television version?↓
Randy Johnson
I've read these< actually the first eight, nine, but have fallen behind. I have the next four and that's it. Need to get off my duff.↓
Bill Crider
I read the first book and thought it was okay but too long. So I didn't read any of the others. I've seen some of the recent ones, however, and they're even longer.↓
Sergio (Tipping My Fedora)
New author for me, thanks George – just how many of them are there and where would the best place to start be for a newbie such as myself?↓
Jeff Meyerson
I believe there are fourteen novels in the series to date, Sergio, and as George says it is best to read them in order.↓
Richard R.
I read about 1/3 of the first one and put it on BookSwap. I didn't think it was very good, plot or writing, Maybe it got better, and I've heard before the books get better as the series progresses, but I'm not interested in wading through so-so books to get to a better one later on. At least not when there are hundreds of other books waiting to be read.↓
The TV series, THE DRESDEN FILES, based on these books introduced this writer to me. I liked the actor who played Dresden and it had a quirky snese of humor that I think is required in these kind s of stories that meld the real human world with a secret underground of supernatural beings. I liked Butcher's early books when Dresden was a real occult detective. His Watson is one of the most intriguing and original parts of the series – the disemboided spirit of an ancient sorcerer. But the sereis got way too involved in a war between two vampire tribes and I find all that vampire nonsense utterly boring. Stopped reading them long ago. He did, however, write these long before Charlaine Harris made vampires a hot property all over again.↓
Beth Fedyn
I followed this series for a while but have given up. Like the Buffy TV series, the dead don't stay dead. I didn't mind it in Buffy but found it tedious in the Butcher series. Guess I never really connected with the hero. Joe liked the TV show more than I did.↓
Jeff Meyerson
We first saw Blackthorne in an episode of one of Jackie's favorite British series, JONATHAN CREEK, and he played the main terrorist in season three of 24. George, I see he is currently in ARROW.↓
BV Lawson
I must admit I haven't yet read any of Butcher's oeuvre, since supernatural crime fiction isn't my favorite subgenre. But I do enjoy private eye tales, so I'll have to add these to my list.↓
Carl V.
I've read both of these over the last year and liked each one enough that I'll continue reading the series. The second one is a big step up from the first as Butcher gets his feet under him. I was initially very leery of Fool Moon given that it was a werewolf story but Butcher managed to make that old trope very interesting and created some terrifying characters. I also like the tension in Fool Moon, that felt like it was being ratcheted up the longer the story went along. Fun stuff!↓


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Last year, I started a craft group with 12 women. The idea was to hang out regularly, make some fun crafts, and spark some friendships. You guys - IT WORKED. So well, in fact, that we've shared laughter, some tears, birthday parties, casseroles, babies, losses, and just LIFE. This first group will be continuing on together this coming fall - since they liked each other so much - and I'll be starting a brand new group, from scratch, in September.
If you're local to the Schaumburg, area, I would LOVE to have you join MY brand new craft group! Wondering if you'd be a good fit?
Do you often feel:
- Excited about the possibility of finding women you can do life with
- Lonely and wish you were part of a tight knit tribe like so many other women seem to be
- Anxious meeting new people because small talk can be so awkward and painful
- Frustrated that you can't seem to find the kind of women you "just click with"
- Stuck in the same rut and looking for something just for you
- Discouraged about how to move from acquaintance to "real friend"
- Confused about the logistics of friendship - when do you hang out? Where? What do you do?
If you show up, take some risks, and keep your heart open, I promise you will find an amazing group of women. A few are already signed up!
Here's how it works!
- We'll meet monthly to make a craft that is simple, adorable and USEFUL!
- I'll have all the materials ready to go, and we'll make together!
- Every new month will be an adventure - you'll be good at some things, and other things might be a challenge. I promise that we will have a ton of fun, probably make some big messes, and laugh a LOT - no artistic experience or ability required.
- Each month, we'll ask and answer some questions to help us get to know one another better as we craft.
- Outside of our monthly craft meeting, we'll have other opportunities to meet up, and a monthly challenge to help encourage us to connect with each other.
- Instead of a one-time class, the group runs from September 2018 - May 2019.
Materials cost of $10 per meeting - with 9 meetings, it's a total of $90. Or, if you want to pay in one installment, it's only $80!
Dates: 9/11; 10/9; 11/13; 12/11; 1/8; 2/12; 3/12; 4/9; 5/14
Time: 7:30 pm
First Meeting: 9/11
Where: My house!
Nursing babies always welcome :-)


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An exciting open-world spin-off rather than a "proper" sequel to Forza Motorsport 4, Microsoft's Forza Horizon is a gutsy shake-up of the popular racing franchise, and we can't wait to go hands-on with it later in the year. When you pre-order your copy of the game at zavvi.com, you'll receive some free DLC for Forza Motorsport 4; the Dodge Challenger SRT8 392…
Car Description:
Remember the days when American muscle was all about straight line speed and knock-you-back-in-your-seat acceleration? Those days have returned with the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392. With 470 horsepower and aggressive styling, the 2012 Dodge Challenger is beauty and brawn combined.
How to Activate:
Pre-Order Forza Horizon and receive a code to download the Forza Horizon Themed 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 playable today in Forza Motorsport 4 for Xbox 360. A copy of Forza Motorsport 4, Forza Motorsport 4 gamer profile and Xbox LIVE account required to activate. Game sold separately.
To read our review of Forza 4, click here. To see how it performed in our countdown of the best games of last year, click here.
Forza Horizon is currently due for release on the Xbox 360 on Friday, October 19th 2012.
Watch the E3 trailer for Forza Horizon below:


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Lost Cat™ is a brand in search of answers. We question every aspect of business in our search for new ways of interacting with consumers. We believe a brand that is not afraid to stray from tradition can discover great new ones. Why are most retail spaces designed primarily for standing? To maximize traffic, low commitment entry, unrestrained browsing, & so on. But how beneficial are these to the retail experience? We hope to find out.
