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Use this space to cheer the creator along, and talk to your fellow backers.
Have a question?
Zachary Daniel VanOverbeke on
Hey... Uh....?
I contributed to this game 5 years ago. You stopped e-mailing me two years ago.
Do I not get what I was promised...? You gave us a two year release date, which I was fine with... It's 5 years later.
What happened? Can I have my money back?
I feel like I got screwed. This is disappointing.
Tony Birch on
Every backer should have received an Exanima Steam key quite a while ago and also access to the direct download via the BM site. When SG is ready keys for it will be sent out via email and on the BM site as well (the current focus is on finishing Exanima and then development focus will shift to SG once again).
@people saying they got screwed:
You're getting two games for the price of one so no, you're not getting screwed. Exanima is a prelude to SG and it contains the foundation(s) necessary to support everything in SG. Basically, when mechanics for SG are in a playable state they're added to Exanima so backers can play/test the SG progress firsthand if they so wish by loading up Exanima. Isn't a playable build better than the devs simply talking about what they're doing?
Robberbaron on
yep seems we all got screwed on this one.
MannyLaMancha on
They haven't released a Kickstarter update in 1 1/2 YEARS.
terry on
thanks...But we need a update here....
" on December 12
I am working on a massive update, adding to it whenever I can find a few minutes away from actually working on the game. I'm trying to cover every major topic and give a brief overview of everything that's happened with development since we started, and where we are now.
I know it's taking a long time, and that we're terrible with posting updates, but we're always working super hard on the game and it's always getting better and more complete. Perhaps we should have just tried to make the game quickly instead of responding to every bit of feedback and striving to make something special of every little feature, but when it finally comes, and it is coming, I can't see anyone being disappointed."
MotoErgoSum on
Hey, Terry. -> http://www.baremettle.com/forums/index.php…
Tony Birch on
Just a heads up for anyone whom may be interested, new Exanima update is out which adds an outdoor arena and many other cool things... check it out!
Cody Miller on
Every now and then, I remember Sui Generis is coming - and I get SOO excited!! Thank you all for your hard (and probably unseen) work - I know it will be worth the wait! :)
Tony Birch on
Using the account link I posted a few lines below you can attempt to login. If you know the email used for the account (usually same one used for Kickstarter) but not the password then you can click the "forgot password" link on the account page which should allow you to reset the password. If you're still having troubles then send an email to the support email address also listed below.
Josh Crook on
Thanks Tony, I got my key
Tony Birch on
@Josh Crook
Exanima beta is currently available on Steam but not Sui Generis. Bare Mettle sent an email out quite a while ago that had your account info but if you for some reason lost that email you can also find your Steam key on the Bare Mettle account page located here:
If you can't remember your login information then you'll need to send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Josh Crook on
If this is available on steam already, where can I get my key?
Kaeroku on
I am a bit reassured to see that they're actively posting updates on steam and commenting here from time to time. As long as that dialogue keeps up (and progress is viewable on Steam) I think I won't call this vaporware. They're doing much better than most of the other two-years-or-more-overdue KS projects, and tbh it's not the timeline that bothers me as much as the lack of communication from those.
So I'm good. As long as you guys are still at it I'm still in support. Having confirmation that Exanima = features which are being playtested for Sui Gen is all I wanted before, and I have that now.
Please just don't go completely dark. That's about the time *I* start wanting a refund. But I'm happy with how you guys are handling it so far.
Christian Morgan on
Updates really are not important until you're into the final 3-6 months of development, then you should start devoting time to updates and social media to start building buzz.
Even if this takes years longer to come to fruition, I do not mind. So long as it *does* come and is at least 3/4 as awesome as it sounded in the original pitches :-)
Bare Mettle Entertainment Creator on
I am working on a massive update, adding to it whenever I can find a few minutes away from actually working on the game. I'm trying to cover every major topic and give a brief overview of everything that's happened with development since we started, and where we are now.
I know it's taking a long time, and that we're terrible with posting updates, but we're always working super hard on the game and it's always getting better and more complete. Perhaps we should have just tried to make the game quickly instead of responding to every bit of feedback and striving to make something special of every little feature, but when it finally comes, and it is coming, I can't see anyone being disappointed.
MannyLaMancha on
I can't say I was expecting a response - thank you. Having backed over 100 projects, many of which are games, I can't really bother to make an account and password for every single game I back to access their forums - if you make updates on Kickstarter, you reach everyone that backed you. This game was incredibly ambitious, and I think both creators and backers are more realistic now in what to expect from product and funding goals. Honestly, just a monthly update with "here's what we're working on" would be sufficient as far as I'm concerned, although I would greatly appreciate a ballpark timeline since the game is about three years late. Thank you very much.
Bare Mettle Entertainment Creator on
There's really no excuse for the lack of Kickstarter updates. We went from bad to terrible in terms of posting updates here.
At the moment we're working on completing some of the most major yet unreleased features. I wanted to have more to show and less to just talk about when posting an update after so long. As always it all takes longer than we hoped.
Every aspect of the game has become much more refined than planned, but so much has now been thoroughly completed despite working to so much higher standards.
We will either post a giant update, or perhaps a rapid series of smaller updates going over notable individual aspects of of the game that we've put all this work into.
frederic tarabout on
Of course they are also ignoring KS direct messages. Gonna be fun to get a refund from those guys.
They are still posting updates for exanima on Steam so they're not dead: they are just neglecting the KS backers both on news, promises and physical rewards.
MannyLaMancha on
Dang, four years since funding and one entire year since the last update!
MannyLaMancha on
It's been four years - any news?
This user's account has been deleted.
frederic tarabout on
Over 100+ projects backed and you guys are officially the first refund I ask, congrats.
frederic tarabout on
Alright guys i want a refund. No updates, no fullfillment of the physical rewards or even trying to and overall non friendly communications to the backers when it happens.
Marzio Ombra on
How about an update?
Adrian SmithSuperbackeron
If you post an update on steam or your website, just paste it as an update here too.
I'm not in a hurry for it, take as long as you need for it to be the best, but keep us in the loop.
However, I would like to see it finished before you have to rewrite it due to platform changes.
Are Thunes Samsonsen on
Your last comment is now a month old, and your latest update can almost celebrate its first birthday. It's time you let us know what's what. We don't need a LONG update, but we DO need one.
Bare Mettle Entertainment Creator on
I've been working on a Kickstarter update on and off, but I'm always extremely busy with many things and a decent update does take time and focus. We're just about to release another big update for Exanima, as soon as that's done I will make an effort to post something here on Kickstarter.
Tony Birch on
If anyone would like to see some of the recent improvements themselves BM have uploaded a few videos of their livestreams to Youtube. Check them out!:
Tony Birch on
Bare Mettle have been working on new shield skills, dual wielding, ogres, dialogue system, thaumaturgy, new weapons/armors, new art assets, improved pathfinding, improved NPC AI and behaviors, improved movements/transitions/animations, additional levels for Exanima, expanding the arena mode in Exanima (adding new NPC hirelings such as merchants, dyes/lacquers, tournaments, ogre matches, etc.)...
Lots of exciting stuff to look forward to in the near future! :). As always, most everything they're working on for Exanima is also necessary for SG as well.
MannyLaMancha on
Agustin Alarcon on
The game is not on Steam. They promised Sui Generis, and on Steam we have, as you said, Exanima.
I think we at least deserve some kind of update on the status of the project(s)
Well the game is on Steam and received a patch recently (Exanima 6.3.3 on 17. Mai) . It´s a pitty that they stopped communicating with the Kickstarters, but hey, the game is getting worked on. So ... what´s the problem? Steam reviews are 83% positive, which is actually really good for an EA title. And playing the game I´m having fun.
Are Thunes Samsonsen on
You were supposed to deliver over two years ago, guys. How about stepping it up, or at least giving us an update?
MannyLaMancha on
I sure wish they'd update here. With over 100 Kickstarters, it's downright impractical if I had to make an account for each game I backed.


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Swansea January transfer window rumours 2013
Transfer windows come around quickly these days and silly season started in Swansea with news that we had been made bookies favourites to sign David Villa from Barcelona. Bookies favourites. And they never get it wrong is what we are told. But surely they have this time around?
Now if David Villa does end up at Swansea then it will be the biggest transfer ever made in Wales by a massive distance and probably one of the most unlikely ones of all time since the formation of the Premier League.
But what in reality can we expect from the Swans in the January window? Let's take a look.
The three most likely transfers involving The Swans
Danny Graham – It does appear that last season's top scorer is on his way out of the Liberty. Reports have so far linked him with Cardiff (unlikely?), Reading and Norwich (seems the most plausible) after he has fallen behind Luke Moore and Itay Schechter in the race to lead the Swans line. Danny's goals were massive for us last season but it does seem that he doesn't sit in Michael's plans so it could well be time to say goodbye to what was – at the time – our record signing,
Mark Gower – The forgotten man of Swansea. No surprise to see him going but his wife has tweeted that she lives in Swansea for now so a move is almost certain. Can't see Mark staying in the Premier League so I reckon a Championship move may beckon for him but don't know where to.
Alan Tate – Not one that we'd necessarily want to see leave but a move to Leeds is looking more likely and I think his loan will be extended until the end of the season. Will always be a Jack and he'll be back one day in some shape, I'd be sure of that.
Who would we like to see here?
Tom Ince – I think he'd be a great addition to our squad. Goals from out wide and would give us four top quality wing options when we need them. Would command a big transfer fee though but would be fantastic if we could pull that one off.
Iago Aspas – the man rumoured to be replacing Danny Graham. Will surely take Huw breaking our transfer record again to get him but this man could score the goals that we would want from a striker and make a great combination with his pal Michu. Make it happen please despite his agent saying he won't be available in January.
Mark Davies – We were in for the Bolton midfielder in the summer and there is strong rumours that we may move again in January with the Trotters at the wrong end of the Championship table. I think he could do a job for us although his game time may be limited given how many midfielders we have already. But if Michael wants him then I trust his judgement.

