text:
|Tuscon, Ariz.
|High School:
|Salpointe Catholic HS
AS A SENIOR IN 2012-2013: Named an ITA Scholar-Athlete … ended her career with 44-38 singles record and 59-42 combined doubles record … is No. 1 all-time for most career doubles victories with partner Kelly Lamble with a 58-40 record … earned honorable mention for WCC All-Academic team ... posted a 4-8 singles record and 15-17 doubles record at the No. 2 spot with Kelly Lamble … only competed in the Bronco Invitational during preseason and posted a 2-1 singles record … put up a 6-3 doubles record with partner Kelly Lamble during preseason … defeated unranked duos from then-No. 5 Stanford, then-No. 47 University of Washington and then-No. 32 Washington State University.
AS A JUNIOR IN 2011-12: Only competed during the first half of the season due to injury … received a WCC Honorable Mention for her academic excellence … played at the No. 4, 5 and 6 singles spot … tallied a 5-3 dual singles record … defeated Stephany Chang from No. 8 California 4-6, 6-3, 1-0(7) at the No. 6 spot … played at the No. 2 doubles position with partner Kelly Lamble … the duo posted a 6-2 record for the Broncos … reached the semifinals of the Cal Nike Fall Invitational.
AS A SOPHOMORE IN 2010-2011: received WCC Honorable Mention for her doubles play with partner Kelly Lamble ... duo went 14-7 at the No. 2 spot ... went on two separate four-match winning streaks from Feb. 4 to Feb. 20 and again from April 5 to April 17
AS A FRESHMAN IN 2009-2010: played in all 21 regular season matches ... went 16-7 overall in singles play at the No. 4 and 3 positions ... went on a seven-match winning streak from Jan. 30 to Feb. 25 in singles play ... primarily paired with Kelly Lamble in doubles ... duo went 17-5 on the season ... received WCC Honorable Mention for doubles performance with Kelly Lamble ... duo went on an eight-match winning streak from Mar. 9 to Apr. 10 ... went 2-1 during WCC tournament with Lamble ...
HIGH SCHOOL: 2009 graduate of Salpointe Catholic in Tuscon, Ariz. ...played for coach Perri Touche ... high school team won three state championships ... ranked Top 5 in the SouthWest section and no. 179 in the nation ... also played soccer and volleyball ...
PERSONAL: Parents are Robin and Linda McGeorge ... has three siblings, Tommy, Kate, and Maeve ...brother plays tennis at the University of Iowa ... enjoys hanging out with friends and watching movies ... member of National Honor Society and student council ... She will be majoring in Marketing.


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Edward_Addict wrote:who_needs_fangs? wrote:I don't think that the shape-shifters and vampires are mortal enemies. I think that the shape-shifters and anything that threatens the tribe safety are enemies. The first spirit warriors protected the tribe from rival tribes in the north, and the first spirit wolf protected the tribe from Utlapa. After a while, there was no need for protection, and no need for the wolves, but when the vampires came, the need for protection, and ergo the need for wolves came back.
The best analogy I can come up with is how its believed that mitochondria used to be a different organism, but lost its functions, other than turning sugar into ATP, because the human cell would do the other functions for it. That sounded a lot better in my head.
So I think that if in the future, La Push needed to be protected again, even from something other than vampires, and a human couldn't handle it, the wolves would come back and take care of it
Well-said! *claps* I totally agree, and I actually understood everything you were trying to say
Yay, I spoke eloquently! I'm glad to see you share my views

subset: commoncrawl


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Revision as of 16:21, 20 December 2011
This is Page 2 of Plugin related and other generic customizations in Builder. Here is Page 1.
- 1 How to add social media icons in navigation module
- 2 How to display Posts from a specific category on a Page in Magazine Extension style
- 3 How to show WP-Property's Single Property View inside Builder's content module
- 4 How to use CSS3 PIE
- 5 How to set up Shopp in iThemes Builder
- 6 How to add smooth animation effect for navigation menus
- 7 How to float a div at any position on top of other elements in the container
1. Edit your child theme's functions.php.
Add the following at the end (before closing PHP tag, if present):
add_filter('wp_nav_menu_main-menu_items','add_images', 10, 2); function add_images($items, $args) { $items .= '

'; $items .= '

'; $items .= '

'; $items .= '

'; return $items; }
Note: In the above code, main-menu must be replaced with the slug of your custom menu. Ex.: If the name of your custom menu is Primary Navigation, then
add_filter('wp_nav_menu_main-menu_items','add_images', 10, 2);
must be changed to
add_filter('wp_nav_menu_primary-navigation_items','add_images', 10, 2);
2. Add the following at the end of child theme's style.css and customize it if necessary:
/* Custom Styles For The Social Media Widget Icons in Navigation */ li#first-social-icon { margin-left: 355px; /* Adjust this value so the icons are positioned at your desired location. */ } /* li.social-icon { height: 36px; } */ /* Needed only in certain themes like Traverse */ li.social-icon a, li.social-icon a:hover { padding: 1px 0 0 8px; } li.social-icon a:hover { opacity: 0.8; -moz-opacity: 0.8; background: none; } li.social-icon:hover, li.social-icon:hover a { background: none; }
That's it!
Sample implementations:
1. Traverse with round icons:
How to display Posts from a specific category on a Page in Magazine Extension style
The instructions below outline how to have all posts from a category named Issues (ID = 18) appear on a Page titled Issues List (slug = issues-list).
1. Ensure that pretty permalinks are enabled. Create a Page titled Issues. Do not enter any content in the Page. Just enter the title and publish.
2. Save this code as page-issues-list.php. (i.e., page-<<slug>>.php)
- Set a title for this Page in line 12.
- Edit the category ID in line 21.
Upload this file to child theme directory.
3. Copy lib directory from parent Builder/extensions/magazine directory into child theme directory.
4. Add this at the end of child theme's style.css.
That's it.
Note: If a layout is applied to this Page, ensure that it (the layout) does not have an extension applied.
How to show WP-Property's Single Property View inside Builder's content module
When using WP-Property plugin for Property and Real Estate Management with a active Builder child theme, a modified property.php should be placed in child theme directory for the single property entry to appear within the content module.
The steps below are for Foundation - Blank 2.0.2 and may need to be tweaked slightly for other child themes.
1. Place a copy of wp-content/plugins/wp-property/templates/property.php in wp-content/themes/BuilderChild-Foundation-Blank
2. Wrap property.php in Builder's render_content(). Observe single.php.
Here is the customized property.php.
3. Add the following at the end of child theme's style.css:
.clearfix { display: block !important; } .property_content .clearfix { display: inline-block !important; }
1. To display a listing of all property entries, place this shortcode in HTML view in any Page:
2. If you would like to set a view for single property entries, it can be done at My Theme -> Layouts & Views -> Views.
How to use CSS3 PIE
PIE stands for Progressive Internet Explorer. It is an IE attached behavior which, when applied to an element, allows IE to recognize and display a number of CSS3 properties.
It is used to get CSS3 properties like border-radius working in IE older than version 9.
Follow the steps below to make CSS3 PIE work in Builder:
1. Download the latest version of CSS3 PIE from here.
2. Extract the zip flle and upload PIE.htc to any web reachable directory.
3. Add
position: relative; style to all those selectors for which you would like to use CSS3 PIE. You will of course be specifying border-radius/box-shadow etc. properties (which are supported by CSS3 PIE).
#text-6 { -moz-border-radius:10px; -webkit-border-radius:10px; border-radius:10px; position: relative; } #text-6 .widget-title { -moz-border-radius:10px 10px 0px 0px; -webkit-border-radius:10px 10px 0px 0px; border-radius:10px 10px 0px 0px; position: relative; }
The above CSS is written to make a widget whose ID is text-6 rounded.
Screenshot in Firefox:
4. Add the following in your child theme's functions.php:
function my_render_ie_pie() { ?>  <?php } add_action('wp_head', 'my_render_ie_pie', 8);
In the above, replace
#your-css-elements-herewith CSS selectors for which you have specified CSS 3 properties and for which you would like to use CSS3 PIE.
- http://www.redkitecreative.com/PIE.htc with the URL of PIE.htc on your server.
Code in functions.php:
function my_render_ie_pie() { ?>  <?php } add_action('wp_head', 'my_render_ie_pie', 8);
Now border-radius property for #text-6 and #text-6 .widget-title will work in IE 8 and below.
Screenshot in IE 8:
- This particular example does not render properly in IE 7 probably because of using PIE on an element inside another element. This is the behavior coming from PIE itself and not Builder. Screenshot.
- IE 9 supports border-radius natively. So PIE will not be used in IE 9.
That's it!
Source: http://www.position-relative.com/2011/01/using-css3-pie-in-wordpress-custom-themes/
How to set up Shopp in iThemes Builder
Shopp is an e-commerce plugin that adds a feature-rich online store to your WordPress-powered website or blog.
Shopp works out of the box in Builder without the need to edit any template files.
The steps below outline how Shopp can be set up in Builder:
1. After Shopp has been installed and activated, it will create four placeholder pages.
Each of these pages include Shopp-specific shortcodes that are replaced with dynamic content generated by Shopp.
2. Go to Shopp -> Settings, Continue to Shopp Setup...
Go through the various settings and fill them out. Refer to links at the bottom of this page for details on these settings.
3. Presentation Settings:
Make sure you have saved the settings that have been entered in the previous options thus far, if any, before proceeding further.
a) Click on Use Custom Templates button.
b) Create a directory in your active theme (Builder child theme) named shopp. You can either use a FTP client or your hosting cPanel file manager for this.
c) Reload the Presentation Settings in the WordPress/Shopp admin and click Install Theme Templates button.
At this point, Shopp will make a copy of the built-in default templates into the newly created shopp directory within your active theme.
d) Tick Enable theme templates and save changes.
4. Now you are ready to add products. Go to Shopp -> Products. Click Add New. Enter the details and save the product.
Note: After a product image has been added, if its thumbnail does not appear i.e., if it looks like:
go to Shopp -> Settings -> System and uncheck Enable Flash-based uploading next to Upload System. Save changes.
You will have to edit the products and add images again.
Shop page (Products listing page)
Live Demo: http://sridhar.internal.ithemes.com/shop/ (Dummy site, do not place orders)
Product page
Cart page
Go to My Theme -> Settings -> Analytics and JavaScript Code. Paste the following in the text area under
"List any JavaScript or other code to be manually inserted inside the site's  tag in the input below."

