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The Master Key: Awakening the Four Golden Wheels
Tami Simon speaks with internationally renowned Qigong master Robert Peng about self-empowerment through the activation of what he calls the Four Golden Wheels—the three dantians and the central meridian. Robert helps us learn now to identify these energy centers in our own bodies, and discusses how to expand the central meridian to connect us with the infinite energy of the universe. Tami and Robert also discuss his experiences as a Qigong healer under the guidance of master Xiao Yao. Finally, Robert leads us in the practice he calls "Awakening Awareness," an exercise at the heart of many of the practices he teaches. (72 minutes)
The Master Key: Awakening the Four Golden Wheels
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Tami Simon: You're listening to Insights at the Edge. Today, my guest is Robert Peng. Robert is an internationally renowned Qigong teacher capable of generating healing energy through his hands with power equal to a potent electrical charge. He studied in China with legendary Qigong master Xiao Yao and became proficient in both the martial arts and the healing arts. He has used his extraordinary abilities to help countless people regain their optimum health and vitality—and to demonstrate to the world the incredible spiritual potential that human beings possess.
With Sounds True, Robert has published several titles, including a new book and four-DVD set entitled The Master Key: Qigong Secrets for Vitality, Love, and Wisdom. Robert will also be one of our featured presenters at the 2014 Wake Up Festival. He'll be offering a pre-festival workshop, morning Qigong practice sessions, and an afternoon healers' intensive.
In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Robert and I spoke about what he calls "Four Golden Wheels" of energy—the lower, middle, and upper dantian in the body, along with the Fourth Golden Wheel, the Central Meridian in front of the spine. Robert also helped us locate in our own bodies these four energy centers, and to activate their power. We also learned about expanding the central channel—expanding it all the way to infinity to connect and unify with the energy of the universe. Robert shared a bit about his work as a Qigong healer and some of his experiences studying healing with his master, Xiao Yao. Finally, Robert led us in a Qigong practice that's called "Awakening Awareness"—a practice that underlies many of the Qigong practices that Robert teaches.
Here's my conversation with Qigong master Robert Peng.
Robert, your new book and DVD series is called The Master Key. Can you help us understand what you mean by this term—the Master Key? What's the Master Key?
Robert Peng: The Master Key—well, we say it's the Four Golden Wheels. [That] is the Master Key or Master Code to unlock or release true happiness. Yes. What happens is that—you know, we say we're happy. We have a cup of coffee and we're happy. We have ice cream—happy. We have our salaries promoted—we're happy. It's conditional.
But what still happens—something dynamic happens—is that no matter in what condition—you might be off a little bit from the center line, but a spirit of happiness won't get interfered [with]. So this Master Key is to unlock this and unlock the Four Wheels of the center for energy.
We say we have a Wheel of Wisdom, [which] is located in the center of the head. The energy here is associated with our wisdom—so we call it "Wheel of Wisdom." Then, some energy is connected in the center of the heart. We call it "Wheel of Love." Then there [are] some energy centers concentrated in the lower dantian, [which] is below the lower torso. It's connected with our vitality—our [charisma]. So this we'll call "Wheel of Vitality."
So this is three wheels. Then we have another one to hold these three wheels together, which is Central Meridian. It goes from your perineum and [goes] all the way up to the top of the head to connect the heaven energy, and to connect the Earth's qi. This Central Meridian is to harmonize them. We call it "Wheel of Harmony."
These Four Golden Wheels [are] the Master Key to unlock—to release—our dynamic happiness. That's basically what it means. The subtitle for the book [is] called Qigong Secrets for Vitality, Love, and Wisdom.
TS: OK, now, "Four Golden Wheels." Explain this "golden" part and the "wheel" part.
RP: Yes. The reason why we say it is a "Golden Wheel"—first, the wheel, because the energy [there] in the center is spinning. It is like the sun and then we have all the planets circling around it. So, the energy is rotating around the [center] to make it more refined. When we're doing the meditation, that energy concentrates and you do feel there's a shining power over there. Yes. But it's spinning, so we call it a wheel.
The reason we call it "golden"—well, it doesn't mean it's golden-colored. In China, when we say, "This is golden," (I think in English, too), it means it's precious. It is very valuable. It's powerful.
So we have these three big energy centers. There are other energy centers. All other energy points—we say the acupuncture points. They're energy centers, but we don't call [them] Golden Wheels. These four are the big ones and powerful ones. So we give them a good name—"Golden Wheel." The Wheel of Love, the Wheel of Vitality, the Wheel of Wisdom, and the Wheel of Harmony.
We have all these Four Wheels filled and powerful with energy. You're driving a super-powerful four-wheel-drive. No matter whether the road is bumpy, no matter whether it's sandy, you can drive through and go over a lot of difficulties. Still, you're moving forward. We have some symbols from these Four Golden Wheels.
TS: Now, I didn't follow that last part. Symbols from the Four Golden Wheels?
RP: Yes. So, these are the symbols of different parts of the energy. The Golden Wheel of Vitality, there, we call it a wheel—the synonym, there's another name called "Lower Dantian." Lower Dantian. "Dan" means "elixir." "Tian" means "field." The "lower elixir field" holds the energy of vitality.
So when your vitality is strong, you're always charismatic, always have good energy, always [are] jumping around like little boys or girls—you know, when they're three, four years old. They never get exhausted. That's the Wheel of Vitality.
And the Wheel of Love—when it is powerful, you feel always loving. You want to embrace everybody. You want to kiss everybody. You always want to serve people. But when it's weak, then you feel that you are rejected. You feel less love. You feel depressed easily. That's about the second wheel—the Golden Wheel of Love.
Then the upper one—inside the head—[is] the Wheel of Wisdom. Now, [when] the Wheel of Wisdom is charged with good energy, you have good choices—guidance in a good direction. It's as if someone is guiding you. It's not logic—it's just, "Have a good choice." But when it's blocked or weak there, you'll always make poor choices. Very disoriented, fuzzy, doubted.
The problem is that we can be developed in one of them and very weak in the others. Say, for example, someone can be very developed in the Upper Dantian—which is the Wheel of Wisdom—and poor in the Wheel of Love. He can be very smart [and] very spiritual. He can be very successful with his career or business. But no matter how much money or how successful they are, if their second wheel—the Wheel of Love—is not strong enough, they will feel depressed for no reason.
Or the reverse: If someone is very developed with the Wheel of Love, and is always very loving but very blocked with the Upper Dantian. Well, if you have this kind of friend, they can be annoying friends. They want to help people, but they don't have a good way of doing this—to express their love.
Vitality is the same. When the Wheel of Vitality is powerful, but the Middle Dantian is not so powerful, you can be very strong in action but [have] a cruel heart.
So all these combinations form different characteristics of human beings. We analyze about six types of people—or not necessarily people, but the situations when we are in something—like today, I'm maybe in "Type One." Very advanced in my Upper Dantian but low in my Middle Dantian. I [don't feel so happy]. But I'm very creative! So different situations with that.