subset: commoncrawl


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AM640 - Jeff McArthur Highlight of the Day
About This Show
Show Info:
Jeff McArthur has been a radio host for the past 20 years engaging, entertaining and informing audiences on both music-focused morning shows and talk radio stations. Not many hosts can lay claim to nailing the intro to "Staying Alive" and doing a sit down one on one with the Prime Minister – on the same day, but Jeff can! With a background in journalism – he got his Masters in Journalism from Western University – Jeff has a passion for current affairs and an understanding of what listeners care about.Read more »


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I get so stupidly excited when new stuff comes out from vendors I use a lot for design projects. As of late, I have been giddy over all the new stuff coming out from Ballard Designs, a company I use a lot for budget friendly jobs. Take a peek at some of my favorite new things- so good, right?
This table skirt blew my mind. Know why?
Because it looks just like this one I've coveted forever from designer Tom Scheerer! Having this made would cost at least three times as much as they are charging.
More favorites- this tufted ottoman with tape trim (many options for the trim!) and this studded long x-bench for the end of the bed!
DYING over the lacquered faux bamboo barstools.


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Clippings of Latin American political, social and economic news from various English language newspapers.By MIMI WHITEFIELD Herald Business Writer The stock market crash may favor debtor Latin American nations in the short ... that it could lead to further weakening of these countriesa#39; economies and make it even harder for them to repay their debts. ... Since the crash, the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), the rate that is usually the base for Third World loans, ... aquot;If Venezuela, for example, loses additional income (because of a shrinking market for its oil), it would just exacerbate aanbsp;...
|- 1987-11
You must register with us as either a Registered User before you can Download this Book. You'll be greeted by a simple sign-up page.
Once you have finished the sign-up process, you will be redirected to your download Book page.How it works:


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The popular teacher and coach at Reynolds High School in Troutdale was put on paid administrative leave during a police investigation in early 2004. He later admitted he sexually harassed a staff member and engaged in improper conduct with a student and was given two years' probation by the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission in 2005. In addition, the same year, he pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment in Troutdale Municipal Court.
Reynolds School District Superintendent Joyce Henstrand recommended his promotion this past spring but didn't delve deeply into his professional background.
The recently obtained documents include a 2004 Troutdale police investigation and a 2005 teacher commission inquiry. Both reveal a host of previously undisclosed allegations from at least five girls and three staff members involving alleged incidents from 2001 to 2004. The accusers claimed Dixon repeatedly snapped girls' thong underwear, slapped one girl on the buttocks, wrestled with female students and rubbed or touched girls' earlobes, backs and stomachs. They said he often made crude, sexual comments to students and staff. A girl told an investigator Dixon got her in a wrestling hold and allowed another student to slap her buttocks. A counselor told police she saw a female student sitting on Dixon's lap.
And Molly Wassermann, a former student who spoke to police in 2004, said in a recent interview that Dixon once ran his fingers through her hair and tried to physically pick her up during class.
The documents, requested in the summer and obtained last month, reveal his behavior was well known among students, staff and administrators. The principal and two vice principals informally talked to Dixon on separate occasions, years before police received formal allegations. But school officials never investigated the rumors or disciplined him before the formal charges.
Henstrand recently said she read a summary of the teacher commission investigation describing the two incidents to which he admitted. But she acknowledged she hadn't read the investigative reports detailing further allegations. Nor did she talk to staff members, students or investigators included in the reports.
In a June interview, she said her research did not show a pattern of inappropriate behavior. "My understanding, after what I saw, was that this was limited," Henstrand said.
She said she didn't see any need to "re-investigate" the allegations because they had been resolved.
She has said repeatedly that Dixon was not charged with a crime. Dixon, however, pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment, a misdemeanor, in Troutdale Municipal Court in 2005.
After his plea and administrative leave, Dixon was reassigned to Alder Elementary School for four years, then returned to Reynolds in 2009. Henstrand said Dixon has exhibited "exemplary" behavior the past six years and received a strong recommendation from Reynolds Principal Jeff Gilbert.
Dixon, whose salary is $89,817, declined interview requests.
Support, rapport
Dixon is 38, married and the father of two young children. He comes from a family of educators. His father was a David Douglas High School vice principal; his mother worked in the Parkrose School District as a speech pathologist.
Dixon attended Reynolds, where he was student president, and graduated in 1991. That year, U.S. Sen. Bob Packwood presented him a silver congressional medal to recognize Dixon's dedication to community service.
But even then, there were questions about his behavior. A woman who went to high school with Dixon told an investigator his teenage nickname was "the groper," according to the Troutdale police report.
After graduating from Western Oregon University, Dixon returned to Reynolds. He started in 1996, taught various classes, coached girls basketball and served as activities director. Students and parents say he is a dynamic and dedicated teacher who relates well to youngsters and spends countless hours at school.
"He was a very good teacher, with an excellent rapport with kids in the classroom," said Rebecca Wheeles, a former vice principal who supervised Dixon.
His support remains deep in the school district. Claudette Naylor voted for Dixon's promotion but has since left the school board. She didn't know all the allegations against him but would have supported him anyway, she said. She has known Dixon since he was 12, said that the accusations were exaggerated and that he has paid his dues.
"He's a good guy," Naylor said. "And he works extremely hard."
Rumors, accusations
Former Principal Steve Olczak said in a recent interview that he heard rumors about Dixon before any allegations became public, pulled him aside and warned him about his behavior. He said it was like a "father-son" talk. Wheeles and then-Vice Principal Dan Baker also talked to Dixon about his behavior.
The first official allegations surfaced in February 2004, according to a police report, when four girls spoke to school counselor Cindy Dahl. She reported the accusations to Olczak; he forwarded them to a child abuse hotline, which contacted Troutdale police. The police investigation started the next day and was followed by the teacher commission inquiry.
In the coming weeks, according to the documents obtained from the commission, additional detailed accusations emerged.
In a police interview, Dahl said she once saw a girl sitting on Dixon's lap, his hand on her back. Girls at the school also told investigators Dixon commented about their breasts, talked about their sex lives and his own, and mentioned the color of their underwear. He was also accused of giving girls massages and picking them up and putting them over his shoulder, the reports said.
A student who served as his teaching assistant in the 2001-02 school year told police Dixon touched her hips and stomach, and said she was getting too thin. At the time, she told police, she was suffering from an eating disorder. She also said Dixon snapped her underwear and put a finger in her cleavage, commenting about her breast size.
A teacher told police that Dixon made a crude, sexual comment about her parents and the Oregon State Beavers.
A counselor said Dixon picked her up and pinned her against the wall in the gym. And one of Dixon's basketball players told an investigator that during one practice he pulled her shorts up so high that he exposed her buttocks to a boys basketball team.
Wassermann said last week that when she was a sophomore in the 2003-04 school year, Dixon asked her whether she was wearing a striped top to make her breasts look bigger. Twice that year, she said, he made crude comments about her sex life. In gym class, Dixon once pushed her and a friend together so their chests touched and commented, "Pray for swelling," Wassermann said.
Dixon also offered her private golf lessons at a driving range, said Wassermann, now 23 and living in Northwest Portland. "I remember when he asked me that, I thought, this is kind of creepy."
Investigation, probation
After the allegations were reported to school officials, the district placed Dixon on paid administrative leave.
Early in the investigation, Troutdale Police Chief David Nelson and Officer Jenny Goss met with Dixon for an interview. A 22-page transcript from the Teacher Standards and Practices file shows that, initially, he denied inappropriate sexual behavior.
"I would never do anything untoward to make anybody feel uncomfortable or anything like that," he said. "That's just not the kind of person I am."
But he also admitted giving a female assistant coach a "wedgie" by pulling her underwear up. He acknowledged he sometimes grabbed his players' earlobes, saying he read in a coaching magazine that it helped their memory. He also said he gave students backrubs and they did the same for him.
Less than two weeks later, while Dixon remained on leave, the school board extended his contract by two years.
The investigation took its toll on Wassermann, she said last week, and one day she burst into tears in a classroom. Students and teachers were vocal in support of Dixon, and she was afraid friends would turn on her. So she kept quiet.
"I wanted it to be a secret," she said. "I didn't want anyone to know."
Nelson, no longer Troutdale police chief, thought he had a solid case against Dixon. But Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Chris Mascal, who handled the case, said in a recent interview that more serious charges weren't filed because no overt sexual contact occurred and proof of sexual intent wasn't evident in Dixon's behavior.
"His conduct may have been boorish and unprofessional," Mascal said, "but it did not rise to the criminal level."
But Nelson pushed forward with the two harassment counts.
"We decided to do that because we took it seriously and we believed what the girls said during the investigation," Nelson said in a recent interview.
In April 2005, Dixon admitted, in an agreement with the state teacher commission, to the incidents in which he pinned a co-worker against the wall in the gym and exposed one of his players' buttocks to the boys basketball team. He received a public reprimand and a two-year probation. He was also required to see a mental health professional, who eventually determined Dixon was fit to work with minors.
The two misdemeanor counts of harassment were suspended, then dismissed two years later when he completed the state-mandated probation.
Back at Reynolds
Dixon remains popular at Reynolds since he returned in 2009. Senior Jake Woolsey credits him with boosting school spirit by organizing bus trips to out-of-town football games. Woolsey is too young to remember the allegations, but he's glad Dixon got promoted.
"I think people deserve second chances," Woolsey said. "Mr. Dixon is somebody that's willing to set a good example for the school and the kids."
But Wassermann said someone with Dixon's background "shouldn't be allowed to work with kids."
"It feels wrong," she said. "I don't want my experience to happen to any other teenage girl. It's an abuse of power."