Save settings.
Note: in the code sample, it is assumed that your menu unordered list tag has a class of "menu" (

). To make sure, inspect the menu using Firebug.
How to float a div at any position on top of other elements in the container
1. Add the following in child theme's functions.php:
add_action('builder_layout_engine_render_container', 'add_floating_box', 0 ); function add_floating_box() { ?>

 HTML code comes here

 <?php }
In the above, place the code needed to display your logo (for example) where "HTML code comes here" is present.
2. Add the following at the end of child theme's style.css:
#floating-box-container { width: 1000px; /* set this to container (layout) width */ margin: 0 auto; position: relative; z-index: 100; } #floating-box { position: absolute; top: 50px; left: 0; background: yellow; width: 200px; height: 100px; }
In the above, you might want to adjust top, left, background, width and height values.
A practical example of implementing this method can be found here.


text:
Newsletter courtesy Special Collections, University of Memphis Libraries
In our October 2012 issue, I wrote a heartwarming column about the William R. Moore School of Technology — perhaps better known today as Moore Tech — where students are trained in all kinds of hands-on crafts: plumbing, auto mechanics, electricity, carpentry, you name it.
And if you were studying carpentry there, you didn't just build some bookends, or a gun rack.
Nope. You built a house.
Well, technically, a child's playhouse, as shown in this 1940 issue of the William R. Moore School newsletter.
But what a playhouse it was! Complete with fireplace and steeply shingled room, the wooden cottage included a bedroom, living room, kitchen, and breakfast room. (No bathroom, though.) According to the newsletter, this fine-looking little home was designed by student Robert Irwin and constructed by James Bazemore. How many homes today are designed and built by just two people?
Okay, that's all very interesting, but why did I title this column a "mystery"? Well, because I want to know what happened to the playhouse. It's not only very nice looking, but it seems to be very substantial. I wonder if they donated it to some organization, or perhaps sold it to an individual in town?
I know it's a long way back to 1940, but if anybody can recall seeing this little building anywhere, or knows what happened to it, please let me know.


text:
Commission historians to do own research on Michigan St. Baptist Church
Historians on the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission will continue searching for any evidence that Michigan Street Baptist Church was a hiding place for slaves on the Underground Railroad, even as they question a recent consultant's report casting doubt on the claim.
Still, commissioners said the important thing is to recognize that the church has been a beacon in the community for centuries and was central to the Underground Railroad and the anti-slavery movement.
"What is important to us is the fact the entire congregation rallied and [that] very important national and international figures took a stand against slavery," Chairwoman Karen Stanley Fleming said during Monday's commission meeting,
The comments came in the wake of the consultant's report that found no evidence slaves hid out in the church, as many people have contended over the years. Historians and researchers who worked on the study, "If These Walls Could Talk: Uncovering the Historic Past of a Buffalo Landmark," said they were unable to find any records – oral or written – to confirm that the church was an Underground Railroad stop.
The report, funded by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, was unveiled last month at the church and focused on its construction and history.
It was commissioned by the Buffalo Niagara Freedom Station Coalition and will be used by the coalition to plan the church's continued restoration and to determine what time period to focus on when teaching the history of the site.
The red-brick church at 511 Michigan Ave. is a key element of Buffalo's burgeoning African-American heritage tourism district – one of four anchors of the corridor, along with the Colored Musicians Club, the Nash House Museum and the Langston Hughes Institute.
Despite the report, commissioners Monday focused on the church's overall historic significance.
Dorothy Hill, president of the Langston Hughes Institute, was the only commissioner at Monday's meeting in the Larkin Building who had attended the unveiling of the report. She said she was "disturbed" by it.
"Because our history is oral, you may never find documents. I got calls from members of the community concerned they said [that] there was no evidence of documentation. It is unsettling in our community. Are they trying to undermine the Michigan Street Baptist Church history?" she said.
"The report was incomplete, and I'm glad we have our historians looking at it," she added.
Other commissioners agreed.
"I don't think you can minimize the incredibly important role the church and the community" played in history, said commission Treasurer Howard Zemsky.
Commission member Willow Brost said, "We may never know the whole truth, but the flip side is you can't discount that it was an" integral part of the anti-slavery movement and the history of civil rights.
Commission member Lillian S. Williams, an associate professor at the University at Buffalo and former chairwoman of its Department of African-American Studies, will continue looking into the history of the church for the commission.
But she made it clear at Monday's meeting that information about the Underground Railroad was not public knowledge at the time.
Abolitionist "were not going to advertise 'I'm here,' " she said. "But there were oral traditions that said where the safe havens were for former slaves."
"Most of it was oral history, so what documentation are researchers who conducted the study looking for?" said commission member Felix Armfield, a SUNY Buffalo State professor with a doctorate who specializes in U.S. history, African-American history, archival administration and local black history. Anti-slavery advocates "did not take out an advertisement in the newspaper," Armfield said.
Commission Vice Chairman George Scott said the Underground Railroad had to be kept "undercover. That's the whole reason it's called the Underground Railroad."
In other business, the commission approved the final draft management plan for the corridor and will forward it to the State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Advisory council work groups for outreach, grant seeking, partnerships and history will be set up. The groups will meet over the summer and come up with recommendations for the commission by its next meeting at 1 p.m. Aug. 12.
email: email@example.com


text:
Sony has announced its rumoured Xperia Tablet Z in Japan, at just 6.9mm thick and 495g heavy. The Z tablet is a duo with the Xperia Z smartphone announced at CES 2013 and a follow-up to the Xperia Tablet S.
The Tablet Z features a 10.1-inch 1,920 x 1,200 screen, Qualcomm 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 8.1-megapixel rear-camera, microSD expansion slot, NFC, LTE, Sony S-Force sound, and Android 4.1 as the operating system. In Sony fashion, it is also water and dust-proof, coming in white or black.
The Xperia Z tablet seems to make sense as a complement to the Xperia Z handset, which has been well received. During our hands-on with the smartphone, we found it to be well constructed and zippy, but our review will tell the full story.
Leaked NTT DoCoMo information earlier this week showed that the network plans to announce it in Japan on 22 January - next Tuesday. No word on European or US carriers.
No word on the pricing of the tablet either, but Pocket-lint will be hands-on at Mobile World Congress 2013 in Barcelona, where we hope to get a closer look.
Sony has also confirmed to Pocket-lint that at the moment this is a Japanese product launch only.


text:
Joshua Hoffine's "Black Lullaby" Kickstarter Project
If you've been following this blog for a while, you know I'm a fan of Joshua Hoffine's photography. I had the pleasure of meeting him and his wife (then fiancée) Jennifer a few years ago when I bought his print "Death" a few years ago.
Before you pick up that discounted copy of a B-horror film, or buy a pumkin spiced latte, or buy clearance Halloween items, let me direct you to a better cause for your $10 to be spent on.
And I say $10 specifically because I know money is tight everywhere. Believe me. I know.
But even that little bit of cash can help to support something pretty cool.
He has a kickstarter project called Black Lullaby which I just pledged $30 towards. He's in the process of making a short film inspired by his collection of photographs and needs some help with shooting the final monster appearance plus all that post production goodness. Watch the video below to learn more directly from the man himself.
My $30 pledge bumped their tally over $6,000 meaning they need just shy of $1000 ($975 to be exact) in the next 13 days (12 if you are reading this on Tuesday).
Let's see if we can get this funded. Tis the season, Halloween fans and Haunters. Let's help something deliciously dark out in the world.
Ooooh. Sounds like a cool
Ooooh. Sounds like a cool project! I haven't seen his art work before, but it looks awesome. I'm definitely going to have to contribute. :D
Post new comment


text:
Hood Theological Seminary Stats, Info and Facts
|Religious affiliation:
|African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
|Institution Type:
|Private not-for-profit
|Campus Setting:
|Southeast Mid-size suburb
|Highest Degree Offered:
|Doctor's degree - other
|Level of Institution:
|Four or more years
Hood is a school with a diverse faculty, staff, and students; from different ethical , denominations, and demographic.…
Looks like there are no "Am I Enjoying Being Here" reviews for Hood Theological Seminary.
Have you been to this college? Take a moment to create an account with Cappex and tell us your thoughts. Rating this school will make you eligible to win the Cappex Reviews Scholarship!


text:
Hauppauge, New York (PRWEB) February 08, 2013
Teachers Federal Credit Union (TFCU), in partnership with Generations Gold, Inc., provides travel and other discount services on an exclusive basis directly to members through its Benefits Plus program. Benefits Plus offers three tiers of savings for TFCU account holders – savings at a local level, a national level, plus a variety of free services that are included in the membership.
For a small monthly fee of $4.95, TFCU account holders can benefit and enjoy significant savings all year long. "Depending on a family's spending habits, a typical family can save hundreds of dollars a year when they take advantage of the program's travel, hotel, discount dining, prescription drug, and even pet insurance discounts," said Robert G. Allen, CEO of Teachers Federal Credit Union.
For Valentine's Day, Benefits Plus members are offered discounted gift cards to popular retail outlets such as Barnes & Noble, Victoria's Secret or Bath and Body Works. Or, they can choose a special Dinner and a Movie package with steep discounts to their favorite local restaurants.
Local merchants can also sign up for the program, free of charge, by simply agreeing to offer an exclusive discount to those who are members of Benefits Plus. In turn, TFCU will promote these local businesses to its member base and the general public through, what amounts to, free advertising and on-going marketing.
"Every dollar spent really makes a difference when it goes into the local economy. By offering Benefits Plus Membership, TFCU is helping its members save money while helping local cash registers ring. TFCU is dedicated to supporting the local Long Island Economy and its residents," said Robert G. Allen.
For more information about Benefits Plus membership, please call 631-698-7000, extension 6780.
About TFCU:
Teachers Federal Credit Union (TFCU), one of the country's largest credit unions, is a full-service, not-for-profit financial institution. TFCU was founded on Long Island in 1952 and now has over $4.7 billion in total assets, serves more than 227,000 members and has 23 full-service branches throughout Suffolk County including: Amityville, Bay Shore, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Central Islip, Commack, East Northport, Entenmann's, Farmingville, Hauppauge, Holbrook, Huntington, Nesconset, North Babylon, Oakdale, Port Jefferson Station, Riverhead, Rocky Point, Selden, Shirley, Smithtown, South Setauket, and Stony Brook University (2). Members also have access to services at more than 4,900 shared service centers located across the country. TFCU offers financial services to all people and businesses located in Nassau and Suffolk counties (excluding the townships of Southampton, East Hampton and Shelter Island). More information is available about TFCU by visiting http://www.teachersfcu.org or by calling (631) 698-7000.