So these are what we call "Four Golden Wheels." And especially the three wheels—Upper, Middle, Lower Dantians. These three wheels are associated with life a lot. In ancient times, our ancestors began to observe from outside, from inside, from Heaven, from Earth. And they [found] some quite precious things. It's very strongly connected with our vitality, with our love, with our wisdom. So they named them as three treasures.
In Heaven, they find the stars, the suns, [and] the moons are so strongly connected with human qi—with human vitality. So we called—in Heaven, we have Three Treasures. They are the sun, moon, stars.
And then we observed on Earth [what] most strongly affected us was water, fire, and wind. So we have Three Treasures in Earth—water, fire, and wind.
By the way, in Chinese we say ["water"] as, shui. Wind in Chinese, we say, feng. You put it together [in] reverse: "feng shui." Feng shui. Yes.
Feng shui, in ancient times—when we study feng shui, it's the study [of] how the surroundings—how the Earth, the planets—[are] associated with our three dantians. The Lower Dantian holds our Jing—the essence. The Middle Dantian holds our mind. So, Lower Dantian holds Jing, the body. Middle Dantian holds the mind. And the Upper Dantian holds the spirit. So body, mind, spirit—Lower Dantian, Middle Dantian, Upper Dantian. So different names, meaning the same thing.
This trilogy of Three Treasures—Heaven treasures, three treasures of Earth, three treasures of human beings—hold together as a type of our ways of dealing with the outside world and dealing with our inner world.
TS: Now, Robert, I want to talk a little bit more about these three dantians that you're mentioning. And then the Fourth Golden Wheel, the Central Meridian. But let's start with the idea of these three dantians. Now, are they actually taking up a sense of space in our energy body, if you will? And if so, how big a space is each dantian?
RP: You mean, how large does it take?
TS: Yes.
RP: Yes. Well, the Lower Dantian—which is in the lower torso—normally, when you're doing visualizations, you hold it as apple-sized. The size of the pearl is concentrated there. The interesting thing is that here we say, "pearl," but in Chinese you can say, "dantian." "Tian" means "field." "Field" is a lot bigger, right? But while we call it "pearl," [it's] also a field, because we understand every tiny thing in Buddha's eyes is a paradise—a new world.
So this concentrated energy there holds oceans of qi. And these oceans of qi [are] associated with our energy burst control—our burst power—sexual power, our charismatic power, and also our rooted energy. The extension of this Lower Dantian in the lower torso is a leg. The leg—when it's extended, it goes into the earth. So this Lower Dantian is also very strongly connected with the Earth's qi, which is fire, wind, and water. This Lower Dantian qi—when it's strongly rooted with the Earth's qi, you feel more motherly and grounded.
Yes. That is the Lower Dantian.
TS: OK. Right now—even before we move on—I want to get really specific about this. So, you know: the size of an apple in the lower torso. Tell me exactly where. I want to help our listeners right now—as they're listening to you—tune to their Lower Dantian and awaken the energy of their Lower Dantian.
RP: It is right in the middle. If you find the navel—and then opposite of the navel, that is the top part. Then, about three fingers below the navel—that is the center, going inside. That is where the center is.
TS: OK. And if you were to help people right now have a sense of awakening or empowering the Lower Dantian—so they could really feel it in their body—this energy center. And I'm focusing on this, Robert, because I know what a powerful Qigong teacher you are—and a powerful Qigong healer. Here you are, you're saying that these Four Golden Wheels—the three dantians and the Central Meridian—this is the Master Key! That's what you're saying.
So I want our listeners to get a sense that this Master Key is a key—if you will—that they have on their keychain as a person. They've actually got it on their keychain. And I want to see if we can actually, really make some progress towards that goal in this conversation we're having. So let's start with the Lower Dantian. How do we help people really have a sense that this is lighting up inside them—that this is an awakened center in their body?
RP: OK! Yes, we can do it little step-by-step first. You can use the middle finger to find your navel. Find your navel. Then, going down from the navel, your index finger, middle finger, and ring finger are going down lower—that is, we say the inches of the Lower Dantian. You can use the middle finger to probe on the area, then progress a little bit—slightly deeper. Visualize [that] the energies around in this lower torso are magnified, concentrated over the place that you press, and form a shining pearl.
OK, now you slowly release your fingers and allow the pearl to just suspend there. Open your awareness to [sensations]: the temperature, the textures, the light, the release you feel.
So that's the quality you feel—what the Lower Dantian feels like. You might feel some flow—a warm flush over there.
TS: Yes.
RP: Sometimes you feel like the perineum there is in spasm. Strong ones. Or at least you feel like a simmering of [something] warm—of charcoals burning. They're all beautiful sensations of the Lower Dantian.
RP: When the Lower Dantian field is activated, very instantly you feel relaxed—of getting stronger. Like you stand and move firm. And then both kidneys feel more soothing. If someone has lower back [aches], it can be eased [a lot more] instantly.
TS: OK. Now, let's move to the Middle Dantian.
RP: Yes. The Middle Dantian—first, let's find the spot, then we can talk a bit [about what] it is like.
The Middle Dantian is in the middle of the chest—in the middle of the nipples, in the middle of the chest. So you can also use your middle finger to probe in the middle of your chest slightly. If you're quite open, when you move over there you begin to sense as if it's very tender there. You press there [and] you can feel that it's very powerful pressing. So again, indenting down a little bit, then you use the middle finger to press slightly.
From your middle finger, you can imagine there is a flash—like a flashlight. A flash shooting in the center of your heart. And it trapped all the light around your heart. Form a shining pearl in the center. Now, [let go of the finger slightly] and allow the pearl to keep glowing. Light up your upper ridge.
And that sense feels more nurturing—as if you are in someone's arms when it is triggered out. You can feel waves of [warmth] coming to your face, coming to your heart like a beautiful blast. You can melt away a lot of tensions on your shoulder blades, on your shoulders, on your chest.
TS: Now, Robert, is this area also the size, if you will—you mentioned an apple? Is it that—
RP: Yes. Yes. It's smaller. It can be the size of a ping-pong ball. It's smaller.
RP: Size of a ping-pong ball.
And allow that pearl to ripple out the light. Yes.
In the awareness—in the Qigong way of saying, "The qi goes with the mind." We say, "Where your mind goes, your qi follows." So when you throw your awareness in this area, you are bringing the qi over here to nourish your heart.
So when the heart is nourished quite frequently, you don't feel hurt easily. You're laughing all the time. You're smiling. People do something bad to you and it doesn't bother you. [Laughs.] So you have very thick clothes on you. You're bulletproof, emotionally. It's a beautiful feeling.
Otherwise, you get very easily irritated. Some people just sneeze by your side [and] it will make you crazy. "Why are you sneezing?!" "What do you mean?!" You find every excuse to make yourself feel you are the victim.
But when it's very powerful or very nourished, you're soft. So soft, you don't break easily. You're embracing—no matter the good things, no matter the bad things—you're embracing it and it comes on as a good vibes in the end. We say, "You have a big heart, you have a big ocean embracing everything."
TS: And then let's move to the Upper Dantian.
RP: OK. The Upper Dantian is the most spiritual, most Western. We're still using the middle finger to probe on the area in the middle of the eyebrows. Probe a little bit. Then we find that it's kind of an itchy spot if you're up—that is there. Then you begin to press with the middle finger against the middle of the eyebrows.