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It's time for weekend reflections, which makes space for longer than usual comments on any topic. As always, civilised discussion and no coarse language.
18 thoughts on "Weekend reflections"
Synopsis of Naomi Oreskes, You CAN argue with the Facts – Full Talk, April 17,2008 – Stanford U – 40 minutes .
Naomi is an award-winning geoscientist/science historian, a Professor at UCSD and as of July, promoted to Provost of of the Sixth College there. She is also a meticulous researcher, as seen from past books, and from having reviewed a few chapters of the book she mentions in the talk. She unearthed some fascinating memos, although of course, impossible to replicate the exhaustive database of tobacco documents.
If you haven't seen her earlier 58-minute video, The American Denial of Global Warming", you might watch that first. It's first half is a longer version of the development of climate science, and the second half is about the George C. Marshall Institute.
This talk has about 10 minutes of background, and the rest is new material on the Western Fuels Association.
The video production isn't flashy, but it's good enough. The lecture room was packed, I had to stand. Interesting people attended.
This, of course, is an informal seminar talk – for the thorough documentation, you'll have to await the book.
00:00 Background [fairly familiar, some overlap with earlier talk]
10:30 1988, Hansen in Congress, IPCC starts
11:05 "Tobacco strategy" to challenge science
I.e., use of similar techniques, sometimes by same people
14:50 Western Fuels Association (Power River coal companies)
Sophisticated marketing campaign in test markets
17:20 1991 – WFA creates ICE – Information Council for Environment
ICE ~ Tobacco Industry Research Council (TIRC) –
See Allan M. Brandt, "The Cigarette Century"
21:00 WFA print campaign
23:00 Scientists are more believable than coal people, so use scientists, create memes
25:30 WFA produces video "The Greening of Earth", provides many copies
The Greening Earth Society (astroturf); more CO2 is good for the whole Earth Excerpts from video
30:00- Video shows the Sahara turning completetely green
32:20- "Plants have been eating CO2 and they're starved"
Discussion of circumstances under which CO2 does help and illustration of marketing tactics, cherry-picking, etc. I.e., how does one use a few tidbits of real science to create an impression very different form the overview? Are there lessons for scientists?
40:00 end
[Speaking as an old farmboy, plants need sun, water, soil, nutrients, and CO2, and sometimes right climate, i.e., sugar maples need cold. The Sahara will not be a new cornbelt, no matter how high CO2 goes.]
I will need a considerable degree of indulgence, patience and attention from the readers of this blog in order to treat this subject properly. The first requirement in any investigation is to identify and clear away presuppositions which can cloud the inquiry. This process cannot be undertaken without recourse to a modicum of real thinking. The central problem with the 'standard' schools of modern economics (Classical, Marxist and Neoclassical) is that none of these schools took any serious note of the fact that we live in a world with physical limits. Whilst modern economics was in its initial and even middle stages of development, these limits were far enough away to be ignored. This is no longer the case. We are about to hit these limits. Yet "limits to growth� denialism has been and still is as prevalent and pervasive as climate change denialism.
On the surface, the simple reasons for both types of denialism have been a lack of education and a lack of imagination. Imagination in this context is really just the ability to extrapolate known trends rigorously (though not blindly) and to visualise the predictable end point of these trends. Furthermore, our imaginations must not shut down with incredulity if the predicted end point is horrible and fully at odds with our current situation. From my study chair, I am able to look out through a breezy open window, surveying a pleasant prospect of waving grass, tall gum trees and wide blue skies of spring optimism. It is hard to draw from this present tranquil scene any portents of catastrophe. Yet, we cannot allow our imaginations to be limited and lulled by feelings of present ease. We must do the hard thinking necessary to appraise our true position.
Economics cannot be treated as free standing. The economy is contingent on the natural world. Indeed, the economic system itself is a natural system and part of the natural world. Therefore a unified theory of economics must incorporate knowledge from all fields but particularly from physics, philosophy, ecology, biology (including natural selection), psychology, physiology and socio-economic history. Humans themselves are natural and part of the natural world. Humans in no way stand in contradistinction to the natural world merely because they reason, reflect and invent. Human systems of society and economy are natural systems, part of the natural world and again in no way stand in contradistinction to natural systems in terms of matter and energy flows.
Our thinking is flawed if we attribute any artificial, separate or special character to humankind by assuming that reflective consciousness, inventiveness and choice-making somehow place man and his works in a category separate from nature. It is this faulty premise which leads to the supposition that the economy can stand above, beyond or outside nature in some fashion. It is this very assumption that we can somehow make choices outside the limits of nature which often leads us to make bad choices. There are not natural and unnatural choices as all choices are natural. There are only choices which are good or bad for us insofar as they lead to sustainable or unsustainable outcomes for us.
The above definition of "natural� might give the reader some difficulty. It goes against our common understanding of the kind of distinction we are often meant to make between "natural� and "artificial�. However, we will find that "artificial� in everyday use is a shorthand word which conflates and blurs several concepts. In its derivation it means "made by skill, made by art� and we hence we get "artifice� and "artificial�. Yet the primary meaning of "artificial� is simply that a thing is man-made. People tend to deduce that natural objects and artificial objects are in some sort of fundamental opposition whereas artificial objects (objects made by man) are simply a sub-set of all objects. "Artificial� is oftentimes taken to mean unhealthy or unnatural. However, there are many cases where the "natural� is unhealthy and injurious to man (prussic acid is natural in some berries) and many cases where the "artificial� (that which is made by man) can be healthy. The plain fact is that everything is natural (the beneficial and the harmful), including what man does, and we should be looking as usual for the laws which govern these natural phenomena.
My contention that everything is natural can be explained in this manner. Everything in the observed universe is natural. There is no phenomenon in nature (i.e. in the known universe which we observe and experience) which is not natural. If it were unnatural it would not be part of nature i.e. not part of the entire natural cosmos. At the risk of sounding flippant, everything is natural except that which is supernatural. The supernatural is a postulate of something which is both outside our observed experience and outside the entire set of currently observed, known and dependable laws of the universe. We are not going to be concerned with the supernatural in this investigation.
The position this short paper takes is that human reflective consciousness, inventiveness and choice-making are phenomena of the natural world and understandable (to us) only in so far as we can integrate them with all other so-far observed laws of this universe. To posit that the above human qualities are outside the natural world would be to adopt the position that these qualities are supernatural or at least supernaturally gifted and can (at least to some extent) operate above and outside the laws of this universe. Indeed, this is the position that many people take either consciously or unconsciously. Some special quality of this type is attributed to human inventiveness, human adaptability and even human life in general. The human spirit is seen as special; as being a special case. This special quality, it is assumed, will enable us to somehow transcend natural limits. Such thinking may claim a place in fields such the arts, religion and metaphysics although I would be careful of making too many claims even in these arenas. Such thinking can claim no place in economics if economics seeks to be a science.
The above may be a "straw man� argument in relation to the thinking of many sober and serious economists. I accept that. However, there seems to be a wide strain of thinking entrenched amongst laypeople and given rampant encouragement by some classes of economists (especially the neoclassical economists if they are to be judged by their popularisers like Julian Simon) that seems to plead this special case argument for man and his actions. They essentially claim that modern man as an enlightened "homo economicus� armed with up-to-the-minute technology and infinite invention and spirit can transcend natural limits and unfold an endless cornucopian future. This kind of wishful and indeed lunatic thinking is dangerous in the extreme. It justifies any degree of unsustainable exploitation by the success of the current moment alone and with no regard for the future. It has no regard for and indeed refuses to acknowledge the slightest possibility of imminent exhaustion and long term damage to the biosphere's systems.
This lowbrow religious and metaphysical belief, shared by some scientific humanists by the way, that we are a special case, particularly in the sense of being exalted by our possession of intellect, may have played a role in landing us in so much trouble. However, I ought to be cautious of any such claim as it is could be seen to be a borderline metaphysical claim in itself. Thoughtful religious people (whom I respect greatly and even envy for the power of their ultimate hope) will have no problem with adjudging, in a manner consistent with their religious views, that it is precisely this kind of hubris which has landed mankind in his current predicament. Our "special case� status is seen in a different light by such people who see man in one essential aspect as blind, ignorant, greedy and in desperate need of saving from himself.
Let us leave that aside for now. It would be more appropriate, scientifically speaking and with an eye to human history, to say that with technological progress we have embarked upon an open-ended experiment. The path of knowledge, science and technology has for several centuries been the path we use to obtain proximal (near at hand) goals. We never could (as a race) have predicted where this path would lead us in the long term. We never could, at the start of the industrial revolution, have predicted in any detail the problems and dilemmas with which we are now faced. Far seeing thinkers at that time and later could foresee certain things in broad outline. Malthus will be proved correct (the population cannot keep growing indefinitely) though the technical basis for his prediction looks thin today. The 19th C scientist who predicted that sun must burn out eventually was correct but his attempts at measuring that time failed badly because he could only envisage a coal burning sun and not a fusion reaction.
The above will encourage Julian Simon style optimists who will reply in kind that we cannot predict what invention may save our bacon tomorrow. I agree. However, I will say that this invention might be a form of economics based on an energy theory of value and which emphasises full system viability and sustainability. Or it might be some new gadget which draws nearly limitless energy from one of the vacuum energy states of the universe. Well maybe, but I know which invention I want to put my money on in the near term.
To quote from Charles Hall et al in the "Encyclopaedia of the Earth�;
"An energy theory of value emphasizes basic physical laws rather than the psychical attitude of humans to explain economic phenomena….
Like Frederick Soddy, we emphasize the physical aspect of life at the expense of the humanistic aspect but not because we deny or belittle the existence of the latter, rather because the former has been greatly ignored in the history of economics. Although a biophysical perspective is very different from either one of the two economic paradigms that hold political power in different nations, we feel that it is indispensable to solving many economic problems faced by all societies.�
In the short section that I have elided thus (…), I feel the authors made some serious mistakes. Rather than quote from them I will offer my own amended and expanded statement (still using some of their words) which I think is far more supportable and much more in line with the thrust of an energy theory of value.
Energy is a necessary but not sufficient cause of economic value. Nevertheless, energy is fundamental to economic production as one of the three basic and irreducible determinants. These are
• matter to be formed;
• energy to form it; and
• conscious manipulation of matter and energy by humans (in a distributed social system) to meet their physical and psychical needs.
Some economic decisions will appear not to be influenced by energy quality and availability. This will only be true within limits. Issues of energy quality and availability can never be ignored at the extremes of very cheap energy and very expensive energy. "Cheap energy� and "expensive energy� are not just money value terms, more fundamentally they are EROI (energy return on energy invested) terms. If, as a hunter gather, I come across a perfectly healthy animal that is trapped (assume a natural happenstance trap which cost me no effort) then I can kill, cook and eat this animal and obtain a large energy return on energy invested. If, at another time, food is so scarce that I must walk kilometres to widely scattered bushes, perhaps the Persoonia or geebung (jibbong), in a poor season to gather just a few edible fruits per plant then these will represent "expensive energy� i.e. a poor energy return on energy investment. If the land is too barren over a wide locality then I will use more energy walking to each plant than I get from the berries on each plant. I will starve. In fact, if I lay down to die (in the shade near some trickle of water), I will live a little longer.
Criteria other than biophysical laws also must be considered when developing models to explain and predict human economic behaviour. I would suggest this "becomes truer� when basic needs are met and we thus have the luxury of meeting "higher� needs or rather of developing more complex behaviours.
Notwithstanding all of the above, there is a case that energy can be regarded as the fundamental input in economics and that all production can be understood and accurately measured in energy costs. It provides a common or rather a lowest common denominator measure. Just as the labour theory of value identifies that the economic value of any made object or obtained object can be measured by the labour it cost, so too can the value of the object be measured by the energy it cost. The labour theory of value has several variants. Adam Smith essentially contrasted the utility of the made or found object with the disutility (effort, pain, labour) undergone in making or finding it. We can immediately see an aspect of this which is not so different from the notion of EROI (energy return on energy invested).
For Karl Marx, value is the 'socially necessary abstract labour' embodied in a commodity.
"Abstract labour refers to a characteristic of commodity-producing labour that is shared by all different kinds of heterogeneous (concrete) types of labour. That is, the concept abstracts from the particular characteristics of all of the labour and is akin to average labour.' – Wikipedia.
Marx made the unit of 'socially necessary abstract labour' (e.g. one abstract or average person hour) the prime accounting unit in his system. Even machines that make things do not refute this thesis. The machine was earlier made by labour. The machine embodies the person hours or labour units expended it its making and so may be measured in these units. The machine might make a thousand items before it breaks down totally (i.e. is fully depreciated) and thus the items made each contain one thousandth of these labour units plus proportionate labour unit values of any other inputs.
This does not mean that labour has ascribed to it the creation of all value even by Marx.
"Labour is not the source of all wealth. Nature is just as much a source of use values (and it is surely of such that material wealth consists!) as labour which is itself only the manifestation of a force of nature, human labour power.� – Marx.
The labour theory of value, in any of its variants (Smith's or Marx's for example), is not necessarily intrinsically or absolutely true, at least not in any higher socio-political-historical sense. It is not some kind of universal human truth (whichever variant is under consideration) which can tell us how to justly organise our entire society. Attempts to elevate economic theories to such a prescriptive status rapidly degenerate into grim ideological programs of either the Communist or the Imperialist Neoconservative type. Rather, labour theories of value properly understood are sets of formally developed systems which are or can be functionally true and useful in some contexts for organising our economies in the broad sense (depending on the contexts and on the theory variants).
In the same manner, the claim for an energy theory of value in economics is simply a claim for a formal system that will enable a standard measure to be applied across both the physical sciences and economics. No high, abstract or rarefied philosophical truth is being laid claim to. This standardisation will simply have the formal and practical value of unifying our thinking on these matters and linking the biophysical world and our economic system in a measureable way. This is necessary because the disjunction between the biophysical world of limits and the endless growth of human systems and the human economy was only possible while the limits to (physical) growth were still distant. The very scientific and visionary M. Hubbert King is worth quoting at length.