text:
The OECD Science, Technology and Industry Outlook (www.oecd.org/sti/outlook) is an OECD flagship publication that presents the conclusions of a biennial review of global trends in science, technology and innovation (STI) policies.
Every two years the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry (DSTI), under the aegis of the OECD Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy (CSTP), reviews key trends in STI and STI policies in OECD countries and major emerging economies (including Brazil, People's Republic of China, India, Indonesia and the Russian Federation).
Country-specific information is collected through a major STI policy survey sent to CSTP Delegates who coordinate the submission of a consolidated response for their country. This exercise can imply gathering contributions from the different Ministries and/or Departments responsible for science and innovation policy.
The STI Outlook Policy Database is a new qualitative database comprised of country responses to the STI Outlook policy survey.
2012 marked a turning point where knowledge accumulated through the STI Outlook process would be used more intensively. Since 2012, a pre-filled version of the STI Outlook questionnaire is prepared by the OECD on the basis of country responses to previous questionnaires as well as other related resources. After countries' submission, responses are edited and harmonised by the OECD to ensure a minimal level of international comparability. They may also be complemented with information drawn from complementary OECD and non-OECD sources. The STI Outlook Policy Database offers access to the current and past questionnaires.
This is a sample of the STI Outlook Policy database that was created for a preliminary dissemination, in particular through the OECD Innovation Policy Platform
Countries' official responses may be complemented with recent OECD work on innovation policy conducted under the auspices of the CSTP:
Official documents and non-OECD sources are also used when appropriate, i.e. EU Erawatch/TrendChart reports.


text:
MA: Elementary Inclusive Education Initial Certification with Gifted Extension | Gifted Education | Curriculum & TeachingSkip to content Skip to main navigation
Gifted Education
The Department of Curriculum and Teaching
MA: Elementary Inclusive Education Initial Certification with Gifted Extension
The gifted education extension option allows students in the Elementary Inclusive Education Program to receive the New York State extension in gifted education along with their initial elementary education certification by including 12 credits in gifted education in their course of study. Students who choose this option complete an additional semester of student teaching (3 credits) in a gifted education setting, which can be an inclusive setting, along with three courses in gifted education. This is a 52-point M.A. program.
Students who are interested in entering this program can choose this option either when they apply for admission to the Elementary Inclusive Education Program, by designating the extension on their applications, or by informing Professor Borland and Professor Oyler of their intention to pursue the extension once they have matriculated in the Elementary Inclusive Education Program.
Since the extension program combines courses and requirements from the Elementary Inclusive Education Program and the Program in Gifted Education, advisement is provided by the faculty of both programs. Faculty in the Program in Gifted Education advise students on matters related to courses in gifted education, student teaching in gifted education, and the culminating project.
If students have any questions about the extension program, they should get in touch with Professor Borland at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Course Requirements for the 48-credit Gifted Education Extension
Foundation and Methods Courses:
- C&T 4000 Disability, exclusion, and schooling** (3)
- C&T 4143 Multicultural social studies** (3)
- MSTM 5010 Math methods (3)
- MSTC 4040 Science methods (3)
- HBSS 4116 Health education for teachers (1)
- Various Educational foundations (philosophy/social science in education or child development) (2)
Student Teaching Semesters:
- C&T 4123 Core: Inclusive curriculum and instruction (fall) (3)
- C&T 4123 Core: Inclusive curriculum development (spring) (3)
- C&T 4726 Professional lab experience (year-long course) Practica and student teaching (8)
- C&T 4702 Student teaching: Giftedness (3)
- C&T 4133/2 Literacy methods (fall and spring) (6)
- Various Literacy electives (2)
Gifted Education Courses
Nine credits from any of the following:
- C&T 4021 Nature and needs of gifted students (2-3 credits)
- C&T 4022 Instructional models in the education of gifted students (1-3 credits)
- C&T 4023 Differentiated curriculum for gifted students (2-3 credits)
- C&T 4024 Planning and implementing programs for gifted students (3 credits)
- C&T 4026 Giftedness and intelligence (2-3 credits)


text:
LeBron James choosing free agency, source says
New York — Four years after "The Decision," LeBron James appears headed toward another one.
The Miami Heat star and four-time NBA MVP has decided to exercise his contract's early termination option, meaning he'll be a free agent July 1, a source close to him told CNN's Rachel Nichols on Tuesday.
The move would set up the 29-year-old NBA icon for a possible departure from Miami, where he has played the last four seasons, reaching four league finals and winning two championships.
James famously left his first team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, via free agency in 2010, teaming up with Heat star Dwyane Wade and fellow free agent Chris Bosh in Miami. James made that much-anticipated announcement in an ESPN special called "The Decision."


text: Another taste of what is to come at EICMA, Rieju has announced that they will be launching the RS3, a replacement for their RS2 50cc-125cc displacement sportbikes, at the EICMA 2009 International Motorcycle Show in Milan on November 9th. Designed in conjunction with ArianeTech Ingeniería and Xenophya Design, this little sportbike is sure to turn a few heads…unfortunately, just not in America. More after the jump.


text:
You are here
"If you stand still for long enough in this place, you'll either be stained or painted," jokes Anthony Evans, referring to his wife Valerie's prodigious talent with the paintbrush. Anthony is managing director of Cole & Son, the long-established British wallpaper manufacturer. Valerie is an interior designer who got her start in the business more than 30 years ago by getting a job as a builder's mate and learning how to do plumbing and build cupboards.
Designed with American David Easton, Cole & Son's "St. James Trellis" wallpaper covers the drawing room's walls. Small framed pictures resting on old books and a leopard throw made from an aunt's coat (not shown) add quirkiness to the apartment. Concealed doors in the mirrored wall lead to a spare bedroom.
Paintings that flank the dining alcove conceal storage cupboards. The table and chairs were bought cheaply at auction, then painted and distressed by Valerie. The chairs are upholstered in a chic Lee Jofa check.
The master bedroom is papered in classic "Madras Violet," with matching linen curtains. A gilt Victorian mirrored screen makes an inspired headboard.
Another view of the master bedroom. The bedside lamp is by Bella Figura, through Lee Jofa, to the trade only.
The patio off the drawing room was once a cellar, with no windows or doors. The mirrored panels not only reflect light into the living area, but create the illusion of space, not to mention a forest of Italian cypresses.
Anthony and Valerie Evans.
In 2000, Anthony and some associates made a successful bid to buy Cole & Son, the venerable British manufacturer of wqallpaper. After raising the money, they set about rehiring all the workers who had been made redundant in recent years. "They were not just factory workers," he explains, "but craftsmen with tremendous expertise." Since then Cole & Son has gone from "strength to strength," particularly in the United States, where the wallpaper is distributed by Lee Jofa.


text:
Standard equipmentCurrent Page
|Total length *
|Interior length (cm)
|Total width / Interior width (cm)
|Total height / Interior height (cm)
|Awning dimensions (cm)
|Mass of the unladen vehicle (kg) **
|Mass in running order (kg) **
|Maximum technically permissible laden mass (kg) **
|Maximum user payload (kg) **
|Tyre size
|Rim size
|5 1/2 J x 14
|Sleeping berths
|Bed dimensions, front (cm)
|193 x 85 / 193 x 85
|Bed dimensions, centre (cm)
|Bed dimensions, rear (cm)
|198 x 137
|Hinged windows all around ***
|Skylights with insect protection
|AL-KO Euro chassis with semi-trailing link axle (mono axle , starting from body length 650 with tandem axle)
|2 hydraulic wheel shock absorbers
|Automatic reversing system
|Hand brake servo-assisted
|AKS stabiliser
|Spare wheel mount screw-in mount in gas bottle box
|Adjustment with crank supports
|Roof of GRP w/ reduced sensitivity of hail
|Aluminium hammer tone finish, front and tail in blank sheet
|Lockable outside hatch
|Door width 60 cm, with windowsplit horizontally incl. garbage
|Convenience one-key locking system
|Gas bottle box in the front can be equipped with 2 x 11 kg gas bottles
|Thickness, roof: 31 mm , Thickness, side wall: 31 mm, Thickness, floor: 38 mm
|12 V outdoor tent light
|Additional security lighting 3rd brake light
|Rotating aluminium edging-loading PROTECFRAME option for awnings (both sides)
|Integrated front and brake lights with LED technology
|Furniture flaps Mali Akazie decor
|Hard-wearing PVC floor covering in Yacht design
|Ventilated cupboards and storage compartments
|Upholstery selection: Brown Earth, Lime Green
|5 zones of comfort foam mattress, divided
|Textile room partitioner
|Single column lift table
|Electric coupling to drawing vehicle, Jaeger 13 pole
|Interior lighting complete in 12V version
|230 V Euro exterior power socket, several security interior sockets
|Transformer 384 VA
|Gas heating, model: Truma S 3004 (up to body length 500) , Truma S 5004 (starting from body length 550)
|Fresh water tank permanent mount, 45 ltr.
|Central waste water discharge, one exterior water outlet underneath floor
|Hot water supply with immersion pump 12 V
|Truma Therme hot-water system for kitchen and toilet
|Air circulation system 12V, air circulation system with temperature sensitive automatic revolution system
|3-flame gas stove with glass cover and stainless steel sink
|KNAUS kitchen tap
|Refrigerator Dometic 108 ltr., gas, 230 V, 12V (gas operation in driving mode are only allowed in combination with Truma Mono Contol)
|Comfort bathroom (optional shower set)
|Washing basin tap "KNAUS"
|Hinged window in toilet room with frosted glass and blinds/insect protection blinds (depending on vehicle layout)
|Thetford bank toilet
Additional information
– Not provided
* Including drawbar
** Please refer to the notes and explanations
*** Interior: flyscreen and black out blind