Now, you can imagine a flashlight coming from your middle finger [to] shoot right in the center of your head and light up over there. Meanwhile, attract all the energy in the center there. Form a shining pearl—a pearl like a marble ball. That size.
Now, let go of your finger slowly and allow the pearl to keep shining. Try to feel the difference of this Upper Dantian and Lower Dantian and Middle Dantian. The quality.
The activating of the Upper Dantian—you feel as if some soft hands are stroking on your forehead. Sometimes, you can feel a little bit of pressure of your third eye's area, like a pulse. Because here, near the third eye—the third eye has a lot of clever [indecipherable]—some people might see a screen. Like a screen after another screen [with] some quite vivid pictures. They're all good signs that say you're Upper Dantian is activated.
TS: And then we move on to the fourth Golden Wheel—you called [it] the Central Meridian. Now, Robert, how is this a "wheel?" Each of these other three centers, I think I understand the sense of a circular space in the body. But calling the Central Meridian—a column that's running in front of the spine—a "wheel" [is] a little confusing to me.
RP: [Laughs.] Well, if you look at the Central Meridian in the body, it is a column—it's a stick, right? Always a column. But when it goes out of the human body, it's connecting with the universe. Then it's moving along the horizon and all the way to the Earth and back through the perineum to inside of us. Actually, the Central Meridian is like—how do you say—if you have an orange. In the center of the orange—in all the skin parts [the pith of the orange]—is the Central Meridian. So the Central Meridian is not just one in the center, it's spread out and forms a whole globe of energy to wrap [all of our bodies].
That's why we so emphasize the Central Meridian. It's very powerful energy to make us connected with the heavens' qi, with the Earth's qi—connected with the surroundings.
So it's a big wheel. A huge, huge wheel. It embraces all the other wheels.
TS: Can you help our listeners get a sense of what the Central Meridian feels like in their [bodies]?
RP: Yes. Well, the Central Meridian feels—you can first find a spot that is on top of the head. Then you try to find your two ears. Then, in the middle of the two ears—on top of the head here. You can also still [use] the middle finger to probe on that area on top of the head. It is indented a little bit.
Please note it is not a cowlick. It is on top. It's a little bit tender. This is a point [that we call], bai hui, meaning "hundreds of points meeting here." This is a bai hui point, and this point connects with the Heaven qi, because this is the top of our head—of our body. So when this is opening, the universe's qi flushes into you.
What you can do is you can press—maybe use your thumb, because you like to press it harder. Use your thumb to press on this point and imagine a flashlight coming from your thumb and going all the way down—shooting through your head, your neck, your body, and [through your] perineum. [It] shoots out of your body, this light. It connects to the Earth.
Then, you release your hands and then allow the light coming from the Earth [to shoot] back to [the top of] your head here and go up to the sky. Now, allow that light coming down from the sky [to go] inside of your head—traveling inside the body—and shoot out from your body down to the Earth. Use your breathing. Inhale. Bring light up through the Central Meridian out of your body to the sky. Exhale. Bring the light close inside the body. It travels outside the body, down into the Earth.
Do that a few more times. Inhale up. [You're] crossing all three dantians. Exhale down. Bring an awareness, when it's traveling through different dantians, [this is] how you sense. Inhale up. Exhale down. Inhale up. Exhale down and it goes inside. You can lower it in your Lower Dantian. Can you tell the difference when it moves to the Lower Dantian, Middle Dantian, Upper Dantian? The quality is different. Yes.
We are constantly, very frequently, practicing the Central Meridian. It triggers part of the energies along the different dantians. Then your consciousness is a lot more sharp. You're more sensible at feeling your conditions—physical, emotional, and spiritual.
By physical—when your awareness of your physical conditions is strong—well, everybody gets sick. I get sick, too. But you can sense—you can feel—your conditions much, much more in advance than a lot of people. Then the treatment is a lot easier. Like many things, in the early stage it is very simple to deal with. Like you get a cold—you get some disease—maybe some ginger tea and a hot shower will solve the problem. But if you waited until it's getting deep, then it is serious.
The same is the feeling—the emotions. We sense if we're off-balance. You sense yourself if you're adjusted. You're always around the balancing situations. That's why we call it "Master Key," you know. It doesn't mean you're always on the right. It is always moving around, left-right directions, not too far away. Yes. Not too far away. That's because [you're] an upgraded human being.
TS: Robert, when we're beginning to contact and awaken this feeling of the Central Meridian in the body, do you have a suggestion for how large the column of light—or this beam of light coming down through the top of our heads—how wide is it?
RP: How wide? It is between the gorge of your two eyes. Like, two eyes' distance. The middle of one eye, then the middle of the other eye, then you have the diameter of the two eyes' distance. Then there's this big circle—it's the channel of the Central Meridian shooting up and down. This is like subways—the tube for the energy moving around in the middle of your two eyes. That diameter. That big.
And [there is a] saying from some ancient text, saying, "Ordinarily, if you have never done any cultivations of energy, a Central Meridian is connected—" because if the Meridian's blocked 100 percent, you're a bad person. Everybody's Meridian is connected, but is not that strong. They say it is the size of a pencil—that is, for people who are not so strongly cultivated with energy. But with constant cultivations, meditations, movement qi among them, they can expand. Yes—expand even bigger than that size. Then, it is the size of the whole body—the whole column. When you reach into that part of energy channeling—the whole body, up and down—that is the time, they say, that you are the angel, because you go beyond your physical body.
TS: It's interesting, Robert, because one of the practices that you teach—you call it "Connecting Universe." You teach people how to expand the Central Meridian to the size of the body, and then beyond to the size of the room—and beyond the size of the room to the size of the town they live in. Basically, we expand our Central Meridian all the way to infinity! It's a pretty amazing practice. Can you tell us a little bit about how that practice works? What does it do to our Central Meridian if we practice like that on a regular basis?
RP: You fond a good exercise to start with, and it's wonderful. That is called "Connecting Universe." When I practiced with my master about this—when he introduced me [to] this exercise—which is in the book. Anyway.
He made a comparison, saying, "Well, what is the best way for you to avoid a drop of water from drying out?" You put it in the ocean. Then it spreads everywhere. So you are connected with the whole ocean.
Well, the same [thing goes for] our energies. The Central Meridian is the channel that can connect with the universal energies. We are born with a lot of energy—like we are born rich. In my master's words, I say, "Everybody is a gold mine," meaning we are rich. But the problem is that everyone is holding the golden ball [back]. The reason that we have the gold ball in hand but still hold it back is that we don't know how to connect with the universal energies and we assume we're very poor.
So, "Connecting Universe" is the practice that makes you resourceful all the time with the universal energy—and not just exhausting your own energies. It's focused on expanding the Central Meridian.
What we do is: First, we allow ourselves to be aware of the Central Meridian, which is top of the head and perineum—a big channel going all the way to Heaven, all the way down in to the Earth. That is the axle that connects us with the universe.
Then we want to move the Central Meridian in a horizontal-way circle, so you're circling on your left side from small and all-the-way big—all the way to the infinity. Yes. So a circle—a small circle inside your body. A second circle maybe outside the body. Then outside the room. So just find some reference point that you can make your circle bigger.