"The world's present industrial system is handicapped by the coexistence of two universal, overlapping and incompatible intellectual systems; the accumulated knowledge of the last four centuries of the properties and interrelationships of matter and energy; and the associated monetary culture which has evolved from folkways of prehistoric origin.
The first of these systems has been responsible for the rise, principally during the last two centuries, of the present industrial system and is essential for its continuance. The second, an inheritance from the pre-scientific past, operates by rules of its own having little in common with those of the matter-energy system. Nevertheless, the monetary system by means of a loose coupling, exercises a general control over the matter-energy system upon which it is superimposed.
Despite their inherent incompatibilities, these two systems, during the last two centuries, have had one fundamental characteristic in common, namely exponential growth, which has made a reasonably stable co-existence possible. But, for various reasons, it is impossible for the matter-energy system to sustain exponential growth for more than a few tens of doublings and this phase is now almost over. The monetary system has no such constraints and according to one of its most fundamental rules must continue to grow by compound interest.�
To quote Richard Heinberg from "The Party's Over�;
"Hubbert thus believed that society, if it is to avoid chaos during the energy decline, must give up its antiquated debt-and-interest-based monetary system and adopt a system of accounts based on matter-energy – an inherently ecological system that would acknowledge the finite nature of natural resources.�
King perhaps puts the case too strongly. It is not that we must give up all notions of growth. For example, the potential for knowledge growth and technological progress still appears very open-ended at this point. It is also likely to be the case that the decried debt-and-interest-based monetary system need not be given up entirely but rather can be modified ways that appropriately acknowledge the underlying and sustaining value of environmental systems. Introducing a carbon dioxide pollution tax (or cap and trade permits) is an example of this.
J.Q. seems quite sanguine about the prospects of utilising non-fossil renewable energy sources, particularly solar. I agree with him on the issue of solar power, particularly when giant solar convection towers are proven technically feasible and economically efficient, which I believe they will be. J.Q. seems quite sanguine too about the theoretical capability of our entire system (economic-industrial) to transition to these energy sources, to cope with the change-over costs (making the passage with relatively modest costs compared to total GDP) and to smooth the change process with major energy efficiencies. I am not nearly so hopeful on this score. I hope I am wrong. As to possible social, civilizational and geopolitical obstacles to this change let us both remain silent on that score. There are too many imponderables. I would be interested to know if J.Q. knows of any modelling which indicates that a capital construction program of alternative renewable energy sources is still doable in technical terms and economic terms in the time left to us by the expected "dwindle rates� of conventional power sources (basically fossil and nuclear). Let us further assume (optimistically but necessarily) that we are successful in stopping coal burning before we do burn too much of it and wreck our climate. Can we do it do you think?
Sorry folks, I wrote this as a rush job. Hope it's not too long and obtuse.
I recently got to thinking about voting systems and alternatives to the current representative system od democracy.
The most popular proposed alternative is direct democracy where rather than electing members of Parliament voters vote directly on legislation.
Direct democracy has some real virtues but it can also lead to a system where only the special interests particularly concerend with a particular issue turn out and vote.
I'd support a system of citizen-issued referenda on the Swiss system but only a minority of legislation is suitable for such an approach,
Referenda can also be abused and manipulated to support demagogues – Hitler and Napoleon were both adept at this.
So what I'd suggest is we adopt the principle of proxy voting from the corporate realm.
Voters would assign their proxy to a representative but could transfer the proxy to a different representative if they were unhappy with their representative or vote directly on an issue they really cared about.
Representaitves would not have equal voting power – they'd have as many votes as they held proxies. There'd be upper and lower limits to how many proxies any one representative could hold (say between 0.5 and 5% of the electorate).
Once the sytem was up and running you might not even need elections any more – representation
would change as people shifted their proxies.
It seems I'm not the only person thinkign along these lines.
This website proposes a similar system called direct representation.
I should have added to my last question, "and let us further assume (just as optimistically and just as necessarily) that we are successful relatively soon in capping world population growth and gross physical infrastructure growth."
(Because if we don't by general consent voluntarily cap our global population growth then at some point the rest of nature will do that job for us and in ways less pleasant than said voluntary capping.)
Did anyone else find the media news coverage on the weekend slightly disturbing? Russia and Georgia are now engaged in what appears to be virtually a full scale war in South Ossetia (2000+ dead in 3 days) yet it was the fourth item on weekend news. Only SBS led with it on Saturday.
I confess to not being as interested in the Olympics as nationalism demands but even so, was a gold medal really more important than this? Even our cautious PM Rudd made a statement expressing genuine concern for this incident, yet it barely got mentioned. Does it take a spike in oil prices before anyone cares which countries are getting bombed into oblivion?
Socrates, its rather difficult to blame the Ossetian conflict on the Evil Americans OR the Evil Muslims so most of the usual pundits of the left and the right are at a loss as to how to address the issue.
Come, come gentlemen. All wars are about resources. Many justifications and rationalisations are brought in and overlayed, many atavistic emotions are stoked and add to the general conflagration but the raw fact is that it's always about resources at base.
The Russians have now pushed past the borders of South Ossetia. They're bombing the Georgian city of Gori and the capital, Tiblisi.
A Russian tank column was apparently stopped on the outskirts of Gori.
Coming next – anschluss with Belarus.
interesting post Ikonoclast. I predict that one day economics courses in universities will take physical, matter-energy stocks and flows as their starting point, rather than disembodied, highly abstract relationships based on a suite of unscientific assumptions.
Substitute "usually" for "always" and I'll agree. Some wars are started by sheer stupidity and fear.
I would be interested to know if J.Q. knows of any modelling which indicates that a capital construction program of alternative renewable energy sources is still doable in technical terms and economic terms in the time left to us by the expected "dwindle rates� of conventional power sources (basically fossil and nuclear). Let us further assume (optimistically but necessarily) that we are successful in stopping coal burning before we do burn too much of it and wreck our climate. Can we do it do you think?
It doesn't seem to be a case of "can" but "when". As for modelling, well justifying capital expenditure on economic terms is not something I have much experience with, but it seems to me that the right policy approach (at least in Australia) can and is easily shifting the balance in favour of renewable energy generation. And really the policy levers have hardly been nudged.
My question with your philosophical post above is what purpose do you think an "energy theory of value" could serve?
How does such a perspective ascribe value to essentials like biodiversity, health, climate stability, social cohesion, an education system or cultural heritage? Such concepts can't be represented in Joules or kg.
Notwithstanding all of the above, there is a case that energy can be regarded as the fundamental input in economics and that all production can be understood and accurately measured in energy costs
I suppose it depends on what you mean by production. If we're talking widgets, then perhaps this is an approach. But, I ask again to what purpose could such a theory be deployed?
I think energy is the basic "counter" for everything and thus we can measure everything in energy cost terms. (I maintain the philosophical reservations expressed in my little essay and thus make this statement with simply pragmatic rather than absolute intent.)
Every act of acquiring material (goods) or making material (goods) costs energy. All materials in nature are useless to man until acquired or shaped by work. It takes energy to do work. Even water in a stream is useless to a thirsty man until he does the work of bending down, cupping warter up with hands to mouth and swallowing. His body will do further work internally to move the water to where it needs to be in the body.
The above example is non-economic work though in society it will still take work to earn the food to get the energy to move water personally and utilise it internally.
Also, every piece of economic work takes energy and energy can be used (as at least one term in an equation) to count the value of all work. With damage to nature and the environment (for example CO2 emissions form fossil fuels) we can cost this by the cost of the remedial work in energy terms.
For example, assume one million tons of CO2 have been emitted to the atmosphere by a coal generators over a given period. What would it cost in energy terms to capture this CO2 from the free air, compress it and store it undergound (the only proposed relatively harmless way so far)? This includes both raw energy inputs and "congealed" energy inputs concretised as machinery. What that energy costs at today's energy prices is the cost of the primary remdial work only.
By the way I don't agree carbon sequestration will ever be a proposition. Prevention is better (cheaper in energy cost terms) than cure. That is why renweables will prove a better proposition.
Going back to the statement, "Also, every piece of economic work takes energy and energy can be used (as at least one term in an equation) to count the value of all work.", we can derive the simple equation thus.
Economic Energy Value (N) = Energy input (E) times Energy unit (U) cost at market prices for any particular product, including all amortised energy costs from energy concretised in machinery plus the cost of remedial work to repair all negative externalities (including damage to environment, calculated in the same way.
OR $N = (E1 x U) + (E2 x U)
This Economic Energy Value may vary quite widely from the Market value of the product or service in question.
This difference will be a measure of the "environmental irrationality" of the market place.
As we use this method of valuing (by market methods aided by legislation) and it begins to impact it will bring the ("true") Economic Energy Value and the market value into a closer fit with each other. Negative externality costs will be included in product and service costs.
This is the theory. We can only approximate that in reality but approximation will be enough. We can always err on the side of slightly over-costing negative externalities especially as there is much remedial work to be done to clear our large historical hangover of damage caused by historically uncosted negative externalities.
What would it cost in energy terms to capture this CO2 from the free air, compress it and store it undergound (the only proposed relatively harmless way so far)?
In energy terms, very little.
Plants sequester CO2 from the atmosphere, using solar energy, at a rate of about 130TW globally (70TW on land and 60TW in the oceans). As anyone that has studied basic biology knows, photosynthesis and the Calvin-Benson cycle converts CO2 to carbohydrate, lignin and cellulose.
Humans can then fix this carbon permanently (well at least with a half life of several thousand years) employing some very simple chemical engineering processes such as hydrothermal carbonisation and pyrolysis.
Both of these processes are exothermic, to the extent that the energy liberated from the plant material as heat is more than enough to drive the reaction, in an appropriately designed reactor.
As the net primary productivity of the planet in carbon terms is an order or magnitude greater than fossil fuel emissions, humanity could theoretically deplete atmospheric CO2 using this simple approach at very little energy cost.
All the while not doing anything about reducing emissions….
The science behind pyrolysis is uncontroversial, although the IPCC has completely overlooked it to date, and there are many other claimed advantages of using the products. Google agrichar and biochar.
The ecological and economic implications of such an effort however, are probably not as easy to express in terms of energy….
An interesting reply Scott. On initial appraisal it sounds to good to be true. The plant bit is good and fine of course as the solar energy is free and from outside the biosphere.
However, to have enough plants we would have to be vastly extending forests (intead of clearing them at breakneck pace) and putting in other kinds of plantations too I guess. We would have to let these forests and planations fend for themselves laregely or else count the extra energy costs of tending them.
I'll check the process at the links you mention. But I wonder whether you are counting the transport energy costs to get all this bulky plant material to these installations and the costs of building these intallations on a scale that would have such an effect.
Better to plant lots of forests (for sure) and also go into renewable/semi-renewable power in a big way; solar, tidal, wind and hot rocks.
Basically, it's straightforward and low technology to make charcoal by almost mediaeval methods from renewable wood sources, particularly if nitrogen fixing plants were used as feedstock, then sequester it by bulldozing it into landfills and/or water (either the sea, or streams that wash it out to sea), ideally after letting phosphates and other nutrients leach out and get back into the soil via settling ponds and green manure. That's because charcoal isn't biodegradable and is only naturally recycled by sun bleaching (i.e., by the traces of hydrogen peroxide produced in moisture by ultraviolet light). You could even run the bulldozers off charcoal fuelled gas producers. And there's always Terra Preta…
As Scott noted, the production of biochar releases energy – probably enough energy to power the whole production process – and used as a soil conditioner it reduces the need for artificial fertiliers.
You might also find that the area of forest required is less than you think. The nice thing about biochar is that it removes carbon from the atmospehre for centuries. So set up plantations of fast-growing trees like Laurel or grasses like Myscanthus and harvest them annually.
I think Scott might be being a little harsh on the IPCC, it's innately a cautious,k conservative and slow-acting body and biochar has really only been discussed actively for a year or two.
If the scientsits are right and we ultimately need not judt to stop emissions but to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels back to pre-industrial levels biochar may be the best way to do so.
There's also the Green Horizons process being promoted by US physicists to extract carbon dixoide from the atmosphere and use it as a feedstock to produce plastics.
Biologically, there are only four limitiations (1) sunlight, (2) water, (3) land, and (4) nutrients, none of which are prohibitive.
In this respect, tropical countries are in a perfect position (certainly far better than the temperate "developed" world) to make a real dent in global CO2, either through biochar or biofuels.
Substantial capital would be required to create these mostly tropical plantations, and unfortunately, as noted in Oliver Moreton's recent book, "the world has not, to date, shown much enthusiasm for making vast investments in developing countries in ways that benefit all concerned. Big investments in developing countries tend to be linked to the extraction of raw materials, and they tend not to do much good to the citizens of the countries invovled.
"It is not too hard to imagine bioenergy (or biochar) cash crops as a new form of exploitation; the British environmental writer George Monbiot argues that the cars of the rich would be fed at the expense of the bellies of the poor, with cash-crop biofuel plantations taking over croplands and despoiling the earth as they go: 'Those who worry about the scale and intensity of today's agriculture should consider what farming will look like when it is run by the oil industry.'"
This is the problem, but again, it's not an energy problem. More like a management problem – the same sort of problem that results in millions malnourished globally, despite the fact that millions of tonnes of food are wasted every year by those who have it.
Scot's comments have homed in on the "need" to grow forest to supply the required lignin. Don't food cropwastes contain this which could be charred?. Have yet to see a comparison of the fertiloiser value of biochar compared to rtaditional compost, but that would be useful.
The other question mark is the EROI – would it cost more energy to build the corbonisation plant than surplus energy would be produced or (or the equivalent carbon sequestered) is worth?