Lost Cat™'s Sit-Down Shop juxtaposes retail products with a restaurant model. Requiring patrons to sit-down at a table & browse a menu of shirts, sweatshirts, & accessories. Once served by our waitstaff they can stay to enjoy our shop's ambiance or request the check. This concept favors quality interactions with customers over quantity. Although it limits passive browsers, it will hopefully benefit enthusiastic customers with a more attentive experience. It also aims to maximize the amount of time customers spend in the shop, theoretically maximizing their potential purchase. The qualitative & quantitative results will be divulged in Lost Cat's 2016 Annual Report.


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Not only will you get to hear from faculty who have implemented RTTP games into their courses, but you will be able to immerse yourself into a historical role and participate in Bacon's Rebellion which has just been released for gameplay. If you are unfamiliar with Reacting To The Past (RTTP), it is a robust pedagogy developed out of Barnard College by Historian Mark Carnes. Through subversive role play, RTTP promotes imagination, inquiry, and engagement as foundational features of teaching and learning across all disciplines in higher education. In addition to being student-centered, the RTTP pedagogy consists of instructional undergirding that promote critical thinking, writing and presentation skills, argumentation, collaboration, and more. The pedagogy has been implemented at over 500 colleges and universities and is sustained by a large consortium (of which Lehigh is a member) that develops two multiple annual conferences, administers grants, and offers consulting services. If you have been searching for ways to enhance your teaching and your students' learning, RTTP could be a perfect fit.
Tentative Agenda 9AM-10AM - Introduction to the RTTP pedagogy/Panel session of Lehigh faculty who have implemented RTTP games in their respective courses.
10:00AM -10:30AM - Break and introduction to the Bacon's Rebellion microgame/role sheet distribution
10:30AM -11:45AM - Play Bacon's Rebellion Microgame
11:45-Noon - Debrief/questions
Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning
8A E Packer Ave
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA 18015
Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) fosters excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research by providing faculty and students with development opportunities, teaching tools, course development opportunities, classroom and instructional support, and consultation services.
27 Memorial Drive West, Bethlehem, PA 18015


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5 Ways To Spring Clean That Will Make You Simplify Your Life You Need to Know/
According to our calendars, Spring has arrived!! Even though you may be living where you are still buried in snow, the earth is making its roundabout, and warmer days are ahead. Some of us may still be waiting for the snow to thaw, while others are opening windows to let the change in!
RELATED: The 6 Step Road Map to Change
So much of western society associates Spring with cleaning, rebirth, renewal. Warmer days means we can open up the windows (literally and figuratively).
While winter is a time to go inward, I associate taking in a deep breath with the vision of Spring: opening a window, and allowing newness to be one with my breath!
I've had the pleasure of coming across a beautiful blogger, Channon Gray who has some sage advice about bullet journaling, productivity, staying organized, well-being, happiness and creative solutions to assist with mental health. She is my guest today, and offers her wisdom about cleaning, decluttering your space and inviting a renewed sense of productivity that is parallel to springtime.
As you read her tips on the 5 ways to spring clean below, I invite you to take these 5 steps and how they might apply to cleaning out other areas of your life: body, mind & spirit.
As you clean out the cobwebs in your physical home, how might you clean out the cobwebs that reside in your headspace - that need a good cleaning?
The practice of a thorough spring cleaning can simplify your life: to detox body, mind and spirit!
I present you 5 Ways to Spring Clean, written by Channon Gray below.
Spring cleaning, love it or loathe it, is a good way to clear your mind, simplify your life and increase your productivity levels. I'll admit, cleaning never sounds like the most exciting activity; however, it can be incredibly satisfying once completed.
You might not know this but spring cleaning can have a dramatic impact on your health and wellbeing. Decluttering your surroundings enables the mind to be decluttered all at once.
Having too much stuff can make remaining calm or de-stressing a difficult task; it can also allegedly add to feelings of depression, anxiety, and discontent. Living within a state of clutter can make focusing on individual tasks more challenging, according to psychologists.
Let's be honest here, who doesn't crush over minimal homes on Pinterest or perfect, all white, study spaces on Instagram? I certainly do! They look inviting, refreshing and free from distractions. This is where your spring cleaning overhaul begins:
#1. Clear Your Happy Space of Clutter
It doesn't matter where your happy space is; whether it be your bed, your desk, your sofa, the bath, wherever it might be, completely clear it of clutter. This space is supposed to be where you feel most at ease, inspired or in-control of life in general; therefore it makes sense to getting spring cleaning that area first.
Sort through your empty toiletries bottles (I cannot be the only one who is guilty of hoarding empty plastic containers), throw away all the pens that no longer work and re-fluff those pillows. Whatever is needed to get the space organized and welcoming again, get it done. You'll be surprised how motivated and instantly uplifted you feel.
I like to keep my desk space decluttered as this is where I journal, fulfill Etsy orders and writing for my blog. It makes me happy to see it all neat, tidy and everything in its place. You can check out my workspace on my Instagram!
#2. Declutter and Organize with the Present in Mind
When spring cleaning, it is easy to hold onto items from the past; however, you must declutter, organize and arrange your things with the present in mind.
What was relevant or required in your life several months or even years ago, might not be now.
One particular area that this is most prominent if your wardrobe. Let's face it, how many clothes do you still have from 2009 that you will never, ever, wear again? Exactly! Condense, sort and donate all that you know you do not need.
#3. If You Haven't Used It for a Year, Get Rid of It!
This leads on from the point above, if you haven't used it for a while then do you really need to keep it?
I will always be one for keeping unnecessary things that have meaning to me, but there is a difference between sentimentality for positive reasons and hoarding for the sake of it.
#4. Learn to Cherish Memories, Not Things…
When attempting to simplify and declutter your life, this can be really difficult. I think that you should work to find a healthy balance between holding onto items as well as memories; they work in unison but memories should always trump things either way.
Materiality can cause more chaos than it is worth; in the end, it isn't what tends to make us feel a greater sense of worth or happiness.