Like we said just now, "Where your mind goes, your qi goes." When you are using your mind to circle your Central Meridian in this big circle, you're embracing this much energy. So when you're embracing all the infinity—all the universe—on your left side, all those energies are beginning to connect with you, supporting you.
Then we do the right side. Then the front side, and the back side. Then we're going to do the vertical. But in the end we're going to expand our Central Meridian—though maybe we start now with the pencil size, then we're going to expand it bigger and bigger, with 21 times that you reach to the end of infinity.
So in that way, we fuse totally [with] the whole universe. Every place—every single corner of the universe—you have a little part over there. In my book, we have a saying, "I'm the universe." OK? I am the universe. When you move, the whole universe is moving with you. When you cry, the universe is shedding its tears with you—because when you allow yourself to connect with the universe, we are part of the universe. And the whole universe is nourishing us.
It's why the "Connecting Universe" is simple, but quite significant. That is like you're a General and you have millions, trillions of armies supporting you to do anything. Imagine how powerful that will be.
This way, we are resourceful. When [we have] that energy to nourish our other Wheels—through the Central Meridian, that is the first Wheel. It begins to nourish our Wheel of Vitality, then you're healthy, you're charismatic, you're very dynamic.
When the qi is nourished in our Middle Dantian, then you're a loving person. You're always like Buddha—always you're blessing others. Right?
And when the qi and power are in our third eyes a lot, we're wise. We [make] good choices.
When the three dantians hold together with the Central Meridian, we are—in Chinese, we would say you are the zhēnshí rén. "Zhēnshí rén" means you are the "true person." The true person is that you know what you do, you do what you like to do. Every breath is an ecstasy because you are living at this moment, when everything is moving in a harmonious condition.
TS: Now Robert, I know that, in addition to teaching Qigong, you also work as a Qigong healer. And I'm curious how the Four Golden Wheels come into your work as a healer, if they do.
RP: Yes. Well, doing the healing work—before I say "healing," I like to make a little distinction of "curing" and "healing" because people get confused. I have a disease, I go to you, then you treat me, then you cure me. This is not healing. Curing is something coming from outside and given to a passive recipient. So like pills, herbs, operations—this is what we call "the way of curing."
But healing implies the existence of a force at work from within, with people as active participants in their own [healing]. So when we do the healing work, it is not a healer who is doing work alone. It is the participants—the patients—working together [with them].
Actually, in the broad sense, you're working on their Four Golden Wheels. We work a lot on the head to activate—through the head—the top of the head. You know, that is the Upper Dantian. When the Upper Dantian is released near the third eye, you begin to finally awaken the Middle Dantian.
When the Middle Dantian is awakened, you're much, much more relaxed. I've notice a lot of patients—when they come—at first they're very nervous. They're nervous. They're restless. But after just a few minutes of work—because their rhythm is harmonized together, the Middle Dantian is settled and they begin to feel so much safer and at ease. At that time, it's going deeper to allow the vitality to come, because vitality is the part, the Lower Dantian, that really simmers all of this—to make all the organs [work] in harmonious ways.
After these initiations, I always need my patients to practice. So all my patients should also be students of Qigong. If you don't practice, I don't encourage you to come to me too much. It is you, yourself, to heal yourself. That is how the healing is. It's always working on these different dantians. To make it more detailed, we say "The Twelve Meridians," because each organ has a meridian that is connected with the finger, connected with your head, connects with your toes. It's moving inside of your legs, outside of your legs, inside of your arms, and the outside of your arms.
So when we're doing the work, we do it all over the body holistically. The reason we call it "holistic" is we're working your body as a whole. Not to say, "Ah, I have a headache," you just work on the headache. If you have a headache, maybe I work on your toes. I work on one of your hands. That is, your body is a whole system.
Another way we call it "holistic" is because it reverses approaches to health and healing that takes into account the wholeness of human beings. So it's not just physical pain. Each time we do the work, you're hosting as body-mind-emotion-spirit. It's always in a dynamic movement when we're doing the work.
It doesn't matter if you know the specifics or not. You come to me and you say, "I have a headache. I have some symptoms." In Western medicine, you do the test and you find what this is. For energy healing, while you know it, it's good. You don't know it, you can still do the work. So, in Chinese, I have an interesting saying, "Ignorant doctor kills the unknown disease." [Laughs.] You're ignorant of what it is, but as soon as it sends the energy away—you know where the blockage is—you take away the blockages. After taking the blockages in calm energy to make it flow, that is the secret of the treatment.
Take away the blockages, feel with the qi, and allow the qi to heal. The three steps. They're very simple. [Laughs.]
TS: Now, Robert, I know you studied and Qigong and healing with your master in China—Master Xiao Yao. I'd love to know—did you see any healings? Did you witness any healings that really astounded you? I mean, I have to ask.
RP: There are too many! [Laughs.] Let me think about one. You mean the ones I saw my master [perform]?
TS: Yes. That you saw that he was functioning in that role as the healer. And here you are, a young person and you're learning, and you think, "Oh my holy gosh!"
RP: Yes. Well, actually he healed me to start with. When I first met him, I was eight years old. I was suffering severe pain in my chest. I don't know what that disease is, because I was too young and I don't know what [the doctors] diagnosed. But the symptom was that it was painful, especially if I jumped or ran. It was very painful.
I go to the doctor and it doesn't help, then the doctor says, "Your son needs to rest." So I rest and then stay at home, being bored. That's how I met my master in his boiler room.
His way of doing treatment—it's so easy. One of the ways I'm very impressed is that we say huángfǔ. He drew a picture on yellow paper. Then he began to chant on this paper and he burned this paper. He allowed these ashes to collect and put them in tea or wine, [then] allowed the patients to drink it. And it helps a lot of people.
So that is obvious. Another thing that he'd just scan—just look at you and scan, and then you're fine.
But one other thing I witnessed—I actually got involved with a treatment—is when I was in the mountains. His monastery—his temple—is deep in the mountains. After I'd practice every year, every day with him when we're together, then he'd turn to the mountain in my teenage [years]. So I visited him in my winter or summer vacation.
This one time, I was on the mountain in the summertime. There was a mountaineer who was carried by several people into the temple. He was bitten by a poisonous snake on his foot. It was swollen—so swollen that his skin was shining. Huge, huge. There was a red line from the bitten spot coming up above the knee. It was very dangerous. There's a saying, in fact: "Red line from the wound—from the bitten spot—going all the way to the heart, he's going to die."
Well, that is the first time I saw my master healing. Normally, he would do the treatment—very easy, calm. But when he saw this one was an emergency, he asked them to carry [the mountaineer] to his room. Using the qi on the spot [of the bite], then pressing the bai hui, the Central Meridian. He asked me to help with the Gate of Life in the middle of the kidneys. So, doing the work first to empower his life force, because he's fainting. He's lost his consciousness. Foam is in his mouth.