text:
- Posted March 13, 2012 by
- armandog8
Washington, District of Columbia
This iReport is part of an assignment:
Occupy Wall Street
Occupy DC protests H.R. 347
- jmsaba, CNN iReport producer
On March 12th, 2012 at 7pm protesters from Occupy DC gathered at McPherson Square with the purpose of voicing their discomfort with the signing, by President Obama, of H.R. 347.
H.R. 347, also known as the Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act, passed the House 399-3 last week, and on Thursday it was signed into law by the President. H.R. 347 is a modified version of an old law which restricted entering or blocking public areas closed off by the Secret Service while an individual, under their protection, is passing through; The law also included major public events.
Occupy movements all over the U.S. are well aware of this law as it has been used to shunt protestors at major political events into "free speech zones". Police may use this law at their discretion when events such as the G8 or other bilateral conferences are taking place.
The modified version added a few areas, within the District of Columbia, to the federally protected areas in the list. In addition, the new version got rid of part of the language from the original law, which noted that protesters were entering a protected area "willfully and knowingly" H.R. 347 deletes the word "willfully," meaning that prosecutors no longer need to prove that someone knew what they were doing was illegal to convict them.
Given this, the Occupy DC movement felt as if the version of the law has been rewritten, specifically, to target their protests.
Approximately 80 protesters headed to the White House in what they called 'a silent march'; A few of them had put tape on their mouth to symbolize, what they feel is, an infringement on their 1st amendment. Heading down 15th st NW they made a quick stop by Freedom Plaza, where the other Occupy DC movement is, to attempt to get others to join the protest. They then headed to the White House where they decided to take out the tape covering their mouths and proceeded to actively chant as they extended banners reading: "Congress shall make no law prohibiting freedom of speech or the right of the people peaceably to assemble" throughout the front fence. After 30 minutes they then decided to 'take the streets' and headed up on 17th st NW until they reached K st where theylay on the road, blocking traffic, which prompted police cars to quickly increase in numbers. As they marched eastbound on K street, they attempted to have an impromptu 'General Assembly' until a 1st warning-for arrest, was given on the intersection of K and 16th citing DC laws prohibiting the blocking of Federal roadways.
The protest ended back at McPherson square and according to a police spokesman no arrests were made, in what at times seemed to be a potentially escalating situation.


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MultiLevel Coaches - New Jersey and Maryland, USA & Montreal, Canada
The MultiLevel coach features upper and lower seating levels, as well as a spacious intermediate level at each end of the car -making the coach truly "multi-level."
Developed with extensive input from NJ TRANSIT customers and employees, the state-of-the-art, stainless steel MultiLevel coach offers new levels of capacity, comfort and convenience. Each MultiLevel coach has 15-30% more seating capacity than a typical single-level car, yet is specially designed to meet the infrastructure constraints of certain rail networks, such as those posed by tunnels.
In service since 2006, the MultiLevel coach provides a two-by-two seating configuration that eliminates the middle seat found on many single-level vehicles. Other comfort features include specially designed seats with improved lumbar support, and more leg room, knee room and seat width than found in conventional coaches.
Large side doors located at the intermediate level provide accessibility from both high and low level platforms, and wider aisles facilitate passenger boarding and alighting. Automated public address systems and LED destination screens keep passengers informed.
Today, over 600 MultiLevel coaches are in operation at NJ TRANSIT, the Maryland Transit Administration and the Agence Metropolitaine de Transport of Montréal.
|Length over couplers
|25,908 mm / 85' 0"
|Width over threshold
|3,048 mm / 10' 0"
|Maximum service speed
|160 km/h / 100 mph
|Seated Passengers
|127 (cab car)
142 (trailer car)
132 (trailer car with rest room)


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In land conservation related to our region, two things really get me excited: public access (and especially trails) and vast expanses of protected natural lands.
So it's no wonder why I find the East Fork Headwaters tract in Transylvania County to be so appealing. With all that it has to offer, and what its ongoing protection means to our region, I think you'll get excited, too. With that in mind, please allow me to update you on the efforts of Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy and its partners to protect this special place and make it accessible for your enjoyment.
A history
At 8,000 acres, the EFH is one of the largest remaining undeveloped tracts of privately owned land in Western North Carolina. It contains the headwaters of the East Fork of the French Broad River, rare Southern Appalachian mountain bogs, and miles of the bio-diverse Blue Ridge Escarpment.
In 2009, CMLC and partners began working toward conservation and public access at EFH in order to protect the scenic beauty and critical natural resources that so positively affect the quality of life for residents and visitors of our region.
Protecting the tract from development and making it available for public recreation — such as hunting, fishing and hiking — could represent the last opportunity in our region to conserve a landscape-scale portion of our beloved mountains and their precious natural resources.
New partners emerge
In 2010, CMLC and its partner The Conservation Fund achieved the acquisition of 786 acres at the EFH. The purchase spanned the tract's highest elevations along the Blue Ridge Escarpment itself. It included nine miles of the venerable Foothills Trail system, completing a corridor of publicly accessible protected lands that now stretches nearly 100 miles across the Blue Ridge from the Nantahala National Forest to DuPont State Recreational Forest.
But much remains to be conserved at EFH, so efforts haven't stopped there.
CMLC is excited to receive support from new partners working to protect the EFH tract — most notably the North Carolina Forest Service, who will become the owning and managing entity for future public acquisitions at EFH.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also seeks to protect EFH by supporting further acquisition of the tract.
These new allies, in addition to CMLC's longstanding partners, make up a coalition dedicated to the public acquisition of the remainder of the wild and scenic EFH tract.
More to be protected
Partners have sought funding from multiple sources in an effort to acquire more EFH lands. Recent funding granted from North Carolina's Natural Heritage Trust Fund and Clean Water Management Trust Fund will soon enable the purchase of about 1,800 more acres of the EFH tract.
The acquisition will include Turkey Mountain and more than a mile of Bursted Rock Creek, as well as land that buffers the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area and a private conservation easement held by CMLC at a property known as Happy Acres.
CMLC will contribute about $800,000 for an additional 200 acres of land acquisition at EFH. The funding, obtained from the N.C. Department of Agriculture, is the result of a legal settlement awarded to the state stemming from air pollution generated by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Altogether, about 2,000 more acres at EFH are slated for purchase for permanent protection and public ownership by early 2013. That equates to greater than three square miles of newly protected lands.
National wildlife refuge?
In 2012, the USFWS announced a new proposal for the protection of southern Appalachian mountain bogs, one of the nation's rarest and most imperiled plant and wildlife habitats.
The proposed Mountain Bogs National Wildlife Refuge aims to protect some of the last remaining southern Appalachian bogs in our region, conserving habitat for migratory birds and protecting habitat for federally threatened and endangered species.
If realized, the national wildlife refuge would be the first such federal designation in the southern Appalachians.
The project scope includes support for the potential acquisition of EFH — home to several mountain bogs — to serve as one of the refuge's large "anchor" tracts, in addition to protecting many smaller bog sites across the region.
Where compatible, the national wildlife refuge also intends to provide increased opportunities for wildlife-oriented recreation such as hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, education, and interpretation on lands currently closed to the public.
Mountain bogs, like those found at the EFH, possess a natural capacity for regulating water flow by holding floodwaters like giant sponges and slowly releasing the water to minimize the effects of droughts and floods.
These mountain wetlands play an important role in many aquatic food chains, and contribute to the productivity and high water quality needed by downstream fish, including native brook trout.
EFH needs your help
Protecting more land and water resources at the East Fork Headwaters can't be achieved by CMLC and its partners alone.
The project has benefited from strong partnerships at the federal, state and local levels. But the most important partner of all is you. Without widespread support of the community, the effort to conserve the natural treasures at EFH on a landscape scale cannot come to fruition.
Some of the resources needed to preserve EFH might be available in various funds set aside by our state and federal governments. In North Carolina, the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, Natural Heritage Trust Fund and other funds were created to invest in conservation projects that have significant positive impact on water quality and biodiversity — projects such as EFH. On the national scale, the Land and Water Conservation Fund was established by Congress to support the acquisition of special natural lands for public ownership.
These funding sources have conserved some of the most beautiful natural treasures in our state and in our nation. But their future is in jeopardy, and these funds likely won't continue unless you make your voice heard to your government representatives. Let them know of your support for these funds that make land conservation possible — and why you need them to protect EFH.
Excited about the East Fork Headwaters?
You can stay up to date with ongoing land conservation by Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy and its partners at EFH, and become involved with our efforts, by visiting www.carolinamountain.org.
Peter Barr is trails and outreach coordinator for Carolina Mountain Land Convervancy.
Saving the East Fork Headwaters
In land conservation related to our region, two things really get me excited: public access (and especially trails) and vast expanses of protected natural lands.