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Sometimes the most humble crochet project can really make a difference in the quality of one's life. That's crochet genius! In this case, Sheila has invented a potholder we weren't smart enough to know we needed, but will not find it impossible to live without! Check it out. You'll be as impressed as I was with Sheila's crochet genius – as usual.
Then, Stef over at Craftside is offering this cute pattern as a sample of the goodies in her latest book. What little girl wouldn't love to have this to cast a spell on Daddy or Mommy? So cute!
I'm sure you'll find someone to crochet a wand for. How about me??


text:
Who Complains More About Himself, Robert Pattinson Or Gerard Butler?
Can you believe two of the hottest, most successful guys in Hollywood hate themselves?
Gerard Butler, 40, has it all! But even with two movies in the box office, How To Train Your Dragon and The Bounty Hunter, plus a rumored romance with co-star Jennifer Aniston, 41, the Scottish actor STILL manages to feel like an outsider! Why is it that Hollywood's hottest hunks complain about themselves all day long?
"[I'm] very happy but I don't always feel like an insider, absolutely not," Gerard revealed March 26 to HollyScoop.com. "Even with things on the inside I often manage to hit myself in the head. … You spend a lot of time pushing yourself more to the edges where you are different than where you are the same."
We're stumped! How could someone as popular and handsome as Gerard feel like an outsider? Seriously, the guy is currently with Jen in Paris promoting The Bounty Hunter!
Maybe he's taking a cue from fellow lady magnet Rob Pattinson. Rob, 23, explained to GQ magazine in April 2009 that, "[I've] always been hypersensitive about being looked at, when I was a kid somebody'd make eye contact with me on the bus, I'd freak out."
And when it comes to crowds of people, Rob steers clear, "Someone could very easily stab me." The Twilight star also revealed to People in March 2009 that he doesn't, "have much of a sense of personal hygiene or styling or anything."
Hmm… Gerard may feel like an outsider, but we think R-Patz takes the cake for the most complaints. Do you think either of these men really have anything to nag about?
— Allison McNamara