So, the first thing is to boost his energy. Then, he began to use his strong finger to channel it. Just several minutes after channeling, we could see the streams of black blood shooting out from that wound until later, it [became more] fresh. Then that is time for—[unintelligible]—a good breath, and maybe using some herbs chewed in his mouth, and having some wine in his mouth is great. The wound—cover it.
All together, this [took] 15 or 20 minutes. This person came in, [then was] gone—nothing. He lost his consciousness [and was] carried [in] by four big men. In 20 to 30 minutes, he walked out.
TS: Hm!
RP: Like his face. When he came in, his face was blackened. His wound was huge. This was one of the things I was very impressed [with] when I was with my master. At the time, I could not do treatment on my own yet. That was the first time I did the treatment with him—not the first time I did the treatment with him as his assistant.
TS: Robert, that's an amazing story of your experience with your master. But I have a kind of interesting story to tell about you—that I'd really like you to explain, if you will. I asked you about it once, but I didn't really fully understand your answer.
When we were shooting a DVD together—the new DVD Qigong Ecstasy—we did it in a location outside of my home in Boulder, Colorado. The day before the actual video shoot, I went outside and I looked at the garden, and it looked more beautiful than I'd ever seen it in my life. I would go so far as to say it looked two times or three times more beautiful. It was glittering and glistening and shining, and filled with a magical fairy dust, if you will.
And I thought to myself, "I wonder if Robert did something to the garden?"
[Robert laughs.]
TS: Or am I just so happy to see Robert because he's here making this video with us that my vision is changed? And I asked you about it later, and you said, "Oh, actually [I] empowered the setting of the video." You had empowered this garden before you even flew from New York to come to Colorado.
So tell us: What did you do to empower the physical space before you got there and light it up like this?
RP: Well, that is [two things]. Maybe now, I say it more comprehensively. I think it is from both.
One is the awareness of your years. [You were] more open, more connected [at] that moment. So all the beauties there before [you] were shining even more brightly at that moment, to you. That's one thing.
Another is—you mentioned this—the empowerment. Actually, that is what I'm going to teach for [those] three afternoons, that's one of the things. Three afternoons in the Wake Up Festival. It's how to energize the energy field where you work, where you're going to do workshops, where you're going to visit. This way [you can] make your trip more pleasant, more protected.
So what we do is, first we have—in our own body, we have about seven points that we want to reorganize through some gestures I cannot describe here. Yes. So you do [that] on yourself one time. Then you expand your body like you want to empower this whole room. So your whole body expands to the same size as this room. In other words, this room looks like you—a bigger you. Then you're doing the same [thing] to make your energy and this room's energy synchronize.
So in other words, it's like you're breathing together with this room. That is how you can have this power. You make this place much more connected to you.
We do this the same way as empowerment for property. I have some good friends who just bought a house. They feel the energy is not so good. They ask me to empower the energy—that is the same way you do. You make this property breathe together with the master of the property. Then that is what we call "empowerment."
It is empowerment for this owner. It's not empowerment for anybody else. You can do this here. You can also do this [from] a distance—just throw your mind.
What I usually do is—say, for example, last year—before I arrived [at] Estes Park for the Wake Up Festival. Even if I haven't been there, I try to find a picture just to get a sense of over there. In my home now, I begin to use these ways to make my energies connected with energy in Estes Park. Then, when I am there, I do it again—to reinforce that empowerment or connections [between] me, my energy, and this place. Then, energetically, you don't feel strange in this place.
Yes. So that's [what] I did to your house. Before I went to your house, I did empowerment. Not only me—I empowered to make every participant's energy connected at that property so that when we arrived, everybody felt like we were walking in one direction. Very harmonized qi over there. And, of course, all the plants, all the trees, and everything that are also part of the things of our empowerment. That is another reason you feel it. It's even more vital. It is even more beautiful at that time.
I don't know whether that makes sense. [Laughs.]
TS: It does make sense! And it's very interesting to me.
RP: And I'd like to [teach] you someday when we're together. It's not complicated. You can do it right away. That's what I plan to teach in the three afternoons. [The] break-out class.
TS: At the Wake Up Festival. Yes. Wonderful.
RP: Yes, the Wake Up Festival. Yes.
TS: Robert, to end our conversation, I'd love—if possible, I'm going to ask you a favor here—if you'd be willing to offer our listeners some type of Qigong practice that is easy to teach here in this medium—through audio. Some Qigong practice that they could start working with to really get a sense of the power of this work.
RP: Sure! Sure. I think—because the audience can be practitioners of Qigong or not—I'll find one that is universal to everybody. Even if you are very, very advanced with Qigong, I think it will still be very helpful. That is, we say, "Awakening Awareness."
So what is awareness? The power of awareness? In the narrow sense, [awareness] is that you feel something more sharply. But that is not what we [mean by] "awareness," because awareness—because some people are very sensitive, but they feel annoyed. They're very sensitive to hearing noise. Sound may annoy [them]—that's the problem. But the awareness that is sensed doesn't bother you. That is awareness. The power of awareness is that you have the power to feel the balance, not to feel the horrible things.
"Awakening Awareness" makes us [mindful]. Pause for a second, a few seconds. Just scan around us—outside the body, inside the body. It's quite an interesting and powerful practice. I can guide us through several minutes. Is that OK?
TS: Let's do it!
RP: OK, let's do it!
Now, sit down. Sit down with your hands resting on your lap. Keep your spine straight and relaxed. Close your eyes and breathe naturally.
Now, open your eyes and become aware of the outer world. Notice the sights outside of you. Sounds. Smells. The temperature. And the space around you.
Now, close your eyes and become aware of your inner world. Notice the images in your mind. Thoughts. Emotions. And memories floating inside.
Keep your eyes closed and become aware of the outer world. Notice the sights, sounds, smells, the temperature, and the space around you.
Now, open your eyes and become aware of your inner world. Notice the images, thoughts, emotions, and memories floating inside.
Keep your eyes open and become aware of both the outer world and your inner world. Notice the sights, images, sounds, thoughts, smells, emotions, the temperature, the memories floating inside, and the space around you.
Now, close your eyes and become aware of both the outer world and your inner world. Notice the sights, images in your mind, sounds, thoughts, smells, emotions, the temperature, the memories floating inside, and the space around you.
Now, let go of all experience. Dissolve your inner world and the outer world into nothingness. Become aware of awareness itself. Awaken your awareness and realize that awakened awareness is your true nature.
Now, take a deep inhale. Feel that breathing. Imagine that breathing, that exhale, is like a beautiful drink when you're very thirsty. Again, inhale. Exhale, relax, sigh out. Inhale. Beautiful drink. Ahhhh. One more inhale. And slowly open your eyes. Ahhhhh. And back into your real world. Smile.
TS: Thank you, Robert.
RP: Thank you.
TS: With Sounds True, Robert Peng has written a new book, The Master Key: Qigong Secrets for Vitality, Love, and Wisdom. It's a book that both tells his personal story and his studies with his master in China. Then, the second half of the book goes into quite a bit of detail on both activating and exercising the Four Golden Wheels. There's also a four-part DVD series called The Master Key that's a companion to the book, [which] takes you through all of the exercises on video.