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'Dads Thompson allows five runs in Delmarva loss
After trailing 5-0 in the second inning, a Hickory Crawdads' rally fell just short.
Delmarva (6-8) held on to a 5-4 lead heading into the eighth inning of Wednesday's South Atlantic League contest against Hickory (8-6), when rain began to pour.
Officials called the game after seven complete innings, allowing the Shorebirds to survive the rally and a sweep on the road against the Crawdads.
Hickory starting pitcher Matt Thompson (3-5, 4.42) struggled in his short outing on Wednesday. Thompson pitched 1.1 innings.
Thompson walked five Delmarva batters, gave up two hits and five earned runs in the second inning.
Alejandro Selen began the Crawdads rally in the bottom of the second inning in unorthodox fashion. Selen attempted to steal third base, but was caught in a rundown. He safely advanced to third base, but Jake Skole attempted the double steal at second base on the same play.
Skole was tagged out trying for his steal, but Selen took advantage of the chaos and slid across home plate safely to cut into the Shorebirds' lead.
Crawdads' relief pitcher Colby Killian worked well through 2.2 innings on the mound.
However, Killian ran into a bases loaded jam in the top of the fifth inning, giving up two straight hits and a walk.
Third basemen Christian Villanueva made a great double play in the inning by stepping on third base on a ground ball and throwing to catcher Yefry Castillo for another out at home plate. That play erased two runners in scoring position, and Killian struck out Adam Gaylord to end the inning.
A two-RBI single by Odubel Herrera in the bottom of the fifth with one out whittled Delmarva's lead down to just two runs, 5-3. Jake Skole and Jonathan Roof scored on the play.
Continuing their frantic rally in the bottom of the seventh inning, Villanueva doubled and scored Roof. Villanueva advanced to third base with two outs, but Josh Richmond struck out to keep the Shorebirds ahead, 5-4.
A rain delay in the top of the eighth inning at 9:31 p.m. ended Hickory's chances at a victory, as the game was called due to severe weather.
Hickory opens up a four-game homestand with Lexington on Thursday at 7 p.m. at L.P. Frans Stadium.
The Crawdads and Legends play Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday before hitting the road on Tuesday.


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Welcome to the Bible Department
Welcome to the Department of Biblical and Theological Studies. As a member of the Nyack Bible faculty for over 15 years, I have grown to love what I do and what our department does for the Kingdom of God.
Every semester, on both the Rockland and New York City campuses and online, we offer over fifty courses in Hebrew, Greek, Old Testament, New Testament, Systematic Theology, Historical Theology, and "Integrative" Theology.
We are committed to excellence in classroom instruction and the practical relevance of the Bible's teaching for the Christian life. Whether you wish to become a more biblically informed layperson or seek formal training for full-time ministry, we hope to serve you well.
Thank you,
Frank Chan
Department Head
B.A. Wheaton College, M.A. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Ph.D. Westminster Theological Seminary


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Obama says kids know Romney is dishonest
President Obama sat for an interview with Rolling Stone for next month's issue and Playbook has the first look at the story by Douglas Brinkley:
"We arrived at the Oval Office for our 45-minute interview … on the morning of October 11th. … As we left the Oval Office, executive editor Eric Bates told Obama that he had asked his six-year-old if there was anything she wanted him to say to the president. … [S]he said, 'Tell him: You can do it.' Obama grinned. … 'You know, kids have good instincts,' Obama offered. 'They look at the other guy and say, "Well, that's a bullsh---er, I can tell."'"
(PHOTOS: 21 potty-mouthed politicians)
That's some frank language from Obama, who has a genuine disdain for GOP challenger Mitt Romney, as POLITICO's Glenn Thrush has reported. It's also a much more direct way of saying Romney has been hit with a case of "Romnesia," and has seemingly forgotten what he has stood for in the past.
(See also: POLITICO's swing-state map and Latest polls from across the U.S.)


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I've buckled to demand with 'Bits n Bobs' today and have finally got around to posting some highly requested Kit Kat and Pocky reviews. As a little added bonus I've also included another fantastic flavoured bar from Meiji - as you will see by the scores the standards are very high this week!
Kit Kat Green Tea Variety Minis
Kcal 69 Fat 4.0g Carbs 7.7g (Both Varieties)
I can't think for whatever reason why but there weren't too many volunteers coming forward from my family taste panel when these arrived in our latest J-List sampling box :D Indeed the task was left up to me to try these new green tea flavoured Kit Kats. Despite the rest of my families disregard, it seems that these are quite the popular product at J-List - at time of writing this post they were actually the best selling snack product on the website! This bag of thirteen minis contained two different green tea varieties, with six Rich Green Tea packs and seven Matcha Milk chocolate. Both flavours were portioned in 13.2g Mini format - small and unsatisfying, but certainly not lacking flavour.
If you look at the photos of each of the two above, you will see that in addition to the differentiated wrappers, there were also minor differences to the colouring of the two very funky looking green bars. Taste wise the two different varieties were only subtly different, though after a few of each I was able to pick my favoured one. As you will see reflected in the scoring charts below, my preference fell with the Matcha Milk Chocolate (the lighter green pack) as it had a creamier, sweeter aftertaste that didn't have the hint of bitterness that the other did. On the whole, I found both varieties both tasty and unique with their sweet, herby grass flavours complimented superbly by the malty wheat wafers. I have little doubt that the more adventurous Kit Kat lover will get a great deal of pleasure from these, though common sense tells you that they of course aren't going to be a product to appeal to everyone.
Kit Kat Rich Green Tea - 8.0 out of 10
Kit Kat Matcha Milk Chocolate - 8.1 out of 10
Glico Pocky Chocolate on Chocolate Caramel
Kcal 81 Fat 4.5g Carbs 9.2g (per 15.1g pack)
Despite the popularity of Kit Kats supposedly overtaking these in Japan, whenever I ask readers what brands and products they wanted to see reviewed on the site one of the most frequently requested are Pocky. Back in November I featured the first two variants from Pocky's new 'Chocolate on Chocolate' range (See HERE), a line of products that have supposedly come in to replace the Pocky Desserts. After sending my sampling recommendations to Peter at J-List, he saw fit to send across the latest flavour released on this new line-up - the Pocky Chocolate on Chocolate Caramel.
Unlike the Kit Kats above there were plenty of forthcoming volunteers willing to try these so I was glad to see they came in four sealed packets that had three sticks contained within each. On the J-List website, these were described as 'biscuit sticks covered in caramel and milk chocolate', which combined with the delightful toffee aromas had my expectations built up really quite high. Thankfully it was agreed by one and all that these expectations were delivered on. Despite the aged old problem of Pocky being rather unsubstantial, these tasted superb with the thick caramel bottom coating providing a delightful set of butterscotch flavours from the outset of each nibble. Though I was fearful that the milk chocolate pattern work on top was purely there for design purposes, it was nice to see the cocoa flavours come through in the latter stages of the development of the melt, which made the overall taste both progressive and multi-dimensional. It was agreed these were the best Pocky that we had tried in ages - they get a ChocolateMission recommendation.
8.4 out of 10
Meiji Mango Chocolate Bar
Kcal ??? Fat ??? Fat(sats) ??? Carbs ???
I told you the standards were high today and this Meiji Mango Chocolate didn't fail to hit the grade. Peter has been way too kind in sending me the latest Meiji products recently, but this one was without doubt one of the better flavours I have tried as of late. I will admit that mango fruit is a real favourite of mine, though I'm not sure if that was a good or a bad thing for Meiji as whilst this increased the likelihood of me being favourable to this flavour, it also set my expectations pretty high.
This bar came in a 46.0g block form, packaged in a very bright and cool looking box and silver foil protective duo. It was immediately noticeable (and a little worrying!) that the bar was very, very thin and flat in nature, whilst the aromas emanating from it's foil confines had just a minor touch of fruity artificialness. Thankfully all these initial worries were put to bed by the second the chocolate landed on my tongue. Despite it's skinnyness, this bar was one of the most flavoursome and fruity I have ever tasted. The milk chocolate was by all accounts nothing that special, but the mango element was just simply sensational. The realness of the sharp, sweet mango flavours was incredible and surpassed all my prior expectations with its long lasting, refreshing fruity flavours. If you are a fan of mango then I simply can't recommend this chocolate enough - I'll happilly give this the third ChocolateMission recommendation of the day.
8.2 out of 10


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FanExpo Art and Autograph
I'm finding more and more each year that I spend most (if not all) my shopping time (and money) in Artist Alley at FanExpo. A lot of people have echoed this statement. If you're looking for Bazinga t-shirts and Doctor Who figures, the retail section is for you. But really, despite Artist Alley being shuffled around and organized like an afterthought, it's the place to go to find unique and cool items (just be prepared to wade through the mishmash of genres and levels of professionalism).
This year I picked up a They Live print from Andrew Barr who always has a table nearby with Leigh Young. It was this print that I took to have John Carpenter sign. It's the first time I paid for an autograph in all the years I've attended the convention. Max Brooks, Guillermo Del Toro, House of Frightenstein folks: all free and lovely to chat with in years past. Mr. Carpenter was...there to sign autographs. Period. And that pretty much sums up our meeting. Though he did manage an initial smile when he shook my hand, and then was curious who the illustrator was for the image (luckily Andrew was behind me in line so I could point him out). But that was it. Yeah, yeah, we all love Jack Burton. Thanks for the $40, now step aside and quit with the small talk.
I also picked up an original piece by Emily Thomas of Mummy's Little Monster. Emily does pinup/tattoo/lowbrow/rockabilly horror type illustration mainly - which I love - but this little framed watercolour skull spoke to me. I think I was most excited about having an original from her vs picking up one of her rockin' prints.
Besides that, I have little to tell you about. Celebrity spotting included John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness) who is more buff in person than on tv (I was hypnotized by the thickness of his neck), and if you think he's good looking then you would appreciate the ruggedness he has in person that gets lost on screen; Gillian Anderson surprised me by being blonde (apparently her natural colour) and busty (big cleavage for the fan photo ops. Giving back to the fans!); Nelson Ellis (Lafayette on True Blood) was easily best dressed on the day I saw him. Shame I've had to stop watching the show since it's possibly the worst thing on television next to reality tv. And I'm convinced Christopher Lloyd is Polkaroo (or the originally elusive Mr. Snuffleupagus for those who didn't watch Polka Dot Door), since he was NEVER at his table despite there being lineups. The cast members of Walking Dead seemed to come in costume. And Jamie Bamber (Apollo in BSG) had crazy blonde highlights, hopefully for a movie he's in. Stan Lee - who seems to sneak an appearance or image of himself into everything these days - hid behind banners so no passerby could take his picture. If he's afraid of overexposure, we're waaaay past that point now, Stan.
The rest was a haze. And I am glad to be back to normal life.
Barrowman is quite the looker
Barrowman is quite the looker, isn't he? TV doesn't do him justice.
That is why
I really avoid signatures at conventions.....I am really trying not to have to do these at WCHC - but I know they are important. I wish I could say I was surprised.....sorry to hear that. But it is what it is....and Barrowman is beautiful :)
Post new comment