RELATED: What You Need to Know About the Triumphant Practice of Blissing Out
#5. Get Organized
Anyone who is a long-term reader of my blog will understand my passion for organization. Being organized can reduce stress, remove any worries and help you set goals for the future.
This is relevant when spring cleaning, as through planning on what to do, and when, you'll automatically be simplifying your life and riding it of any preventable concerns.
I like to use my bullet journal in order to stay on top of cleaning/decluttering tasks; as well as using it as a place to document motivational quotes and plans for the upcoming months. I feel a great sense of joy when ticking off each item or task from my list and therefore, I am able to feel more content and happy with my life and in charge of how I spend my time.
If you are interested in setting up a bullet journal then you can read my post on how to do so here.
I hope this post has helped you to make a start on your spring cleaning plans for this year and in return to begin to reap the benefits of an increasingly simplified life.
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Channon Gray is a brilliant, vibrant life enthusiast whose passion is bullet journaling, organizing, productivity, well-being, happiness, and setting creative solutions to assist others with mental health.
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Friends: What do you think of these 5 tips? Which most resonates with you? What is most challenging (or satisfying) about cleaning?
Do you spring clean this time of year? What action items do you have on your list when spring cleaning?
Do you spring clean your mind (body, and spirit, for that matter) in addition to cleaning up your physical home?


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Are you looking for ways to be more efficient with you time? Wondering how to better juggle the demands of work, life and kids? On this podcast episode, the amazing Katy Widrick brings us tools for creating an efficient life and business. Katy is all about life hacks, finding flow and knowing what you're doing what you're doing. What are the two questions that Katy asks herself when she's making decisions? How do you find time for yourself whilst growing a business? Is making money the 'be all, end all' when it comes to setting goals? This episode is a gem and what I love is how open and transparent Katy is with her journey as a entrepreneur and mother. Katy Widrick is the owner of Make Media Over, a managed services and consulting company for bloggers, businesses and online influencers who are looking to scale up without stressing out. She's also an Emmy-nominated television and documentary producer, a personal trainer and group fitness instructor and a mom of two. Learn more at makemediaover.com and find Katy on social media @kwidrick. You can also get her FREE 14-day guide to a more efficient life at https://makemediaover.com/efficient.
Listen to How to Create Work-Life Balance as a Mompreneur - Katy Widrick in full in the Spotify app


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Seattle, WA (PRWEB) November 20, 2013
Super Affiliates is a new marketing course that teaches people how to choose their domain name, how to set up their hosting, and how to set up their autoresponder to automate their business. This course is developed by Ewen Chia, an online marketing expert who has over 11 years of experience in teaching other people how to become successful affiliate marketers. Ewen also is the owner of many well-known websites such as the Internet Marketer website, the Internet Marketing Guru website, the Fast Track Cash website, and other websites. Since Ewen released the Super Affiliates course, a lot of clients have used it to learn how to dominate markets from the inside out, and how to build a reputation that will grow their profits for years. Accordingly, the website Vkoolelite performed a detailed overview about the effectiveness of the Super Affiliates course.
A detailed overview of Super Affiliates on the site Vkoolelite indicates that this course takes people step-by-step through the process of discovering proven strategies for finding and selecting profitable markets. The course also instructs people how to create their own website, how to set up their own blog, and how to choose the right domain name. In addition, when ordering this course, people will receive a series of tutorial videos and instruction manuals from E. Chia. Firstly, people will get the 15-Steps In Top-Secret Super Affiliates Blueprint manual, 50 Step-By-Step Tutorial Training videos, and the Case Study Super Affiliates video. Secondly, people will receive the Instant Affiliate Business-In-A-Box manual, the Graphics Designer manual, and the PPC Affiliate Marketing For Beginners manual. Thirdly, E. Chia will provide people with the Film Marketing manual, the Money Mouth manual, and the Personal Development Tips manual. Finally, people will get 3 Instant Affiliate Commissions Secret videos, the Built-In Passive Income System manual, and the Monthly Mystery Business manual.
Dave Guindon from the site Vkoolelite says: Super Affiliates is the unique course that provides people with 5 forum signature files they can use when they post in forums. The course also teaches people how to create simple email messages that get visitors clicking the buy button. In addition, people will get a wide range of special gifts when following this course such as the 'How To Manage Your cPanel' video, the 'How To Upload Your Website With FTP Software' video, the 'How To Create Your Own eBook' video, and other bonuses. Moreover, Ewen Chia also offers people a policy of money back guarantee if the 'Super Affiliates' course does not work for them.
If people wish to view pros and cons from a full overview about this course, they could visit the website: http://vkoolelite.empowernetwork.com/blog/why-dont-you-learn-effective-affiliate-marketing-strategies-with-super-affiliates.
To know more information about this course, get a direct access to the official site.
About the website: Vkoolelite is the site built by Tony Nguyen. The site supplies people with tips, ways, programs, methods and e-books about many topics including business, health, entertainment, and lifestyle. People could send their feedback to Tony Nguyen on any digital products via email.


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NEW uses are planned for two former toilet blocks in Huddersfield.
Kirklees Council is hoping to make, rather than spend, a pretty penny by converting a public toilet into a takeaway.
Officials have asked for permission to convert the closed convenience at Newsome Road in Newsome into a new business.
Council planners have applied to knock down the toilet block and put up a new building.
This would be allowed to house a shop, financial or professional business or even a hot food takeaway.
Newsome councillor Julie Stewart-Turner said she hoped it would not become a take-away and not on hygiene grounds!
She added: "It has been closed for some time.
"We have, as ward councillors, put forward that they don't go for the takeaway option.
"It is near to the traffic lights and could pose a problem to other road users if cars park up.
"We would like to see it made into a lovely little office."
In Almondbury planners are also trying to revamp a disused toilet block.
Officials have applied to convert the toilets at Northgate into shops.


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Drawing on a range of evidence-based feeding approaches I can provide you with a 'toolbox' of practical strategies that equip parents with the tools and knowledge they need to overcome these challenges and help mealtimes become an enjoyable family experience.