Robert has also created a new stand-alone video with Sounds True called Qigong Ecstasy. This is the video that was filmed just under a year ago outside of my house in an empowered garden. It's a video that offers a Qigong movement and meditation sequence that cultivates radiant happiness.
Robert will also be with us this year at our 2014 Wake Up Festival, August 20–24 this year in Estes Park, Colorado. He'll be offering a pre-festival, two-day Qigong workshop, morning Qigong practices at the Wake Up Festival, and a healers' intensive in the afternoon.
Robert, thanks so much for being with us, helping us activate our Four Golden Wheels, and [activating] the power of awareness. Thank you.
RP: Thank you, Tami! Take care, everybody.
TS: SoundsTrue.com. Many voices, one journey. Thanks for listening.


text:
Never seen one with the high top like this. If course I'm not an expert either. This thing was clean and I sure wanted it. Just thought it was cool and wanted to share.
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Compare results with hundreds of other labs.
Samples distributed monthly—register today.
RegisterProgram DescriptionSchedule & FeesContact
AATCC Proficiency Testing Programs cover Antimicrobial, Appearance, Colorfastness, Fiber Analysis, Visual Color Evaluation, and Water Resistance methods. Labs may register for any or all programs.
For each program:
- Register at least one month before sample ship date (see Schedule).
- AATCC sends samples, instructions, and data sheets to participating labs twice a year.
- Labs submit test results online. (Labs may choose not to submit results for all methods in the program, but the fee is not pro-rated.)
- AATCC compiles results and distributes the report to participating labs with a code to identify their data.
- AATCC issues digital Certificates of Participation at the end of the calendar year.
January & July
Visual Color Evaluation
US$360 (½-year: US$210)
- EP1, Gray Scale for Color Change
- EP2, Gray Scale for Staining
February & August
Fiber Analysis
US$360 (½-year: US$210)
- TM20, Fiber Analysis: Qualitative
- TM20A, Fiber Analysis: Quantitative
Woven Fabrics (ASTM)
- D737, Air Permeability of Textiles Fabrics
- D1424, Tearing Strength of Fabrics by Falling-Pendulum Type (Elmendorf) Apparatus
- D2261, Tearing Strength of Fabrics by the Tongue (Single Rip) Procedure
- D3775, Fabric Count of Woven Fabric
- D3776, Mass Per Unit Area (Weight) of Fabric
- D5034, Breaking Strength and Elongation of Textile Fabrics (Grab Test)
- D5035, Breaking Strength and Elongation of Textile Fabrics (Strip Method)
- D5587, Tearing Strength of Textiles Fabrics (Trapezoid Procedure)
March & September
Appearance & Physical Properties
US$560 (½-year: US$320)
- TM88B, Seam Smoothness in Fabrics after Home Laundering
- TM88C, Crease Retention in Fabrics after Home Laundering
- TM124, Appearance of Fabrics after Home Laundering
- TM135, Dimensional Changes of Fabrics after Home Laundering
April & October
US$560 (½-year: US$320)
- TM100, Antibacterial Finishes on Textile Materials: Assessment of
- TM147, Antibacterial Activity Assessment of Textile Materials: Parallel Streak Method
May & November
Water Resistance & Repellency
US$560 (½-year: US$320)
- TM22, Water Repellency: Spray Test
- TM35, Water Resistance: Rain Test
- TM42, Water Resistance: Impact Penetration Test
- TM127, Water Resistance: Hydrostatic Pressure Test
June & December
US$360 (½-year: US$210)
- TM8, Colorfastness to Crocking: Crockmeter Method
- TM15, Colorfastness to Perspiration
- TM16.3, Colorfastness to Light: Xenon-Arc
- TM61, Colorfastness to Laundering: Accelerated
- TM107, Colorfastness to Water
Yarn & Thread (ASTM)
- D1422, Twist in Single Spun Yarns
- D1423 (Test A), Twist in Single Spun or Filament Yarn
- D1907, Linear Density
- D2256, Stretch & Elongation Properties
Knit Fabrics (ASTM)
- D737, Air Permeability of Textiles Fabrics
- D2594, Stretch Properties of Knitted Fabrics Having Low Power
- D3774, Width of Textile Fabric
- D3776. Mass Per Unit Area (Weight) of Fabric
- D3786, Bursting Strength of Textiles Fabrics – Diaphragm Bursting Strength Tester Method
- AATCC TM135, Dimensional Changes of Fabrics after Home Laundering
- AATCC TM179, Skewness Change in Fabric and Garment Twist Resulting from Automatic Home Laundering
Please contact Garry Atkinson for questions about:
- Antibacterial
- Fiber Identification
- Water Resistance
Contact Remington Scott for questions about:
- Appearance
- Colorfastness
- Visual Color Evaluation


text:
STEVENSON, Md.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--The securities litigation law firm of Brower Piven, A Professional Corporation, has commenced an investigation into possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of state law by the Board of Directors of FairPoint Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: FRP) ("FairPoint" or the "Company") relating to the proposed buyout of FairPoint by Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.
Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of FairPoint will receive 0.7300 shares of Consolidated Communications common stock for each share of FairPoint common stock held. Based on Consolidated Communications' closing stock price on December 2, 2016, FairPoint shareholders would have received compensation valued at approximately $20.72 per share. The firm's investigation seeks to determine, among other things, whether the Company's Board of Directors failed to satisfy their duties to shareholders, including whether the Board adequately pursued alternatives to the acquisition and whether the Board obtained the best price possible for the Company's shares of common stock.
If you currently own common stock of FairPoint and believe that the proposed buyout price is too low, and you would like to learn more about the investigation being conducted by Brower Piven, please visit our website at http://www.browerpiven.com/currentinvestigations.html. You may also request more information by contacting Brower Piven either by email at firstname.lastname@example.com or by telephone at (410) 415-6616.
Attorneys at Brower Piven have extensive experience in litigating securities and other class action cases and have been advocating for the rights of shareholders since the 1980s.


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Getting your prescription
AVONEX START Form
The AVONEX START Form is your key to beginning treatment with AVONEX® (interferon beta-1a) and your access to all of the support services that come along with it. If you and your doctor decide that AVONEX is right for you, simply fill it out with your doctor and we'll take care of the rest.
Talk to your doctor about starting treatment today!
If you are a healthcare professional, please find additional resources on the AVONEX HCP page.
Financial & insurance
The Above MS™ program from Biogen gives you access to Support Coordinators who can help you understand your insurance coverage and try to identify the best financial assistance solution for you. Our goal is that no one has to forego Biogen treatment based solely on financial limitations. You may also be eligible for the $0 Copay Program with no income requirements and no enrollment time limit for eligible patients.*
Call 1-800-456-2255 to see if you're eligible.
Injection training
The Above MS™ program from Biogen provides additional injection training with a nurse visit to your home for people taking an injectable Biogen treatment for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). Please keep in mind that your doctor is always your primary resource when it comes to your MS and your treatment.


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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to quit as Minister of Petroleum Resources in view of the lingering fuel crisis in the country.
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text:
Few have shattered Dolphins dreams like Tom Brady and the Patriots. But this time, the tears came from unbridled joy.
"Oh my god, who wouldn't [cry]?" asked Michael Thomas, his eyes still moist.