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- embed:
- link:
Brenn Wyson & Vince Ferelli in Hot Jocks Nice Cocks
Synopsis: Vince Ferelli is a man's man who has been wanting to learn how to box for some time. His good friend Brenn Wyson happens to be a boxing instructor, but ends up pushing Vince too hard and he winds up throwing his shoulder out. Brenn quickly comes to his rescue to massage his wounds, along with his cock.
Porn stars: Brenn Wyson , Vince Ferelli
Who: Boxer, Client, Coach, Friend, Trainer
Categories: Athletic, Big balls, Big dick, Bubble butt, Cum on stomach, Deep-throating, Dirty talk, Facial hair, Hairy Ass, Hairy chest, Jock strap, Kissing, Lean, Muscular, Rimming,


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Kidnapping, shooting suspect identified but still on the loosePosted: Updated:
PHOENIX -- Police are searching for a Phoenix man who kidnapped the mother of his child and then fired a rifle at a police officer while trying to make a run for it early Saturday morning.
It all started at about 3 a.m. at a home just southeast of 67th Avenue and Buckeye Road where the victim lives with her three children.
According to Sgt. Steve Martos of the Phoenix Police Department, Angel Padilla, the father of one of those kids, went to the home and assaulted the woman. He then allegedly forced the 32-year-old outside, dragged her into his vehicle and drove away, leaving all three children behind. One of the kids called 911.
As Padilla was driving away, a patrol officer who happened to be in the area saw him commit a traffic violation. That officer, who had not yet been informed of the 911 call or the developing situation, tried to stop Padilla. When Padilla refused to stop, the officer followed him northbound on 59th Avenue to Van Buren Street.
Padilla allegedly hit the brakes in the middle of the street, got out of the car and fired an SKS rifle at the officer, according to Martos. The officer, a five-year veteran of the force, was not able to return fire and Padilla took off once again.
About an hour later, police received a second 911 call, this one from the victim. She told police Padilla had dropped her off in the neighborhood of 43rd Avenue and Encanto Boulevard.
Officers converged on the area and set up a large search perimeter.
While they found Padilla's vehicle and the SKS rifle, which had been tossed into the bed of a pickup truck parked nearby, they were not able to locate Padilla himself. With no sign of Padilla and no immediate leads, officers called off their neighborhood search at about 9 a.m., six hours after the first 911 call.
The woman was taken to a local hospital and is expected to recover. The officer who was on the receiving end of Padilla rifle fire suffered a minor injury and was treated on the scene.
While Padilla and the victim have a child together, no information about their relationship or any history of violence was immediately available. Police have not said anything about what might have been behind Saturday morning's assault and subsequent kidnapping.
Padilla is a 35-year-old Hispanic male. He has multiple tattoos and was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans. Police have not released any other information about him. Even though Padilla ditched the rifle he used to fire at the patrol officer, investigators are taking no chances and are operating under the assumption that he is armed.
The Phoenix Police Department is asking anyone who knows the whereabouts of Padilla to call the Violent Crimes Bureau at 602-262-6141.


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text:
Welcome back to Dead Letters, the feature in which we reprint our favorite fan mail from throughout the week. It's like Deleted Scenes, but without all the scuzz money. We should take this moment to remind you that all emails to Deadspin and its editors are on the record unless otherwise specified. Now for your letters.
From: Connor O'Brien
To: The Staff
I come to deadspin for good articles of substance. I come to deadspin so I don't have to read the shit that ESPN puts out. So, don't waste my, and other readers fucking time with sensationalistic articles pondering whether or not the Steinbrenners would sell the Yankees.
Of course they wouldn't. They never will. Well, maybe, if enough people in charge develop dementia or alzheimers and sell the team back to Seattle.
Now, I have to say, I did not actually read the article. I did not even click on the article because I refuse to contribute to bullshit "journalism" by propping it up with my page view. If, by some miraculous reason this article doesn't layout some pseudo-hypothesis about how the Steinbrenners could be persuaded to sell the Yankees, then I apologize. But, you should not allow sensational headlines like this on deadspin. It undercuts the very foundation in which Deadspin stands on: interesting, thought provoking stories on sports without the bs.
Please keep deadspin credible and interesting.
Subject: Bush Dong
From: [Redacted]
To: The Staff
This is a perfectly sculpted dong bush outside my office window.
Subject: Recall: Bush Dong
From: [Redacted]
To: The Staff
[Redacted] would like to recall the message, "Bush Dong".
From: Tommy Craggs
To: [Redacted]
Ah, yes. We'll recall it fondly!
Subject: Tip for Deadspin
From: Dave Fisher
To: The Staff
Tip: The new web page design at Deadspin—it kinda sucks. I mean, it looks clean & nice. But the page is not inviting and I've found, to my surprise, that I can't be bothered to read the articles, 'cos there ain't no hooks. I look at the front page and and go, meh, then move on to, say, Grantland, pretty much immediately. Which is sad, 'cos every day for many, many years I used to scroll down the page through all the new stories and click on things that I otherwise never would have. Now there's hardly any content on the front page, just tidy composition and a pile of links. Can you say "boring" already? That's my tip. Good luck with it.
Subject: Jake Champion????
From: Chris Chapla
To: Barry Petchesky
You are a piece of SHIT!!!! Supporting an asshole who sucker punches someone!!??? What kind of man are you? Better question, what kind of author are you?? A piece of shit one!!!! FUCK YOU!!!
If you did not write that article, I apologize. If you did...FUCK YOU!
Subject: JR Smith
From: Patrick Kimberlin
To: Tom Scocca
Pretty quick to yell racism without any real knowledge of the story. That's so delightfully PC of you. Way to go.
Subject: Worst Witness Ever
From: KJ
To: Dom Cosentino
You forget to mention in your article that Mike McQueary testified under oath that he did not witness a crime and also testified that he simply assumed one had happened based on a set of circumstances. Never mind that, as described, the set of circumstances doesn't actually make sense either. You know, the part about the three slapping sounds he heard from forty away, around a concrete block wall through a 1.75 inch solid wood door allegedly from a tiled shower echoeing every single sound? Get ready for the write up because there is absolutely no evidence this alleged crime even happened and when it comes out it court, I fully expect Penn State and the Paterno family (Joe has already been proven to have done exactly what he should have) to set the record straight and they only way they can do it is in court.
Subject: Tuesday Night Fights
From: Colin Pflugradt
To: Brian Hickey
Keep up the good work man. I'm a bartender at a mexican restaurant and Taco Tuesday is our busiest douche-filled night of the week. There's nothing better than getting off of work to come home and watching Tuesday Night Fights, it gets me through the shift some weeks.
Subject: A reminder to deadspin.com
From: Taylor Green
To: The Staff
Taylor Green again here. Just wanted to check if my previous email has reached your inbox. I'd like to express my interest in your site deadspin.com. Kindly acknowledge this letter as soon as it gets to you.
Looking forward to hearing back from you soon.
Best regards,
Notable Twitter Fanmail


text:
Builder Duplicate Sidebar Widget
Builder's Duplicate Sidebar Widget allows you to quickly duplicate widgets used in widget areas of different Layouts.
Imagine having three layouts called Home, Blog, and Default. Each of these three layouts uses a two column Widget Bar module for the header. To keep the look of the site consistent, the same widgets should be used across all three layouts. Manually adding the same widgets to each of the three layouts and then updating three sets of matching widgets when any changes need to be made is possible but time consuming and error prone.
The Duplicate Sidebar widget functionality offers an easy way to manage this type of setup. Simply drop the Duplicate Sidebar widget into a sidebar that needs to have matching widgets, and select the desired sidebar from the "Sidebar to Duplicate" drop-down.
Using the widget
Visit Appearance > Widgets and locate the "Duplicate Sidebar" in the list of available widgets.
Drag the Duplicate Sidebar Widget to a widget area on the right side of the screen. Choose the sidebar to duplicate from the drop-down list.
(This drop-down list includes a list of current available Layouts with their Widget Areas and Sidebars)
Creative Uses
It is possible to create a loop of Duplicate Sidebar references. In other words, you can add a Duplicate Sidebar widget into sidebar A that is set to duplicate sidebar B and add a Duplicate Sidebar widget into sidebar B that is set to duplicate sidebar A without breaking your site. This leads to some interesting possibilities.
For example, the following image shows the result of loading a 5 column Widget Bar module with one Text widget and a Duplicate Sidebar widget each. Each Duplicate Sidebar widget is set to duplicate the next column's sidebar with the last one set to duplicate the first one, creating a circular reference. The image below shows the result of this type of configuration:
This is not likely to be useful for many users, but it could be just what you are looking to do.
- The Duplicate Sidebar widget is a Builder version 2.6.0 feature.
- The Duplicate Sidebar widget will insert the widgets from the other sidebar in the same location it was added in the widget order. Other widgets can be added above and below the Duplicate Sidebar widget to add additional widgets specific to that sidebar.
- The widget will not break if you tell it to duplicate its own sidebar. It will simply not display anything in this case.
See also
- Introduction to Builder Layouts
- Video Overview
- Creating a Builder Layout
- Applying Layouts to Specific Posts/Pages