I offer a range of services to help you create a whole school approach to childhood nutrition. These include incursions, parent information sessions, canteen menu assessment and training, and school newsletter articles and recipes.


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So….. yesterday. Yesterday was the next instalment in the hill series that I'm just 'loving' (if loving actually means hating with all your might and would rather be watching paint dry that is).
The difference with this one though is that I've ran it before – twice! And whilst it's got its steep as hell climbs, it's also got flat sections you can recover on (well, as much as you can during a race). It is however longer than all the other races, and it definitely makes you work for that medal. Bonus on this run though is that my other half was actually sponsoring it, he had designed the finisher t-shirt and was volunteering.
There were quite a few Perth Road Runners volunteering also and many were marshalls round the course so there was lots of encouragement.
It was meant to be a long run day so I decided to run to the event and run back. The youngest had other ideas though. He gets a bit of separation anxiety from time to time so when I tried to drop him off he wasn't all for it. I know he's fine within minutes of me leaving but when you don't really need to leave straight away (because I could drive there) I find it more difficult to go. In the end I managed to run 3 miles before my dad came along, picked me up and dropped me at the start. 3 miles was better than nothing and as expected my mum had text me before I had even hit a mile to say Ollie (my son) was playing happily.
Frazer – my original running buddy – was also running this race and his girlfriend Kirsty and daughter Jessica had come along too, as well as their dog Ruby.
We were called to the start line about 10 minutes before the scheduled start. Although I knew I would be passed I still went near the front as it was an instant climb and I didn't want stuck behind someone or forced out the way. This wasn't a race I would be happy to just finish. I wanted to improve last years time.
I looked around and Sonjia, Stewart, Mark, Dave and Ronnie were in front of me. Hmmm. No Heledd. Where was Heledd? I tapped Stewart on the shoulder. 'Have you seen Heledd?' 'No' he replied. Then a glint in his eye. 'Does this mean?'
I grinned.
'I don't know, I was sure she was coming though'.
Then Sonjia turned round. 'Heledd's not here'.
She had the same grin as me.
'Check you girls out all competitive!'
'Not at all! Just friendly banter! But if she's not here, more points for me' I laughed.
Facts are facts, both Heledd and Sonjia are faster than me so yes, the only way I could 'win' was if Heledd wasn't running. Then I would be the only female that did all 6 Hill Races and the nightmare that was Birnam Hill (the first hill race) will most definitely have been worth it. Sort of. Maybe.
'Oh hi Heledd'.
Aw no, she was at the registration tent. Game over.
She snuck to the back a little embarrassed that it looked like we were waiting for her but it wasn't 11'o'clock so she wasn't technically late. 'You've still got a good few metres on her' Stewart said. 'I'm going to need it, and much more!' was my reply.
Off we went and up the zig zag hill that is right at the start. Not even a few metres to turn the legs over, you're going straight up. I saw Kirsty at the top corner and a few steps passed her I heard 'oh no, Ella's already gone past'. I think she was taking my mums place in the 'missing the moment' gallery ha ha. I gave her a wave to say I had heard her though.
First mile down and I chose not to look at my watch, there's no point in Hill races. I knew Heledd must be right on my heels and right enough, at 1.35 miles in I heard the 'Hi Ella'. 'Hey' I managed to gasp back. She looked a bit white, not her usual self. I wanted to ask if she was ok but I couldn't gasp that out. I passed her just a few minutes on which surprised me as I don't think I've ever done that so tried to take advantage and not slow down until she had passed me again.
Around 2 miles and there was a woman at the side with a hurt ankle. I asked if she was ok and told her friend I would let the next Marshall know. He ran on but kept looking back wondering if he should have stayed with her.
3 miles in and past the water station. I didn't take any as Heledd still hadn't passed me and I knew the second I stopped or slowed down she would fly right by. I also knew the worst Hill was coming and I would have to walk/stumble up it. One of the Road Runners was the Marshall at the bottom of it and I had to ask her why she wasn't running it. She just looked at the hill and we both we knew she had made the smarter decision, not me! All the way up I was just waiting for Heledd to go past. I've spent enough time behind her at these races to know she could most likely run this bit! When she didn't pass me here I knew she wasn't 100%. Hoping it was more a case of she was ill and not a case she was hurt I kept on.
Back up yet another hill and this one was one we had come down. The Marshall – Sylvia I think it was – tried to be encouraging by saying something like it was the last hill, or it wasn't far. It's quite hard to remember as I was so close to death through lack of oxygen. I did manage a reply of 'if I had the energy I would kill you for lying' – she knows the route, she knows the truth ha ha.
As soon as I hit the 'top' and knew it was more down hill then up I kept at it. Mile 5 and I did something I never do during races – I started to look behind me. Yes I was trying to see if she was on my heels. It kept pushing me forward though as every time I turned round I expected her to be right at my shoulder. I knew where the final uphill was and pushed myself up it. Then down it went. Past Eleanor another road runner at a Marshall point with her daughter, cheering away, still pushing on.
She's going to get me, she's going to get me. This is going to be like the hills on Thursday when Mark lapped me right at the finish line! Don't stop, don't stop, don't stop.
I hit the zig zags and saw Kirsty again. She started to run with me down them. I found this hilarious and tried to shout 'are you challenging me?' but all my energy was going in to not being overtaken at the end. I had also calculated that if there was a team prize I may have been third female PRR as Marlena was between Sonjia and myself! (There wasn't a team prize but still, it was a nice thought!).
I turned the last corner and I heard footsteps. NO!!!! I was NOT giving this one up!! Unable to breath I somehow moved my legs faster. Who ever this was was not getting past me!!
It's ok, they didn't!
Across the line and a few very deep breaths later I went and collected my medal. I saw Stewart and yes, I admit, my first words were 'I beat Heledd!' however this was very quickly followed by 'but I don't think she's feeling very well, she's not having a great race'. I saw Kevin her partner and went over to speak to him. He confirmed it, she wasn't very well. I felt really bad. She came in just a couple of minutes behind me. It's all friendly competitiveness but I did feel bad for her. She obviously wasn't on top form or she would have wiped the floor with me.