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- slide 1 of 9
Acceptance Theme Postcard Template
Displaying your church body's accepting nature is an effective way to reach out to the unchurched in your community. These church postcard templates exemplify your caring community at a glance. The front of the postcards show several hands piled atop one another, each one obviously belonging to a unique individual with the words "Accepted... Just as you are!" The reverse side of the postcards includes text boxes into which you can type your church's name and address, your recipient's name and address and a message to your recipient as well. There is also a placeholder for postage, which you can change or remove if you use bulk mailing. The template prints four postcards per page.
Download Page: Acceptance Theme Postcard Template
- slide 2 of 9
Church Postcard Template: Confused?
The world has questions. The Bible has answers. Let people know your church is there to help them find a way past their confusion with this postcard template. The front of the postcard shows a puzzled man with a jumble of question marks behind him and the word "Confused?" in front of him. The back of the postcard has customizable text boxes for your church's name and address, your recipient's name and address and another text box with sample text reading, "The Bible has answers. Join us as we discover them." The template prints four postcards per page.
Download Page: Church Postcard Template: Confused?
- slide 3 of 9
Discover Joy Church Postcard Templates
This is the day that the Lord has made! Let the people in your community know that they, too, can have peace and joy with this simple yet meaningful postcard. The front of the postcard features a woman smiling up at the sky with the words "Discover Joy" running down the left side. Like the rest of the church postcard templates listed here, the back of this postcard features text boxes for addresses and a message. The template prints four postcards per page.
Download Page: Discover Joy Church Postcard Templates
- slide 4 of 9
Bible Excitement
The picture on this postcard speaks a thousand words. A young boy sits on his bed with an open book on his lap and a joyously excited expression on his face. The back of the postcard reads, "Join us as we discover the exciting good news of God's Word." Of course, you can customize the text to suit your purposes.
Download Page: "Good News" Church Postcard Template
- slide 5 of 9
A Postcard for Growing Families
Let people know that your church is a place where entire families can grow together. This postcard features an image of a parent and child cupping soil with a budding plant growing out of it. It also has the words, "Looking for a place where your whole family can grow?" in a lovely script across the front. The back of the postcard has the sample message, "Join us as we grow together through God's Word." The template prints four postcards per page.
Download Page: Church Postcard "Grow" Message
- slide 6 of 9
Announce Your Prayer Ministry
If your church has a special prayer ministry or you simply want to let neighbors know that you will be pleased to pray with and for them, you might appreciate this template. The front shows a small child in prayer alongside the words, "Prayer works." Included with the text boxes for contact information on the back is the sample text, "How can we pray for you?" The template produces four postcards per page.
Download Page: Church Postcard Prayer Theme
- slide 7 of 9
Share the Good News
This postcard might encourage your members to share the good news and invite others to church. The front of the postcard shows a smiling man sharing a secret with an equally happy woman. The words, "Have you heard the Good News?" are in purple across the bottom. Customize the back of the postcard with your church's contact information and personalized message.
Download Page: Church Postcard Sharing Theme
- slide 8 of 9
Thirst No More!
The final offering in this list of free church postcard templates features an adorable toddler drinking from a gushing garden hose with the words, "Thirsty? Boy, can we hook you up!" on the left side. Along with the standard text boxes on the back is sample text reading, "Come and get it! 'But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.' John 4:14"
Download Page: Church Postcard Thirsty Theme
- slide 9 of 9
Check out the Microsoft Publisher Tips library for more Publisher help and templates. Have an idea for a new template you would like to see? Leave a message in the Comments section below!
References and Image Credits:
Microsoft Publisher Official Site, http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher/
Screenshots taken by author.


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Anyone Interested In A Alfa Roemo 145 Road Trip To Southern Spain?, 145 to the south of Europe?
Anyone Interested In A Alfa Roemo 145 Road Trip To Southern Spain?, 145 to the south of Europe?
16th March 2014 01:41
1.6 8v
Group: Regular
Posts: 898
Joined: 2nd November 2012
Local Time: 16th August 2018 18:34
From: East Mids
Member No.: 10,640
Driving: 145 Cloverleaf 2.0L ts
From: uk
Anyone interested in getting together on a Alfa Romeo 145 road trip to southern Spain via France and le mans and other 'race roads'? It would be something I would organise (someone sort out the British spelling please!!!! ). I have some contacts in Spain. France would have to be done ad hoc though (makes it more interesting - although I could try and get accommodation in France too). I can get prices and organise it. Guaranteed a good time . Be looking to go in April school holidays (better as it's not too hot and of course during the 'semana santa' (Easter) where every where in Spain there is an event. Even heathens amongst you would find interesting.. I think!). Let me know. If enuff show interest I'd be glad to organise it and get bloody good prices.
This post has been edited by Ganz: 16th March 2014 01:47
Instagram ganz145_alfa
18th March 2014 21:33
1.4 16v
Group: Regular
Posts: 130
Joined: 29th August 2012
Local Time: 16th August 2018 18:34
From: Basingstoke
Member No.: 8,922
Driving: 145 if one is working, otherwise RS4 B8
From: Basingstoke
Sounds great, been fancying a 145 road trip. Easter is too soon though, house extension about to start for 4 months
2015 would be possible though.
Two Cloverleafs, red 1996 (gremlins),grey 1998 (sulking) Blue 1.6 TS perfect!. Plus a red 2001 Cloverleaf for spares or restoring...decisions decisions.
19th March 2014 03:05
1.6 8v
Group: Regular
Posts: 627
Joined: 31st May 2010
Local Time: 16th August 2018 18:34
From: Lincoln
Member No.: 5,115
Driving: 145 2.0 20V Turbo, 159 2.4 JtdM
From: Peterborough / Lincoln
As above I'm off to the phillipines for two and a half weeks in April. Good idea though
I work for Virgin media so if you want a deal or want to join let me know. :)
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|Time is now: 16 Aug 2018 17:34


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Sheltie Suffers Ruptured Bladder in Car Accident – Trupanion
Poor Coffee the Sheltie has been going through various trips to his veterinarian for treatment from being hit by a car. This accident resulted in a broken pelvis and a ruptured bladder for which he had to undergo surgery. Luckily, pet insurance helped cover the costs of this unfortunate accident.
Pet insurance claim amount: $8,111.63
Deductible applied: -$0.00
Exam fee: -$250.00
10% co-pay: -$786.16
Trupanion repaid: $7,075.47
Accidents like these happen quickly and unexpectedly and can leave you in an emotional and financial panic. Pet insurance offers peace of mind for the worst of times.


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TALK OF THE TOWN By Orikinla is About Special People, Places, Events and Things Making News.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Charles Uwagbai's Crime Thriller "Breathless" in Cinemas from July 1st
One of the must watch new movies coming from Nollywood is Charles Uwagbai's crime thriller BREATHLESS starring veteran actor Bimbo Manuel with Nollywood sex symbols Mike Ezuruonye and Uti Nwachukwu and fast rising Brycee Adiah Bassey.
Uwagbai is known for directing the epic "Okoro The Prince" and thrillers "Black Sillhuoete" and "Drive"
The world premiere of "Breathless" is on June 26th at Intercontinental Hotel on Victoria Island in Lagos and will be in cinemas nationwide from July 1st.
Professor Okpodu, a successful businessman, and his two sons are excited about the prospect of their company becoming Africa's biggest solar energy business. To realise the dream, they hire a female consultant from the United States of America. The sumptuous-looking consultant becomes an object of desire for the professor's sons, pushing them into a bitter rivalry for her body and soul. She, however, has a different agenda: avenging the death- in the professor's beach house- of her sister, a young woman with less than licit links to the professor and his two feuding sons. This sets off a series of events that lifts the lid on the dark secrets of the professor and his two sons as well as how her sister died.
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With over 15 years of experience in Atlanta real estate, I am well versed in all aspects of the process. Over 80% of my business comes from referrals from my past clients who refer their family members, friends, business associates, and relatives.
My favorite areas are Buckhead, Virginia Highlands/Morningside, Ansley Park, Brookhaven, and Midtown.
I live and work intown, but I also am very knowledgeable about Atlantas suburban areas, and I have represented both Buyers and Sellers from all over the Metro area.