"Words can't explain it."
Let's try: Thomas — the guy most Dolphins players and fans had never heard of this time last week — made the team's play of the year Sunday.
Bawl on.
Thomas, a reserve defensive back thrust into action after an avalanche of injuries, intercepted Brady in the end zone Sunday, sealing the Dolphins' pulsating 24-20 victory over the Patriots.
With the victory, the Dolphins improved to 8-6 and kept the pressure on the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC's sixth and final playoff spot.
The Dolphins are playing their best football at the most important time. They've won four of five games and will be favored in their final two — next week in Buffalo and then in the finale against the New York Jets.
But just like their wild win over the Steelers the week before, this one was far from easy. They needed contributions from a rookie corner and a safety who is still a stranger in his own locker room.
Thomas and Will Davis had played a grand total of 13 NFL snaps — combined — entering Sunday's game.
But injuries to starting corners Brent Grimes (who injured his groin, but should be fine) and Nolan Carroll (knee) forced both into action late in the game.
The Patriots, down four points with 1:15 to play, needed 80 yards on their final drive to win. In other words, they were right in Brady's wheelhouse.
Passing the test
"He's going to exploit any team's weakness," Thomas said. "If he sees a new guy or a guy went down, the next guy up, he's going to see where they're at. And I knew that I had a chance if I got in, he was going to do that to me."
He did so twice in New England's final five plays.
Thomas — claimed by the Dolphins off San Francisco's practice squad Tuesday after both Dimitri Patterson and R.J. Stanford went on injured reserve — passed both tests.
First, Thomas ripped the ball out of Danny Amendola's hands in the end zone.
Then, on fourth-and-5 from Miami's 14, he read Brady's eyes and drifted back from the slot corner position to make the game-clinching pick.
After that? Bedlam. Dolphins players swarmed their new teammate, who had never played in an NFL game before Sunday. Then, the tears came streaming down Thomas' face.
"A lot of people are going to try to put their own term to it," Thomas said. " 'Lucky,' you know, 'beastly.' But I used the term 'blessed.' "
Dolphins coach Joe Philbin must feel the same way. Usually, teams down to their third-string defensive back have no chance against Brady — particularly one who barely knows the calls.
But Thomas got special attention from assistants Lou Anarumo and Blue Adams throughout the week.
And yet, Thomas said the first time he worked with the Dolphins' starting defense was during the game. All of his snaps in practice last week came on the scout team.
"I don't know him that well," Philbin said. "When you meet the guy, you like him. He's a bright guy. He picks stuff up and when we needed him, he contributed."
Hanging on
If not for Thomas' heroics, the Dolphins defense might have again had to answer for yet another blown lead.
Ryan Tannehill, who outdueled Brady on this day, did more than enough to win. He had 312 passing yards and three touchdowns Sunday — the last coming on a 14-yard strike to Marcus Thigpen.
But the score came too soon.
Brady had plenty of time to rise from the dead again.
The range of emotions from the Dolphins' sideline, which has seen five blown second-half leads this year?
Receiver Mike Wallace, who had 105 yards and a touchdown on six catches: "Honestly, I might die two years earlier after that."
Tannehill: "That was the longest 75 seconds of my life."
And offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie: "It was torture. The last two weeks have been like that. We were sitting there, and we didn't want to look, then you do want to look. It's too much. We have to get some games that aren't so close."
The Dolphins had no margin for error on Sunday, however, because the offense was so bad early. They went scoreless for the game's first 29 minutes 28 seconds. Miami managed just 112 yards and no points through their first four possessions.
Heating up
Then, Tannehill got hot. Not surprisingly, it was in a hurry-up situation.
Late in the first half, Tannehill directed an eight-play scoring drive that covered 82 yards in just 66 seconds. Wallace did the heavy lifting.
He caught a post pass, broke a tackle and then raced 39 yards to the end zone to cut the lead to 10-7 at intermission.
The Dolphins would then score on their next two drives to take the lead, but New England, not surprisingly, wouldn't go away.
Brady, who was 34 of 55 passing for 364 yards and two scores, was lights out for most of the second half. Amendola and Julian Edelman had 270 yards on 23 catches between them.
And when Brady connected with Edelman on a 24-yard touchdown pass with just over four minutes to play, it appeared he had foiled the Dolphins for an eighth straight time.
Tannehill and Thomas, however, had other ideas.


text:
Bulldogs Seek Second Straight Win
Related Links
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale men's soccer team played perhaps its most impressive game of the season on Wednesday night against Lehigh. The Bulldogs hope to build on that when Columbia visits Reese Stadium for an Ivy League contest on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 4:30 p.m.
It was a night of firsts for Yale in the 1-0 win over Lehigh. Freshman Cody Wilkins scored his first career goal and goalkeeper Matt Chesky earned the first shutout of his tenure. The Bulldogs' defense limited Lehigh to nine shots on goal and very few high-quality scoring chances. Wilkins' goal came when he headed in a perfect cross from Charlie Neil.
Columbia (5-7-1, 1-3 Ivy) also is coming off a strong performance, a 2-1 victory over Dartmouth last Saturday. Freshman Henning Sauerbier scored the game-winning goal for the Lions and was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week for the third time this season. Sauerbier leads the team in goals (4) and points (10). Alexander Aurrichio has started 12 games in goal and has a 1.52 goals against average.
Last year in New York, the Bulldogs edged the Lions 2-1. Brad Rose scored both goals for Yale. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series with Columbia 31-23-5.
Report filed by Tim Bennett, Yale Sports Publicity


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The program in Hebrew Studies at MSU offers students the opportunity both to develop core language skills and to gain an appreciation for the rich and varied culture of Israel. Using a communicative approach, students utilize the language in situations approximating real life. Courses are structured to allow for ample speaking opportunities and small group work. We also make use of state-of-the-art multimedia technology. While achieving proficiency in the language is the central goal, much emphasis is placed on the links between language and culture.
For further information about the Program in Hebrew Studies at MSU, please contact Professor Yore Kedem, who teaches the first and second year sequence, or Professor Marc S. Bernstein, the coordinator. Students with previous background in Hebrew should contact Professor Kedem to take the Hebrew placement exam.
Why Study Hebrew?
The rebirth of the Jewish State in 1948 and the revival of Hebrew after nearly two millennia of dormancy are among the most dramatic social and linguistic revolutions of the twentieth century. However, Israeli culture and society, while on the one hand very new phenomena, evince marked continuity with the past and knowledge of Hebrew is an essential window into Jewish and Western civilization. Courses in the Program emphasize the language and culture of contemporary Israel, but also provide a sound basis for further work in the classical texts of the Jewish tradition. Our courses prepare students for Jewish educational and community work, graduate work in Jewish or Religious studies, and positions in international affairs, government, and NGOs. Hebrew Studies at MSU are a central component of the University's Jewish Studies Program, and all Hebrew courses beyond the first year sequence may be applied to the 20-credit requirement for the Specialization in Jewish Studies.
Natalie Portman Teaching Hebrew Slang Words
Prof. Camelia Suleiman has published a sociolinguistic study of the use of Arabic in Israel.