Frazer came across the line in just a little over an hour which was phenomenal for his first time doing that run. He was quite rightly pleased.
And so on to my run home. Well that didn't go to plan. It was roasting hot, I didn't have my sunglasses or a hat and my legs decided the 10k trail race was enough. I had to make a call to my mum at 3 and a half miles in to get picked up before my hamstring went 'ping'.
All in all a good day. I knocked 3 minutes off my time from last year which was the main aim. But best of all there's only one more hill race!!
Photos courtesy of Ethan Lee and Gordon Donnachie – they are at most races in Scotland kindly taking photos on their own time. Much appreciated! (Except the one you get of me every time where you age me at least 30 years! Ha ha)
The Alexis Rose Trail Race is a local families legacy race for their daughter who passed away from meningitis when she was only 19 months old.


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Trailer Rental & Towing in Whitehorse, YT at Fireweed RV Services
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calida Sensual Secrets
T-shirt bra
29,97 € 59,95 € incl. VAT
Item no.: 03531-539
T-shirt bra
T-shirt bra in a high-quality material blend from the SENSUAL SECRETS series by CALIDA. This bra is ideal for wearing under close-fitting tops and offers soft, comfortable padding and seam-free cups. The underbust and side sections are finished with high-quality lace.
51% Viscose, 35% Cotton, 14% Elastane
Lace | 30° machine wash, delicates
Items that you could like too


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Certified. Air Conditioning, Deep Tint Sunscreen Glass, Integrated Voice Command w/Bluetooth, ParkView Rear Back-Up Camera, Passenger door bin, Power windows, Quick Order Package 21A, Radio: Uconnect 3 w/5" Display, Rear Hinged Doors w/Fixed Glass, Remote keyless entry.
2019 Ram ProMaster 2500 High Roof Bright White Clearcoat
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* Warranty Deductible: $100
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Posts filed under 'Phil Stilwell'
Turtleism in the Age of Reason
These are dark days in which the forces of evil have besieged The Lord Turtle Almighty. Aturtleists the world over have risen up against the truth of the turtle upon which the world rides. It is high time for Turtleists to come out of their shells and defend the foundation of our faith.
In years past, our faith in Our Almighty Turtle was dismissed as a blind faith as if the number of Turtleists itself did not prove the existence of the Turtle. However, we are here to assert that our faith is based on real evidence, and it is the Aturtleists who are dependent on faith in science and a misguided logic. I, for one, don't have enough faith to be an Aturtleist. Allow me to elaborate.
I have personally confronted Aturtleists in many universities across the globe, and have asked them one simple question. "What does the Earth sit on?" Scientists have demonstrated that gravity pulls down. Therefore, we stand firmly on our front porch. Our front porch stands firmly on the cement, the cement on a substrate of clay, the clay on bedrock, and so on. What is the first foundation that supports all that is? Aturtleists have yet to give me a coherent response. However, we Turtleists know this foundation. And we know this foundation personally. It is the wonderfully shelled back of The Lord Turtle Almighty.
Some Aturtleists have actually suggested that there is no foundation needed. How incredibly ignorant! Nowhere in this world will you find anything of substance that does not rest upon something. And that something will be found resting upon another something. Now here is the interesting thing. Scientists have recently told us that this Earth is finite. Logically then, there is a point at which something that is not the Earth is the foundation. This is logical common sense! How can there be no ultimate foundation? The Aturtleists have no answer. But those of us who have a personal relationship with the Lord Turtle Almighty have an answer that daily comforts us since we know that our world does not precariously hang in the air.
Other Aturtleists ignorantly ask, "What is then the foundation of your turtle?" It is true that former Turtleists had, at one time, suggested that there was another turtle supporting the turtle that supported the Earth. And another turtle supporting that one, and so on. We modern Turtleists reject such silly notions. This is called "an infinite regress". There cannot be turtles all the way down.
For this reason, our particular faith has the doctrine of The Infinite Legs of Turtle Almighty. There is no need for other turtles. Our Almighty Turtle has infinitely long legs. It is this doctrine that makes the Aturtleists arguments looks so silly. The Earth must have a foundation, and we Turtleists have personal knowledge of this foundation. We all have our foundation on the eternal legs of Our Almighty Turtle.
You might hear some Aturtleists respond that the doctrine of Infinite Legs is logically incoherent, an ephemeral plug, and that we just made it all up. But the spirit of the Turtle bears witness with our spirits that all the Almighty Turtle says is true. Aturtleists who have not the spirit of the Turtle cannot discern the things of the Turtle. To them, Eternal Legs seem like foolishness, but for us, it is the foundation that they, in rebellion, deny is necessary. Only those who have submitted to the Turtle are privy to the mind of the Turtle.
It is sad to see that the bulk of the same scientists who have told us that the Earth is finite and that gravity pulls down, actually turn their backs on logic when it comes to the question of the ultimate foundation. But the Almighty Turtle has clearly told us why this is so. This is the work of the invisible evil crow who sets about to turn their minds away from the truth. The crow has many of them suggesting that Earth supports itself. I've never seen something support itself, and I don't have enough faith to believe such silly theories. And I don't need education to give me the common sense to know there must be a big turtle beneath this world. Would you want to live on an Earth that had no turtle foundation?
So you see, even in these dark days when many former Turtleists have rebelliously abandoned all notions of a foundation for our world, Turtle apologists have provided us with an arsenal full of the powers of both logic and scientific facts that will allow us to fearlessly affirm our Turtleism until the day we all have infinite legs.
-phil stilwell
Salvaging Santa
This year has been a bit disappointing for Santa believers. Fewer and fewer souls seem to be taking the Santa story seriously. Anti-santaists have been enticing young minds away from the Christmas magic that has been essential in the maintenance of a healthy society. They ridicule Santa as a myth, along with all the accompanying concepts that have given us warmth and comfort for all these years. They actually suggest that the notion of a Santa rewarding only "good" children is not necessary to rearing well-behaved children. They are constantly asking for evidence of our Santa, not understanding that there would be no magic if Santa was subject to scientific scrutiny.