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Kim Woo Bin and Rain are cuter than kangaroos in Running Man Australia
Kim Woo Bin and Rain made guest appearances on the Running Man special episode in Australia. Fans were extra enthusiastic to see the meeting of these two super stars who are active in different fields. They stayed in Australia for five days and four nights, fiercely playing games with Running Man members. Kim Woo Bin and Rain had such amazingly cute charisma while wearing yellow kangaroo costumes and spending time enjoying games like children, that they gave the real kangaroos a run for their money. See for yourself!
The funniest part of the episode, which aired on the 9th of March, was when they tried to high jump while wearing kangaroo costumes. Kim Woo Bin and Rain were partnered with other Running Man members to complete a mission where their combined jump with their partner had to be over 9.84 feet. Kim Woo Bin and MC Yoo Jae Suk became a team, so viewers' expectations were high because the pair is so tall. When Kim Woo Bin's turn came, he showed strong confidence with a serious facial expression, but ended up falling down on his stomach in perfect slapstick comedy. Rain pretty much did the same thing, which made the audience roar in laughter.In addition, Kim Woo Bin and Yoo Jae Suk fed kangaroos and were surprised when touching them. They thought that kangaroos would be aggressive animals because they have watched muscular kangaroos kick in cartoons, but after they fed and stroked them, Kim Woo Bin and Yoo Jae Suk kept on saying that Kangaroos are so cute and nice.
Who do you think are cuter? Kim Woo Bin and Rain or the kangaroos? Comment below!
And make sure to tune in HERE for the rest of the hilarious Running Man Australia episode featuring Kim Woo Bin and Rain!


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IFRS Trustees Roll Out Draft of Protocol for Due Process Oversight
The Trustees' Due Process Oversight Committee (DPOC) has published a Working draft of protocol for due process oversight of a protocol for due process oversight.
The protocol is intended to guide the work of the DPOC as it discharges its responsibility for oversight of due process matters, to summarise the principal due process procedures of the IASB as described by the IASB's Due Process Handbook and to define the performance measurements to be used by the IASB to assist in evaluating and reporting on its adherence to published due process.
The DPOC will publish a final draft of the operating protocol in 2012 for public comment, along with proposed enhancements to the Due Process Handbook.


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International Horse Trials, Country Fair & Dog Festival
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11 August, 2017
The Clock Is Ticking…….
The clock is ticking down to the 2017 Firle Place International Horse Trials & Country Fair, which take place over the weekend of 19th & 20th August in the beautiful grounds of Firle Place, just five miles south east of Lewes. One of the five oldest horse trials in Britain, the event is an established […]Read more >>
11 April, 2017
Bede Events takes on Firle Place International
Bede Events is to take over the running of the Firle Place International Horse Trials and Country Fair. After 15 years at the helm organising the popular event, organiser Jo Carr has stepped down and handed over the reins to Bede Events. "After 15 years organising Firle, with the support of a wonderful team of […]Read more >>
12 August, 2016
Dog Festival Schedule
Posted on the Dog Festival page Click here for detailsRead more >>
26 July, 2016
New sponsor: PRB Consulting
We are delighted to welcome PRB Consulting to Firle this year. Based in Hailsham in East Sussex, PRB Consulting provide a range of Health, Safety, Environmental and training services across a range of industry sectors throughout then UK. "With health and safety compliance becoming an increasing part of our working lives, PRB Consulting has the […]Read more >>


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Clear Light Psychic Readings
Psychic Mediumship by Clearlight
Lightning fast answers using clear psychic intuition. Usually this service is only reserved for hour readings and are booked a year in advance. Jeff has been guided to extend his expertise for truth seekers after hours. You may see his website before connecting: www.jeffbakerpsychic.com
Checking online status...


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CNET News Video
Daily Debrief: Palm's comeback?This fall, smartphone veteran Palm will release the Treo Pro, its latest and long-awaited offering, into the crowded market. In Wednesday's edition of the Daily Debrief, CNET's Kara Tsuboi and Senior Editor Bonnie Cha discuss what consumers can expect...
>> Welcome to the Daily Debrief. I'm Kara Tsuboi here with Bonnie Cha, Senior editor for CNET Reviews and today we're talking about Palm. >> Yes. >> The company and a new product that's coming out. Now let's just give a little bit of background first. Palm sort of entered into the PDA market years before a lot of other companies. >> Yeah, and they, you know, they did it really well. I think a lot of people kind of equate their smart Phones with the Palm Treo when they first introduced that and for a while they, you know, they dominated the market but over the past couple of years, they kind of dropped off. They just kind of updated their products very well and they just haven't been able to compete with the newcomers so -- but that may all change this all. >> That may change, yes. >> What's coming out? >> So today, they announced the Palm Treo Pro which is a new Treo and they've really updated the look. It's sleeker, you know, it can kind of compete with the other phones out there now and it's, you know, they've really stepped up with the features as well so it's got 3G, it's got GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, and, you know, touch screen. >> Oh, great. >> Yeah, so they really kind of step up to the play which they haven't for a while. >> And when do we know about its release date, its pricing? >> Right. So here in the United States, it should be released in the fall and they're not going with the carrier. They're gonna sell it unlocked. >> Okay. >> Unfortunately, I don't have a specific price or availability date but they'd be sometime this fall. >> Okay. Have you seen any photos or you haven't got on your hands on it? >> No. Later today but I've seen photos and it looks really good. I'm really, actually, impressed. So this is the first kind of Palm product that I've been looking forward to checking out. >> Yeah. >> That's good news, because right now, I mean, I've got the Treo and it is, and it's heavy and. >> Right, yeah. >> Not that easy to use. >> No. And, you know, we'll see. They kind of make a comeback with the Palm Centro which is more of a starter smart phone and, you know, affordable, but you know I think, they really need to hit the business market again and this might be the answer. >> And what if it's not the answer? I mean, that's certainly not gonna do it well for the company overall. >> Right, yeah. Who knows, you know, it's been the same problem with Palm that, you know, we've always been saying they lack in innovation and I don't know, maybe, the Treo Pro will be there, savior, but yeah. >> It seems that they kind of need to up the sex appeal. >> They do, a lot. >> But they were up against, you know, obviously, the iPhone. >> iPhone, exactly. >> And even, you know, Blackberry is a little sexier than the Treo. >> Yeah, definitely, so I think this is a good step. >> Terrific. >> Yup. >> Well, thank you very much Bonnie Cha. We'll look forward to your review on the-- >> Absolutely. >> Palm Treo Pro. >> Yes. >> Coming out this fall. >>Yup. >> Thank you. I'm Kara Tsuboi and we'll see you on the next Daily Debrief.


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Chris Hinkle
Phoenix, Arizona
Cake-meister Tammie Coe was among the first people in the valley to lay a winning bet on this five-block stretch of downtown. Now her soulful, playful bakery/cafe, Tammie Coe Cakes–with two Phoenix outlets–is still going strong. Coe ended her long-standing relationship with popular restaurant La Grande Orange in fall 2012, but you can find her artful brioches, cupcakes, and cookies by going directly to the source. Her red velvet cupcakes, insanely moist concoctions topped with addictive cream cheese icing, are Roosevelt jet fuel.
Last Reviewed
July 2015
610 East Roosevelt St.
Phoenix, AZ


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Billboard's headline says it all: "Tony Bennett Becomes Oldest Living Artist to Top Billboard 200."
Last week Mr. Bennett, 85, released "Duets II" (Columbia), which features his collaborations with Lady Gaga, Amy Winehouse, Carrie Underwood and others many decades his junior, and sang a belated birthday concert at the Metropolitan Opera that was attended by Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Now the sales tallies are in, and "Duets II" sold 179,000 copies, according to the tracking firm Nielsen SoundScan, easily beating titles by Lady Antebellum, Adele and Lil Wayne to top Billboard's standard album chart. (Before Mr. Bennett's achievement with "Duets II," the oldest living artist to reach the top of the chart was Bob Dylan with "Together Through Life" in 2009, when Mr. Dylan was 67.)
Last week's top album, Lady Antebellum's "Own the Night" (Capitol Nashville), fell to No. 2 with 125,000 units sold, a 64 percent decline. Adele's "21" (XL/Columbia), by far the biggest hit of the year, also fell one spot, to No. 3, but its 117,000 albums sold represented only a 2 percent drop from the previous week.
The teen pop singer Demi Lovato opened at No. 4 with her third album, "Unbroken" (Hollywood), with 96,000 units, and Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter IV" (Cash Money/Universal Republic) was in fifth place this week with 84,000.