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Views: 1725
1. These "big questions" have already been answered. By SCIENCE.
2. Life has no meaning except that which each individual assigns to it at any given moment of his/her existence.
3. Theists have caused more suffering, bloodshed, devastation, death, genocide, and countless other atrocities than atheists ever will.
4. "God" has not solved the problems of evil and suffering thus far and I am certain this will not change in the future.
5. Religion is not a prerequisite for a conscience or basic human decency. On any given day, any one of us will see an example of a theist who behaves in a completely immoral or indecent manner, often using "God" or religion as justification for that behavior.
6. "Human longings" are explained by the fact that we are human beings with brains, an imagination, emotions, instincts, etc. If I feel unfulfilled or empty it is because I am not taking care of myself in some way, not giving my body or mind something it needs at that moment. As for the "hunger for the spiritual," it is always a theist who tells us we are longing for this, period.
I find theists in general to be immature, irresponsible, unaccountable, fearful, insecure, and intellectually lazy. Same answer for everything --- pray about it. Not very often do I hear a theist talk about DOING something about it.
Kath, As you so rightly stated, "2. Life has no meaning except that which each individual assigns to it at any given moment of his/her existence."
Many years ago I was married to an abusive husband who was very well respected in our community, much loved by my family and his dental patients found him very gentle. He would come home and beat the daylights out of our family. His dental practice partner was abusive to his wife as well. I left first, got an education focusing on psychology, interpersonal relationships, and organizational development. I had a wonderful career and am now retired. His partner's wife left several years after me, she became an alcoholic and was never able to pull herself together. What made the difference between her choices and mine? We both had very young children, we both had only a year of college education when we left, we both had little work history except working while our husbands were in dental school.
As you so rightly stated, "2. Life has no meaning except that which each individual assigns to it at any given moment of his/her existence."
I know we are all free thinkers and I am not attempting to convince anyone of you, who is obviously already convinced. But if anyone is having trouble with these questions, I will offer my answers for their review.
1. If there is no God, "the big questions" remain unanswered, so how do we answer the following questions: Why is there something rather than nothing?
Answer: Read Lawrence Krauss' book, "Something from Nothing" - http://www.amazon.com/Universe-Nothing-There-Something-Rather/dp/14...
Nothing, i.e. empty space, is unstable and gravity shifts polarity constantly. This, at a sub-atomic level, causes energy fluctuations that creates and destroys quantum level matter billions of times a second. Eventually, the nothing becomes something.
Still not convinced? Read The Elegant Universe by Briane Greene. http://www.amazon.com/The-Elegant-Universe-Superstrings-Dimensions/...
2. If we reject the existence of God, we are left with a crisis of meaning, so why don't we see more atheists like Jean Paul Sartre, or Friedrich Nietzsche, or Michel Foucault?
Answer: Logical Fallacy, you assume crisis replaces god in his absence. This is not fact, nor can it be posed as question in such way. I am without god, I am not in crisis of meaning. Also, we are seeing more atheists every day.
3. When people have embraced atheism, the historical results can be horrific, as in the regimes of Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot who saw religion as the problem and worked to eradicate it?
Answer: The actions of these men can be only be considered as acts of inhumane cruelty, very similar to the genocidal catholic-raised actions Hitler, the inquisition, the the crusades and more. Atheism does not create monstrosities and murders, tyrants do, as there is no dogma or book telling us to do so. Religions have multiple texts provoking violence.
4. If there is no God, the problems of evil and suffering are in no way solved, so where is the hope of redemption, or meaning for those who suffer?
Answer: Meaning is a man-made construct used to validate concepts and behaviors. We give meaning to things on our own, and we are not looking for the praise of a father-like man in the sky when we do good. Our meaning is a humanist collective family, who help each other and honor each other's lost out of love of humanity.
5. If there is no God, we lose the very standard by which we critique religions and religious people, so whose opinion matters most?
Answer: This statement is fallacious as it proposes that religions validate opinions or have influence over "what matters most." Those educated in the matters at hand should have opinions listened to more carefully then those who do not have prior experience. If you need advice on your health, a doctors opinion matters more than a plumbers.
Morality is a word we've created to define the actions of what best advances our survival both culturally and physically. We define that criminal acts are wrong because it is ingrained in our nature, and we have a love of humanity and wish to see it not suffer. The assertion that we require an all-powerful diety to tell us that child molestation is wrong shows a disturbing lack of judgment, character and empathy in the individual promulgating it.
6. If there is no God, we don't make sense, so how do we explain human longings and desire for the tr
Do I have to? I mean there are so many other questions I would rather answer...like...how much money do you want me to GIVE you? Or would you like a full body massage? Or would you like to give me a full body massage? I don't know if there is a real need to ask...unless you want to sell something. What do you tell a salesperson that you don't want to talk to? Nothing. Just walk away.
I would like to pose a succinct counter-question: why SHOULD life have a meaning at all?
That is, as we go about our daily affairs, of course we get curious about big-picture questions. But what justifies our conceit in believing that answers are possible, or themselves meaningful? The incessant search for answers may lead to an impasse, and some people are pleased to call that impasse "god". Fine. But if the question is ill-posed, then no wonder that the answer is garbled and self-serving!
Again: maybe life has no meaning whatsoever. We are bags of chemicals going about our chemical reactions. We feel pain, sometimes intensely. We suffer, sometimes intensely. But that suffering has no meaning. It neither implies god, nor non-god.
I feel sorry for anyone who needs to ask those questions.
1. If there is no God, "the big questions" remain unanswered, so how do we answer the following questions:
Why is there something rather than nothing?
== Because. As we are learning, the laws of physics practically demand that the universe be as it is. Forget fine tuning for it does not account for the likelihood that the universe cannot have turned out much different. I posted http://myatheistlife.wordpress.com/2012/03/03/big-splash-not-big-bang/ on my blog about one of many ways that this 'something' may have come to be. That there is no certain answer for why there is something is no more important than why theists believe their deity is eternal. It simply is. We do not need to know where the iron was mined to appreciate driving a sports car, knowing where the universe came from does not make life better somehow. ==
Why is there conscious, intelligent life on this planet, and is there any meaning to this life?
== There is life because there is. Evolution tells us how it got to be conscious, intelligent, and varied. The arms race of survival practically ensured that one species would become dominant and that dominance requires the ability to out-think it's prey. Why is there life here? We do not yet know but have several ideas. Knowing the exact origin of life would not make life better somehow. This planet is infested with living organic matter from the high atmosphere to the bottom of the ocean and below. The pure volume of that life clearly indicates that life itself is not special, rather it is no more special than igneous rock or asteroids. Asking why there is life is to falsely ascribe intent where no action is implied. If you imagine the accidental forming of RNA and a simple cell wall as one in a billion trillion chance, then 1000 such chances have happened while you were reading this post somewhere in the universe. That we are in one such place is statistically insignificant. Go watch Cosmos! Billions and billions of galaxies with billions of stars and billions of planets. That life happened should neither surprise nor befuddle. We know RNA can form naturally. There is absolutely no reason to suppose that all the rest required the hand of a deity. ==
If there is meaning, what kind of meaning and how is it found?
== Why should there be meaning? Neuroscience tells us that our brains seek patterns in all we do. Visit the faces in places website to see it in action. Our brains are built for survival and all things must have a cause or meaning as we explore the world around us. The more of it we got to know, the more we seek meaning for it. There is neither meaning nor purpose. Life is, so just be. Pinning the actions of your life and any meaning for it on the answer to a question that is not yet knowable is just eff-ed up. If we all found out tomorrow that life on this planet originated from a lightning strike in a swamp you would still want to celebrate your birthday and still have to pay your rent. The answer is not important. How you live your life is. Pretending that you know the answer to justify your life is ignoring the facts that are staring you in the face. It is a waste of your time. ==
Does human history lead anywhere, or is it all in vain since death is merely the end?
== Human history is an echo of evolution. It leads where all else in nature leads - survival and continuance. The aunt of the teacher who knew the baker that sold bread to the councilman who knew young Einstein's second cousin lived and died unsung yet she played a vital role in the survival and continuance of the human species, as we all do. If you need more meaning than that you'll have to make it up on your own. The universe does not expand to give meaning to your life. On the scale of the universe, your life is no more significant than the life of a mayfly. Quit thinking so much of yourself, it's not pretty. ==
How do you come to understand good and evil, right and wrong without a transcendent signifier?
== Ethics and morality are not absolute. They are not derived from anywhere outside our own brains. Morality for each person is a personal and relative thing. It is based on how we perceive the world. Politics would be useless if we all had an shared innate sense of absolute morality. That politics is messy is evidence that the transcendent morality has never existed despite the pretensions of those who claim it does. Good is what doesn't harm me. Evil is an over-hyped version of bad. In reality there is a wide spectrum of states in which one of them is some level of good and one of them is some level of not good. We can even say there are ranges for good and not-good. There are no good and evil fish/trees/worms. Some of each are better in our own view than others, but there is no absolute or transcendent good and evil. ==
If these concepts are merely social constructions, or human opinions, whose opinion does one trust in determining what is good or bad, right or wrong?
== Trust your own opinion, for no matter what that preacher says, you'll still decide what you want to do when it comes time to do it. You'll agree with his words or ignore them when they are not to your liking. Quit asking for a source or definition of good and bad. You will make up your own mind when you see them. ==
If you are content within atheism, what circumstances would serve to make you open to other answers?
== Actual and solid evidence. Real proof. Forget your arguments, get your god down here and have him demonstrate that breathing life into mud thing. ==
2. If we reject the existence of God, we are left with a crisis of meaning, so why don't we see more atheists like Jean Paul Sartre, or Friedrich Nietzsche, or Michel Foucault?
These three philosophers, who also embraced atheism, recognized that in the absence of God, there was no transcendent meaning beyond one's own self-interests, pleasures, or tastes. The crisis of atheistic meaninglessness is depicted in Sartre's book Nausea. Without God, there is a crisis of meaning, and these three thinkers, among others, show us a world of just stuff, thrown out into space and time, going nowhere, meaning nothing.