If we are to save our Santa culture from this insidious secularism that makes mockery of our faith, we need to acknowledge our weaknesses, and adapt to the changing cultural climate. Here are a few suggestions.
- Place Santa out of the reach of science.
Some point to what they consider the absurdity of a voluminous man descending a narrow chimney and other mysterious aspects of Santa. Here are a few ways to deal with this form of persecution.
- Announce that Santa's magic is far above human understanding. Santa, in his infinite magic, can fatten flues at will, create chimneys where there are none, and leave everything intact as if he had never descended from the roof at all. Ask the secularists how they even dare with their puny minds to question the magic of our Santa.
- Call problematic parts of the Santa story figurative. Suggest that the notion of "descending the chimney" is a metaphor of Santa's intent. He actually may come through a window. What matters is that the presents are there in the morning. In doing this, never submit a standard for discerning between literal and figurative elements of the Santa story. That will make it convenient for you to choose which is which as aplogetics needs arise.
- Remind non-believers that, if the Santa story could be tested and confirmed, we couldn't employ the faith that feeds the magic. Accuse them of not listening to the clear voice of Santa that each of us carries deep in our hearts if we only listen with open minds.
- Affirm the magic. Point out all the cases in which reindeer dung was found on roof tops. Suggest that any father who would simply throw dung on his roof in an attempt to create the illusion of a rangiferine landing would have to be either a lunatic or liar. The only sensible inference is that Santa's sleigh had indeed visited your house.
- Belittle science and its tools. Point out that science is often wrong and is therefore not an appropriate method to assess the magic of Santa. Claim that statistics are a silly invention, and strongly affirm the idea that anything can be "proven" through statistics. The stronger you affirm this, the more true it will become. In this way, reports that suggest poorer (not misbehaving) children receive fewer presents can be dismissed. If secularists suggest this is not logical, claim that Santa logic is not the same as secular logic, but don't bother explaining how.
- Suggest that science and magic fall into two non-overlapping domains. Declare that scientific methodology cannot assess the wonderment of magic. When asked about specific claims of Santaism that seem to fall within the reach of science, offer evasive permutations of the particular doctrine to make it impotent and thus unassailable. Fudging a bit on exegesis is forgivable if the net result is an increase in believers.
- Disparage the notion of belief based on "evidence". This is becoming one of the most troubling issues that has already led to the apostasy of thousands. You'll hear secularists claim that the degree of confidence in an idea should match the degree of the evidence. Where is the magic in that? Evidence only goes so far and is largely linear. How can belief be linear? Choose a side! Unless we go beyond the evidence with faith, we would be left saying "I don't yet know" on many questions, a wholly unacceptable option.
- (more…)
Hearing Voices
Imagine a blind man called Henry who, during his appendectomy, has an electronic device secretly planted deep in his ear by an mischievous surgeon called Richard. This device has the capacity to transmit sound to Henry whenever Richard wishes from nearly any location.
A few days later, Richard, hiding behind a postbox, transmits a short message while Henry is slowly tapping his cane along the sidewalk.
"Reach down."
This is the first time that Henry has heard a voice other than his own in his head. He knows that others who have heard voices have ended up institutionalized.
Nonetheless, he is curious, and reaches down to the sidewalk.
"Left." comes the voice again.
Henry obeys and reaches left to discover a $100 bill that Richard has left there. Henry is quite stupefied by this new source of knowledge, and goes home to ponder the enigma. He wracks his brain for an explanation, but finally drifts off to sleep.
The next afternoon while walking to the barber, he hears the voice again.
"Turn right."
Henry taps his cane to the right, and finds himself in an alley.
"Reach down"
Henry reaches down to find another $100 bill.
This same event occurs week after week with Henry becoming richer, placing more confident in the voice, and eventually losing interest in discovering the mechanism behind this source of knowledge. He goes out every day expecting to find another $100 bill.
Does Henry understand the source? No.
Is Henry warranted in his confidence in this source of knowledge? Yes.
Why? Because it works. The voice has demonstrated predictive power. This predictive power has led to a precedent that warrants continued confidence. As successes mount, Henry's confidence increases. In this, confidence is inextricably tied to successes. The goal is to limit confidence to exactly the level of the strength of the precedent of successes.
Henry would not have been justified in placing complete confidence in the voice at day 3. Nor would Henry be justified in doubting the voice on day 1000. Henry's confidence is solely tied to the history of the voice's successes and failures.
Now imagine that Richard had never left any money on the sidewalk. Imagine that every day Richard (or Henry's own subconscious mind) spoke in Henry's ear "I promise you'll find money if only you'll reach down".
And imagine a gullible Henry who reaches down every day only to find nothing…until after 3 years, he feels the ridges of a 50-cent piece on his finger tips.
Now what is Henry warranted in believing? A person with an understanding of probabilities would not attribute finding the 50-cent piece after 3 years of failure as being causally related to the voice, but rather as a rare event that had fallen well within the range of probabilities. However, as Henry is a gullible soul and unschooled in probabilities, he might attribute the "success" to the voice, and continue to stoop in search for the promised money in vain…until probabilities again connected his fingertips to another coin.
What is the point of this mental exercise? It is to show that we are only warranted in placing confidence in sources of knowledge that have a proven track record of successes that reliably out-perform chance. Knowledge of the mechanism is unnecessary. This has given those who claim that there are inscrutable or intractable immaterial sources of knowledge the opportunity to test their claims without need of an explanation of the mechanism. Such claims are fine…if accompanied by successes. However, to protest when others demand to mathematically and scientifically examine the success rate of the claims is improper.
This is what is actually happening today. Theists claim that their god answers intercessory prayer for the infirmed. So scientists have set up experiments to test this claim. The theists generally quietly wait for the results without confidently predicting the success that, if biblical promises of answered intercessory prayer were true, would most certainly follow. If, by chance, the study were to show a significant positive effect, they would no doubt immediately proclaim victory. Then, from my experience with the reasoning of theists, they would ignore or denounce any replicated studies that show the inverse.