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Coastal Bend College Admissions Stats
Undergrad Application Fee
|AP Acceptance:
|Credit for Life Experience:
Many colleges put a great deal of weight on student ACT/SAT test scores when considering applications. Cappex can help you see how you rank compared to students who have been accepted to Coastal Bend College
|3800 Charco Rd Beeville, TX 78102
|(361) 354-2200
|General Site:
If your close to this campus come here and start with your basics, it's easy and near. This school has given wonderful experiences I have had no problems it is a great school to attend for your first year.Read More
If you plan on going into the Nursing program, I would suggest taking a CNA course to get prepared in addition to Growth and Development class. If you're not sure what you want to do, just stick with the core subjects and decide later. If you don't like online classes, make sure your degree plan offers your classes at the college.Read More
Read and reread your syllabus. Everyone learns in different ways so check for any extra reasources. Also some teacher's almost never use the book, instead they focus on their study guides and use those to plan the tests. Last but not least: do the work!Read More
Try and join Trio. The best organization for students who qualify. The stuff is always there for you and everything is keep confidential. They are there to help you and they truly want you to succeed.Read More
Coastal Bend College is a great learning environment. The classes are small and teachers are always great about helping students.Read More


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This section contains 306 words
(approx. 1 page at 400 words per page)
Burke, Bob, and Denyvetta Davis, Ralph Ellison: A Biography, Oklahoma Heritage Association, 2003.
This biography spans the entirety of Ellison's life, most notably chronicling his experiences with segregation in his hometown of Oklahoma City.
Eichelberger, Julia, Prophets of Recognition: Ideology and the Individual in Novels by Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison, Saul Bellow, and Eudora Welty, Louisiana State University Press, 1999.
This book explores the treatment of the individual in relation to society through the four of America's greatest literary giants. Questioning more than just race, the novels of Ellison, Toni Morrison, Saul Bellow and Eudora Welty explore ethnicity, gender, class, and religion during the most volatile years of American history.
Ellison, Ralph, Albert Murray, and John F. Callahan, Trading Twelves: The Selected Letters of Ralph Ellison and Albert Murray, Vintage Books USA, 2001.
This collection of letters spans a decade of friendship between the remarkable authors Ralph Ellison...
This section contains 306 words
(approx. 1 page at 400 words per page)


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Robot reviews: Potpourri
Goats: Infinite Typewriters
by Jonathan Rosenberg
Del Rey, 176 pages, $14
A strange thing happened to me while reading this collection of Rosenberg's well-known webcomic about a pair of clueless programmers, an evil chicken, a goat, a fish and an even more evil baby chick. Initially I wrote the comic off as one of the many smarmy, self-conscious humor strips that proliferate the Net with their cute pop culture references and deliberate bizarre and often violent antics — antics that often make me think that Berkeley Breathed had a lot to answer for.
But then as I dove further into the book I found Rosenberg attempting to, if not deepen his story, at least stretch it out into something more epic and knotty. Plot lines started to weave into each other. Philosophical and political themes started to emerge and the parodies started to get a bit more thoughtful than "celebrities suck." He seemed to be trying to create something beyond his initial gag-a-day formula and I find it tough not to admire that. He still has yet to create a character I feel any empathy for and I'm not sure he has the artistic chops to match his ambition, but I like his moxie.
The Brinkley Girls: The Best of Nell Brinkley's Cartoons 1913-1940
Edited by Trina Robbins
Fantagraphics Books, 136 pages, $29.99
First things first: Brinkley was an amazing artist and craftsman and there are pages here that will stun you in their detail and composition. Let's get that out of the way right away. As I suggested in a recent WAYR column, Brinkley never met a curl of the hair or swish of the cloth she didn't like, and her large one-page newspaper illustrations are crammed to the brim with both. In a way, you could find parallels between her and the Image artists, except that she has a much better understanding of basic human anatomy.
And yet I find myself asking what it is all in service to. As talented as Brinkley is, she comes from a bygone era where the prose was purple and florid to the point of annoyance (a point which Robbins pretty much acquiesces), and her characters, though noble and at times brave, ultimately remain bubble-headed simpletons who's main goal in life is to sigh lovingly on the shoulders of their rugged, handsome mates, in between squeezing out babies no doubt.
I feel bad slagging Brinkley's work for simply being a product of its time, but the fact remains it's the sort of book where you admire the artistry and little else. Brinkley certainly is an artistic inspiration, and those seeking that sort of inspiration from yesteryear would do well to seek her out, but those seeking qualities like storytelling and characterization should go elsewhere.
War Stories: A Graphic History
by Mike Conroy
Collins Design, 192 pages, $24.99
Conroy surveys the history of war comics from the early days of the industry up to modern times, though he organizes the book in chronological order of the wars the various comics portrayed, which is as good a method as any, and gives Conroy the benefit of being able to compare and contrast how various creators and generations looked at particular clashes.
Conroy has a strong enough grasp of comics history to not only include obvious choices like Frontline Combat and Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos, but also Jacques Tardi's It Was the War of the Trenches and Keiji Nakazawa's Barefoot Gen, with a healthy sampling of British war books (which is not surprising considering Conroy is British). What Conroy has in breadth, however, he lacks in depth. With each section taking up only two pages, and one page of that being art, there's little space for deep analysis or insight into these comics. Conroy writes with passion and knowledge, but his book is ultimately too cursorary and brief to be of use to a serious — or even amateur — scholar.
Against Pain
by Ron Rege Jr.
Drawn and Quarterly, $24.95.
There are basically two reasons to get this book: High School Analogy, the best Spider-Man story ever written that doesn't have the names Lee and Ditko attached (and yes, I'm being serious); and We Must Know, We Will Know, his loose look at math and math history. Those are both, by the way, excellent reasons. If you need further incentive though, I'll simply say the rest of the material here isn't too shabby either.
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Doha apartment rent
Dear all,
I am currently considering an employment offer in Doha on lump sum basis, so I am seeking advice on accommodation rent expenses. I am looking for studio or 1 bedroom apartment, either furnished or vacant basis. How much should it cost? I have seen on internet FF 1 bedroom, in Musheirib area for QR5500, which is within what I would like to pay, it has swimming pool and gym. Is that a good or decent area to stay in, or is it run down?
Any tips or advice is highly appreciated as I need to make a decision soon.
Many thanks


text: Next we checked out the Graceland Wedding Chapel, the one with the Elvis Presley motif, and you can just imagine how nice that was. They gave us a little mimeographed sheet comparing the prices of the ``Top 10 Chapels`` for the total wedding package--we`re talking your chapel, your music, your flowers, your paperwork, your photos, your videocassette, your audiocassette and, of course, your minister--and Graceland was a very reasonable $125 plus a tip for the limo driver. So this seemed like a good candidate, the only drawback being that Beth announced she would rather have her stomach pumped by amateurs than renew her vows there.


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The KC-135 Tail Flash Pendant is a cool way to display your pride in your aircraft. There's no mistaking this tail boom! Price shown is for Sterling Silver and can be customized with your base two letter identifier. Select the Custom Letters /Numbers button and indicate your base, squadron and numbers when submitting your order.
Pendant price is for Sterling Silver and comes with an 18 Silver Rhodium Plated Diamond Cut Rope chain. This elegant chain is 1.5mm wide with a lobster claw clasp. Also available in yellow and white gold, please call or e-mail for prices.
- Item #: MAKC135-911V
KC-135 Tail Flash
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RadioShack FlagstaffStore's name : FLAGSTAFF-FLAGSTAFF MALL
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RadioShack Corporation is an American franchise of electronics retail stores in the United States, as well as parts of Europe, South America and Africa. RadioShack's current proprietary brands include RadioShack branded products, AntennaCraft, Auvio, Enercell, Gigaware and PointMobl. In 2009, the company became the main sponsor of a new cycling team, Team RadioShack, with Lance Armstrong and Johan Bruyneel as… more about RadioShack
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The Canadian War Memorial, London.
Images copyright © Graham K Cook. Click on the entry for a larger version
This evocative memorial of a stylised maple leaf with water cascading down its polished face remembers the contribution of the Canadian soldiers in both world wars. It was designed by Pierre Granche and is in Green Park, London.
London, England. June, 2005


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On Thursday, Governor Rick Snyder signed an emergency manager bill into law, giving the power of oversight and financial efficiency back to Michigan localities.
Snyder stated:
"These new laws recognize the vital importance of financially stable, economically vibrant communities to Michigan's future. They also respect the needs of citizens and taxpayers by delivering greater oversight and efficiency. Our reinvention of government is delivering meaningful reforms that will keep Michigan on the path to prosperity."
The prior 2011 emergency manager law had numerous shortcomings. It prevented elected officials, such as mayors and city council members, from making any kind of spending decisions. According to House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) the new law will give local governments in financial emergencies more options than the current system allows.
"We listened to the voters and we wanted to make sure that the local communities were more empowered," Bolger said in an interview with The Detroit News. "You can eliminate the emergency financial situation. … You can't pretend that's not there."
After the voters repealed the 2011 law this past November, the state reverted back to a 1990 version of the law which was ineffective in dealing with budget deficits.
The Detroit News reports:
Under the new law, the state could review the finances of a city or school district if the entity defaults on debt payments, has a six-month-old overdue bill of at least $10,000, fails to make payroll for a week or if requested by the governing body or chief administrative officer.
Emergency managers would have the ability to reject, modify or terminate labor union agreements — sweeping authority granted under the repealed 2011 law. Collective bargaining could be suspended for up to five years.


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The mystics are the only ones who have gained a glimpse into what is possible when this same capacity [for creation] is used primarily in the service of the individual himself instead of for the creation of art.
The creator does not create only for the pleasure of creating but . . . he also desires to subdue other minds.
When one looks back over human existence however, it is very evident that all culture has developed through an initial resistance against adaptation to the reality in which man finds himself.
The artist always has been and still is a being somewhat apart from the rest of humanity.
There is one great and universal wish of mankind expressed in all religions, in all art and philosophy, and in all human life: the wish to pass beyond himself as he now is.
The attitude and reactions of artists toward their art children reveal an attitude similar to that which mothers in general possess toward their children. There is the same sensitivity to any criticism, the same possessive pride.
Fundamentally the male artist approximates more to the psychology of woman, who, biologically speaking, is a purely creative being and whose personality has been as mysterious and unfathomable to the man as the artist has been to the average person.
The amount which cannot be harnessed and domesticated, but insists on its own form of activity rather than one which is offered ready made, is the energy used for the creation of art.
. . . woman is a being dominated by the creative urge and . . . no understanding of her as an individual can be gained unless the significance and effects of that great fact can be grasped.
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