== Bullshit! I do not have a crisis of meaning. See the text above. You don't see them because you are not looking. If you need transcendent meaning to life I can only imagine that you are not smart enough to find contentedness on your own and need help. Deal with it. ==
3. When people have embraced atheism, the historical results can be horrific, as in the regimes of Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot who saw religion as the problem and worked to eradicate it? In other words, what set of actions are consistent with particular belief commitments? It could be argued, that these behaviours – of the regimes in question - are more consistent with the implications of atheism. Though, I'm thankful that many of the atheists I know do not live the implications of these beliefs out for themselves like others did! It could be argued that the socio-political ideologies could very well be the outworking of a particular set of beliefs – beliefs that posited the ideal state as an atheistic one.
== Seriously? So political science wasn't your major? See the text above. Good and evil do not exist. Neither atheism or theism has prevented humans from being cruel to each other. To posit that cruelty is due only to lack of belief in gods is insane. We need only look at the cruelty heaped on the face of this planet in the name of gods to know that this question is naive at best and more probably the utterance of one who is ignorant of the facts of the world around them. ==
4. If there is no God, the problems of evil and suffering are in no way solved, so where is the hope of redemption, or meaning for those who suffer? Suffering is just as tragic, if not more so, without God because there is no hope of ultimate justice, or of the suffering being rendered meaningful or transcendent, redemptive or redeemable. It might be true that there is no God to blame now, but neither is there a God to reach out to for strength, transcendent meaning, or comfort. Why would we seek the alleviation of suffering without objective morality grounded in a God of justice?
== Even if you believe in gods the problem of evil and suffering are not solved. What the hell are you thinking? Today my mother in law accidentally stepped on the head of a new born puppy. It's dead. Where do you think redemption and meaning come from in that situation? Put the crack pipe down. Re-read what I've already written. There is no redemption, no meaning, and no absolute morality. EVERYTHING is relative. I do not need a god for strength and comfort. I am. I will be. It is on my own strength that I suffer the slings and arrows and busy myself making a path for my life and my kin. I suffer them to see the morrow. I comfort those in my clan because they will comfort me. I share my meat with them because they will share theirs with me and together we shall see many morrows. Eat, drink, fuck, sleep, wake... repeat. Somewhere in the midst of it I will take joy in the tumbling of a cat off the sofa or the wonder of a bee pollinating my garden, or a lizard hunting on my window at night. I need no comfort. I need no crutch. This is MY life and I'll not let you tell me how to live it. I need no one to tell me. I know what is good and bad when I see it because I have my own ethics, my own moral code. I live by it because it is mine, not because someone dictates it to me from the pulpit of their mega-church in a 1200 dollar suit. Yes, I built that set of ethics on my own. I took from here and there the things I found useful and good. I do not need a god never mind your preacher or dusty old text. I already know how to live. Quit insulting me with your insinuations that I cannot be thus. ==
5. If there is no God, we lose the very standard by which we critique religions and religious people, so whose opinion matters most?
== I criticize and mock religions and religious people by THEIR standards. It does not matter to me that their efforts are useless and delusional. It is their standards they claim to live by so when they fail I am happy to point this out. ==
Whose voice will be heard?
== Why do you need a voice? Is there something wrong with your larynx? I just finishing telling you where my ethics come from and previously told you how to know you have your very own subjective set of values too. The law of reciprocity has served us well for hundreds of thousands of years. We compromise to survive when needed, we fight to free ourselves of tyranny when we feel it. Wait, that is a nice loop back to why I criticize religion. ==
Whose tastes or preferences will be honored? In the long run, human tastes and opinions have no more weight than we give them, and who are we to give them meaning anyway? Who is to say that lying, or cheating or adultery or child molestation are wrong –really wrong?
== Now you're off in the weeds. If you lie to me, I'll make you regret it. If you cheat me, I'll repay you in kind. If you cheat on me I'll leave you in the cold to find your own food and shelter. If you molest my offspring I'll end you. I'm a selfish bastard. In our society we have made a pact, an agreement to not do these things to one another so that we can all focus on the all important tasks needed for survival against the elements. If you think you need some ghost to tell you that you should protect your children or dislike those who cheat you, then you're doing it really really wrong. If you don't know that someone raping your child is wrong for you and your child, then perhaps you shouldn't be asking me these questions. Clearly you are clueless and need more than help, you need a doctor. I don't harm others because I don't want them to harm me. If they harm me I will harm them. This is as it should be and how it has always been. That you don't understand this is somehow very curious. ==
Where do those standards come from? Sure, our societies might make these things "illegal" and impose penalties or consequences for things that are not socially acceptable, but human cultures have at various times legally or socially disapproved of everything from believing in God to believing the world revolves around the sun; from slavery, to interracial marriage, from polygamy to monogamy. Human taste, opinion law and culture are hardly dependable arbiters of Truth.
== Science MF, do you speak it? Reliable knowledge is found through science. Your holy book advocates rape, murder, genocide, incest, slavery, and death sentences for trivial infractions of delusional laws. We know that it is not healthy to take your laws from religion. It was religion that said the Sun revolved around the Earth. You've got allt hat mixed up and religions do not know the facts for a modern world. They are no guide at all. Sure, lets heal leprosy by killing a couple of birds, yeah, that's the thing. SCIENCE, its the only way that we can know anything reliable. Live with it! ==
6. If there is no God, we don't make sense, so how do we explain human longings and desire for the transcendent?
== Seriously, get cable television and an Internet browser. There are plenty of shows that describe this for you. Study some biology, neuroscience, physics, astronomy... We DO MAKE SENSE. We are a product of the environment we live in and the processes of evolution. No gods needed. Human longings are all based on selfishness and the desire to delay death as long as possible. The desire for the transcendent is nothing more than advanced abstract pattern seeking... one of the things that made humans one of the best survivor species on this planet. These are byproducts of evolution. Our current thinking and behaviors are the very ones that were most successful at survival. If you lived in a time long ago when death was 2 meals away, and cooperating with your kin and community was a valuable survival behavior you would not be asking me these silly questions. The entire universe and value of the human species is not expressed in each and every person. You, by yourself, are not important. What you do in life is. You aren't even you, you are the effect of several processes working together inside your brain. You simply perceive yourself as a single entity and process. Science bi-a-tch! Study it and quit asking me silly questions.==
How do we even explain human questions for meaning and purpose, or inner thoughts like, why do I feel unfulfilled or empty? Why do we hunger for the spiritual, and how do we explain these longings if nothing can exist beyond the material world?
== If you read all that above and are still asking, I'm going to assume you have comprehension problems. It's in your genes. Evolutionary processes bred you this way because these traits helped our ancestors to survive very harsh environments. You are in fact alive today because your ancestors had these traits bequeathed to them genetically. Secondly, you have no idea that there is something beyond the natural world... none. Pretending that you do is idiotic. Stop talking as if the existence of things beyond the natural world is common knowledge and proven beyond doubt. It is not. Framing your question as if they are is irritating and condescending. Stop it. Show me proof of such things and then we can have a conversation. Until then you are asking me to validate your wishful thinking and delusions. I won't. Wake up and get you some science. When you start really trying to understand the world around you I'll be glad to entertain your misunderstandings and questions. Till then, go away kid, you bother me.
POW! No beating around the bush, no squishy answers. Just clear and concise responses that at one moment jolt me, another amuses me and then something I loudly cheer! I get it!
I've been told I'm arrogant. I like to think of myself as confident. Perhaps the best I can hope for is being thought of as opinionated?
I get the same labels, and for years I couldn't understand why. Then I realized that if I have an opinion it is because I have read, listened, inquired of so many people from all sides I could identify and then I make a decision. I always realize I could have made the wrong decision, but until I am given better evidence I have no reason to change.
My wise, thoughtful, informed son-in-law is very skilled at giving me reasons to change an opinion and I am so blessed to have him as a caring participant in my life. Not all people have such a gift as he.
A fine effort at addressing these indeed irritating questions, myatheistlife. It must have took you some time. There is not much more that can be said, really, and much of it has been said before in various ways (notwithstanding your obvious originality). The really sad thing for me is that little of this common-sense commentary penetrates to those who think it valid to pose such questions. But let's keep at it. They are slowly capitulating and non-theism has made grand strides in the last ten years, from what I've seen. The grip of the deists and ideologues is surely weakening, even in America. Religious apologists are doomed to failure as long as they are pressed to produce evidence for their beliefs, because it will lead them to the inevitable conclusion that they are behaving like apologists. Keeping government, schooling and scientific research secular seems to be the most important battlefront.
I agree, but we may disagree on how that is accomplished. One might argue that in a war we must keep children, women, and food supplies safe yet the best way to do that is to utterly defeat the enemy on their home territory. There are, of course, many views. I believe we need to attack the problem at its source....
They call me a nihilist, but I am just me. I see the world around me as I see it. To be honest with you, you probably would not like the way I see the world. Not many people do. I am an ape. Just an ape. A clever ape, but just an ape. There are no absolutes, there is only survival to see another day... a new day without purpose. A new day without meaning. Any meaning or purpose to be found is what I personally ascribe to it. In this manner I am alone, have always been alone, and will always be alone. From this point of view I see hubris in the phrase 'atheist community'. When rational thinking people cooperate and work to make life better, that is called humanity rather than some kitschy 'atheist community' or some other moniker.
Clearly, the delusion of religions must be fought back at every point possible. I gladly cooperate in all such efforts. I also feel that attacking the very idea of gods is of primary importance. It is a dangerous idea. It is an idea that will continue to harm humanity until it is pushed past the edges of reasonable thought. That is to say that it will continue to harm us until almost all of us think it insane. Religion may never die, but I'll be more content when it is very very lonely. Just some thoughts....
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