However, evidence of successful intercessory prayer is nowhere in sight.
The Harvard study
An excerpt from the conclusion
CONCLUSIONS: Intercessory prayer itself had no effect on complication-free recovery from CABG, but certainty of receiving intercessory prayer was associated with a higher incidence of complications.
So how are theists responding?
They are invoking the insular "god cannot be tested" clause. The god who makes claims of answered prayer, power over sin and wisdom somehow does not fall subject to the scrutiny of statistics. I'll let readers assess the warrant in invoking this convenience.
Herein lies the absurdity and danger of "faith". Once an individual has placed undeserved confidence in a source of knowledge, his reasoning faculties are no longer available to assess evidence; they are monopolized by the convoluted defense of an undeserving failed source of knowledge.
"Faith" requires no training. It comes easy. It is the default mode for those who can not or will not school themselves in critical thinking.
Critical thinking, in contrast, allows us to test sources of knowledge for successes, and only when a precedent of successes has been properly established for a given source are we warranted in our confidence in that source.
"Faith" fails. Claims of immaterial causation have failed, and to a degree and consistency that warrants their removal from any serious consideration. The amazing successes of scientific methodology that we currently enjoy are what have led to our confidence in its continued successes. The predictive power of scientific methodology has been rightfully earned, while spotty "successes" of intercessory prayer fall neatly within the range of probabilities. The "hits" of intercessory prayer are remembered and are presented as testament to the power of a god. The "misses" are simply ignored, forgotten and excluded from any honest analysis since the notion that there is no deity who can intervene in our lives is emotionally untenable.
Is our objective to approach truth? Then let's place our confidence in what works rather than falling as credulous prey to the specious claims of faith-mongers who have not a single credible success to their name.
The Inscrutable Jehovah
Theism begins with a commitment to absurdity. It revels in mysteries, embraces paradoxes, and wallows in warm credulity while reason is buried in a mudslide of illogical affirmations. It sees no need to apologize for belief where the evidence is not only absent, but also contrary to claims.
Theism trains the credulous in the art of illogicality by unabashedly positing incoherent notions of god that require the complete surrender of rational faculties. Some such common theistic notions among Christians are listed below.
- The notion that we were created with an actual choice not to sin in the face of the biblical assertions that we have all sinned.
- The notion that the wrath a "loving" god over a single sin results in condemnation to eternal torment.
- The notion that a "loving" god must see blood to forgive, and cannot simply forgive as he has asked humans to.
- The notion that the 3 days of temporary death by Jesus is the exchange rate for the deserved eternal damnation of billions…
Continue Reading October 28, 2009 at 3:21 pm Phil Stilwell 17 comments
Reasons for my de-conversion (4 of 4)
I hope I have adequately described our inherent weaknesses in cognition (Part I), emotions (Part II) and dogmatism (Part III). Perhaps I can now continue with some of the reasons why I dismiss the notion of a personal god.
First, much of the ontology of Christianity is dependent on the Bible. The veracity of the Bible must be established before notions such as Heaven, Hell and sin can even be submitted for evaluation. Do not quote the Bible to "prove" to me the existence of these entities. I reject the Bible as "god's word" for several reasons. As I list these reasons, Christians will contend that I am taking things out of context, yet I have spend years begging to see some objective, consistent and reliable standard of hermeneutics being practiced among Christians. None has emerged. This is the beauty of the "scriptures" of all successful religions; they are all ambiguous enough to provide deniabilty when backed into a exegetical corner. This lack of unity in exegesis I'll introduce later as a failure of the Holy Spirit.
1) Moral ambiguity.
Polygamy, incest, rape and slavery are just a few of the practices condoned or encouraged in the Bible. Extravagant and elaborate apologetic arguments are employed, and usually track back to the incoherent notion that "God's ways are not our ways".
2) Philosophical dilemma
Persons who have not heard of Jesus are, nonetheless, eternally condemned for what the Bible claims is a clear manifestation of his eternal power and godhead in nature. In addition, a finite number of sins committed by a soul who had no choice but to be born sinful are given infinite punishment…
Continue Reading October 27, 2009 at 12:01 am Phil Stilwell 52 comments
Reasons for my de-conversion (3 of 4)
In Part I, I discussed the fragility of human cognition, and the myth of the virtue of faith. In Part II, I discussed the enormous deficiency in human cognition coupled with a propensity to rely on emotions to construct our belief system. Now let me move on to the issue of dogmatism.
Consider the proper way for a person to choose a presidential candidate. Voting along party lines is not considered to be very intelligent, and claiming faith in the party would rightfully make you the object of scorn. A proper evaluation involves exploring all the sources you have to your disposal to assess the knowledge, experience, convictions, competency and character of each candidate. The accumulation of this information is linear; it generally accumulates in a steady manner until you reach a point where you are able to make a decision. It should make sense then that the degree of certainty should also be linear. Instead of suddenly stating that one candidate is wonderful while the other is evil, one should be making statements such as "based on the evidence so far, X appears 20% more competent than Y. But few of us seldom do this due to our propensity for dogmatism.
While facilitating action, this dogmatism is a detriment when attempting to find objective truth. The polar ends of the god question are over-weighted with atheists and theists in my opinion. I am an agnostic. While I can state that there is a very low probability of a personal god for reasons I'll discuss later, I am less certain when considering an Einsteinian god. And I do not feel compelled to choose a side without sufficient evidence. However, this probabilistic attitude towards questions is not natural to me. It had to be learned. I started out quite dogmatic as some of you may recall.
Christianity encourages dogmatism. Certainty is a goal in most religions…
Continue Reading October 26, 2009 at 10:46 pm Phil Stilwell 19 comments
Reasons for my de-conversion (2 of 4)
In Part I, I discussed the fragility of human cognition, and the myth of the virtue of faith. There remains one more important question. Why do so many people believe in a personal god?
Nearly all religions posit a "god-size" hole of the psyche that only their respective god can feel. However, a careful examination of this hole reveals it to be merely a natural human disposition to have certain emotions that scream for attention and resolution. I'll try to address the most important.
An aversion to not knowing.
We have an intense drive to explain our world. This emotional intensity causes many to assume that there are answers and that they deserve access to those answers. These conclusions do not follow. Simply having the ability to ask a question does not in any way require that there is an answer and that you have the ability to discover and comprehend the answer. However, religionists assume that they must have access to any question that appears meaningful to them. This does not follow. It may be that we may never have answers to questions that disturb us. This is anathema to many religionists.
Need for significance.
We are all born with the need for significance. This is, however, an emotion, and it does not follow that personal significance exists simply because we feel it must. Successful religions offer significance by typically positioning the believer in a privileged relationship with a god. This emotion, however, does not in anyway validate the existence of a god that bestows significance. The truth may be that we have no significance. We must start our inquiry into truth without the assumption of an objective personal significance. As an added note, this sense of a grand cosmological significance is exhibited as arrogance equally among faiths. If you suppose you are in constant communion with god, it is not at all difficult to become condescending to infidels whom you know must be in rebellion against god…
Continue Reading October 25, 2009 at 9:25 am Phil Stilwell 4 comments


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Web ID: 7700753
Dale Tiffany™ Scala Buffet Lamp
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Dale Tiffany™ Scala Buffet Lamp
Product Description
This outstanding Scala buffet lamp is the personification of understated elegance, featuring an elongated center column of smooth crystal with flared ends of gently faceted crystal.
- polished nickel finished base
- on/off turn knob switch
- stepped squared pedestal
- beautiful faceted crystal finial
- solid crystal/metal base construction
- overall dimensions: 12x34"H
- white fabric shade is 11"H with a 7x7" top diameter and 12x12" bottom diameter
- uses one 100W type "A" bulb, not included
- imported
Due to Title 20 legislation, California customers will receive a lamp with an on/off switch and a free compact fluorescent bulb.
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Making its premiere at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Lufthansa Technik will introduce an interactive system that lets passengers track their own flight live on their tablet or smartphone. The 3D moving map uses real satellite imagery which allows passengers to select from a variety of customizable perspectives including information on altitude, speed, travel time, etc.
With "niceview Mobile" Lufthansa Technik now can offer a mobile moving map system as part of most Inflight Entertainment Systems (IFE). "niceview Mobile" can run on iOS and Android devices.
"Until now, this level of directly experiencing one's own flight was only available in the cabins of VIP aircraft in certain specially equipped seats," explains Andreas Pfister, lead project manager for the Original Equipment Innovation division at Lufthansa Technik. "Now passengers can take the fascination of flying into their own hands. Time after time, it is a very special feeling, even for us developers."
"niceview Mobile" can be easily integrated in standard inflight entertainment systems and flight guests can access it through the on-board WiFi.
Engineer Andreas Pfister, 46, responsible for "niceview Mobile", will be at the Lufthansa Technik booth (Hall 6, booth 6B80) at the Aircraft Interiors Expo from April 5 – 7.
This is also an opportunity to give the system an in-depth test on devices provided at the stand.
Source: Lufthansa Technik.


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Hands down, one of the best parts of designing custom wine cellars is creating pieces to suit our customers' interior design style. We've been on site for installations of custom wine rooms in custom homes in the mountains in Park City, Utah, designed wine bars from 100-year-old barn wood for an estate in Oregon's Willamette Valley, and most recently we designed this custom Credenza for a traditional home in Midlothian, VA.
When we're working on a fully built-in wine room, we're often matching existing cabinetry and finishes to complement the architecture of a home. With a stand-alone wine cellar like this Credenza, we can style it just like a furniture piece and the style doesn't necessarily need to "match" the home, but it should complement the architecture, furniture and style.
With this modern Credenza headed off to a traditional home, we wanted to share some tips on mixing the two interior styles. When pulled off correctly, blending traditional and modern pieces can create a unique and stunning look, and can allow you to work in those family heirlooms without recreating your grandmother's tea room.
5 tips for the perfect Mix of modern And Traditional
1. Decide on a dominant style
You can pick either traditional or modern as your primary look, but avoid mixing the styles too evenly, which will create a room with an identity crisis — go for either traditional with modern accents, or modern with traditional accents.
If you want a traditional look, keep your focal furniture pieces in that style and add tables, art and lighting accents in a modern style. If you want a modern aesthetic, keep most of your pieces modern, but look for statement traditional pieces like a sofa, mirror, chandelier, art or ceramics to mix in.
2. Understand which pieces are universal, and which are trickier to mix
There are always exceptions to the rule, but in general, both traditional and modern sofas and chairs look great with modern coffee, cocktail and side tables, like our Credenza and Brock models, while pairing a traditional coffee table with a modern sofa tends to be harder to pull off.
3. Make your textiles work for you
Traditional shapes like rolled-arm sofas and armchairs look both fresh and timeless when reupholstered in a bold pop of color. Using modern or contemporary colors on a traditional piece is a much easier win than using traditional patterns on a modern piece (imagine a toile print on a mid-century modern sofa — it just doesn't work), but textiles like rugs and curtains are a great way to bring a traditional style into a modern room.
4. Use color to set the Tone
Your overall palette, and how you use color everywhere from your walls to your accents will have a huge impact on the feel of a room. If you have ornate molding, inset panels, or other traditional details, choosing a more sparse palette and keeping furniture and accessories within it will lend the room a more modern feel.
If you're starting with a modern space, try adding texture with a turned curtain rod or coat rack, and richer patterns like an Oriental rug or woven pillows in luxurious fabrics.
5. Invest in foundational pieces
The best part of creating an eclectic mix of two or more styles is that you can add or remove art and accents over time to evolve the look without sacrificing focal pieces, like a designer sofa or a handmade wine cellar.
And remember, there's no formula for success — the most beautiful rooms, and the ones you'll want to spend time in, are the ones that reflect your style and stories.