text:
Presenting For Your Breeding
1999 AQHA Bay StallionDoc's Oak x Black Chick Sugar
STUD FEE: $750.00 to select maresShipped Semen Available
As you saw on our homepage, Oak is our young
promising sire. In 2002 we had two filly colts sired by him.
They are both exceptionally nice colts. They have Oaks great
disposition, and his correctness in conformation. We are
very pleased with both of them and cannot wait until they
can prove that this young horse is going to be a great sire
as well as a great individual.
Oak has a very strong pedigree. His sire
Doc's Oak is in the NCHA HALL OF FAME, he was Top Ten at the
World Show; COA-Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum; and had
NCHA LTE: $71,000. He sired: 4 World Champions, 3 Reserve
World Champions, Superior Performance, Halter point earners,
Working Cowhorse Money Earners, NCHA LTE: $8,878,227, and
NRHA LTE: $130,347. Doc's Oak was an own son of Doc Bar AQHA
HALL OF FAME who sired: 9 World Champions, 4 Reserve World
Champions, NCHA LTE: $3,213,453. Doc was sired by Lightning
Bar AAA AQHA Champion who sired: World Champions, AQHA
Champions, and NCHA Money Earners. His dam was Dandy Doll AA
ROM Race who produced Superior Halter and AQHA High Point
horses, her sire was Texas Dandy AQHA HALL OF FAME. Doc's
Oak was out of Susie's Bay who produced ROM Performance,
Superior Performance, NCHA LTE: $166,560, and THREE World
Champions. Her sire was Poco Tivio, 5th NCHA World Champion,
NCHA LTE: $11,189, he sired: AQHA Champions, NCHA LTE:
$74,000. Poco Tivio was a son of Poco Bueno HALL OF FAME and
out of Sheilwin who produced NCHA LET: $114,000, Superior
Halter and AQHA High Point Horses. Susie's Bay was out of
Susie L, who produced ROM Performance, sired by Jess Hank
who sired ROM Race and Performance and NCHA Money Earners.
Sugs Red Oak's dam was Black Chick Sugar,
the producer of AQHA Point earners and NCHA Money Earners;
her sire was Sugar Bar Flit, an AQHA Halter Point Earner who
sired ROM Performance, Superior Performance, NCHA LTE:
$6,000, and World Champions. His sire was Sugar Bars AQHA
HALL OF FAME and sire of World Champions, AQHA Champions,
NCHA LTE: $115,500. Sugar Bars was sired by Three Bars (TB)
HALL OF FAME and out of Frontera Sugar who produced ROM Race
and Halter and Performance Point Earners. Sugar Bar Flit was
out of Flit ROM Race who produced: AQHA Champions, Superior
Performance, NCHA LTE: $22,000. She was sired by Leo AQHA
HALL OF FAME and Leading Sire. Black Chick Sugar was out of
Black Chick Celia who was unshown by Black Chick 89 who
sired AQHA Point earners and NCHA LTE: $15,000; he was by
Six Chick (sire of ROM Race, ROM Performance, and NCHA LTE:
$60,000) and out of Miss Bar 89 (no record available). Black
Chick Celia was out of a mare by Cee Bars, SI95, Track
Record Holder and the sire of AQHA Champions and NCHA LTE:
$74,000. Oak has a pedigree as strong on the bottom as on
the top.
Oak is a NCHA Money Earner.
view our


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Goldie Hill Gray, 83, of 113 Larry St., Pollocksville died Friday at 4762 Fairport Road, Oxford, the residence of her daughter.
Funeral services will be held at noon Wednesday at St. Phillip's M. B. Church with the Rev. Quincy Hill officiating. Interment will follow in the Frank Murphy Sr. Cemetery, Pollocksville.
She is survived by her two daughters.
Viewings will be held at Oscar's Mortuary from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and at the church Wednesday, one hour prior to the service.
Published in Obituaries on July 20, 2009 1:48 PM


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Barbuda People's Movement (BPM)
The BPM has a long history of representing Barbudans in the struggle for self-determination as an independent Caribbean people who have a unique history and way of life. An improvement came about in their relationship with the Antigua government in 2004 as a result of the defeat of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) government and an alliance between the new United Progressive Party (UPP) government and the Barbuda People's Movement. This eradicated at least a quarter of a century of mistrust, confrontation and confusion. The BPM considers that this included the ruthless exploitation of Barbuda's natural resources by the ALP - through sand mining and the allocation of land to investors who did not have the island's best interests at heart. The BPM judged that Barbudans were being relegated to second class status in the national consciousness.
As a result of the UPP partnership the people of Barbuda embraced the passage into law of the Barbuda Land Act 2007 - you can read this and other legislation in full on the website of the Antigua and Barbuda government. This Act recognizes communal ownership of all lands on the island, and Barbudans' sole right to determine how their land is to be used, developed, and tenured in the future. In recognition of his wish to enter into a partnership with Barbuda, the UPP Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer gave the BPM representative Trevor Walker, the cabinet position of Minister for Works and Transport. This recognition was to bring many benefits to Barbuda, including major improvements in the previously neglected infrastructural aspects of the island's economy: a new and expanded roads network, a greatly improved electrical supply that did not fail, the construction of a reverse osmosis water supply system, greater educational opportunities for young Barbudans overseas, and radical improvements in the health and social welfare provisions of the Barbuda Council. Chinese government aid to Antigua and Barbuda provided a new community centre and Japanese government aid built a Fisheries building situated in the Lagoon - the most accessible place for local small boat fishers. A Pensions Act introduced into the legislative structure of the two islands has vastly improved the level of security for Barbudan workers when they reach retirement age.
Since its founding in 1978 the Barbuda People's Movement has fought to bring a bright tomorrow for all Barbudans, fund-raising locally through food fairs and small donations from local people and visitors. Trevor Walker was defeated by Arthur Nibbs of the ABLP (Antigua (Barbuda) Labour Party) in the 2014 general election and the issuing of land to 'investors' has begun again in earnest under his leadership, with the De Niro proposal for land to include an unwanted casino and a 'Barbuda Master Plan'. The BPM has vowed to continue to campaign for self-determination, equality and justice in this twin island nation as Barbudans step into the future. Read the main aims of their manifesto here (PDF version 110KB)


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Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first AL.com user to add photos or videos of Escambia County COMM On Aging
Escambia County Comm On Aging can be found at Highway 31 8600. The following is offered: Social Services. The entry is present with us since Sep 7, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 12, 2013. In Atmore there are 6 other Social Services. An overview can be found here.
Escambia County Comm On Aging is located at 8600 Highway 31 Ste 5, Atmore, AL. This business specializes in Social Services.


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Producer link: Military Supplies Hook Loop Patches Cable Ties Fastener Code: M-163/65
Disponibility: Is in stock
Nylon Power Velcro Fabric Military Supplies Hook Loop Patches Cable Ties Fastener REACH 163 & CP 65
Links Related to Taiwan Functional Fabrics, Special Fabrics & Special Polyester Materials as under:-
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Home > News > One Hour, One Night Only: Live Models Preview Syracuse Style Fashions in Windows of Landmark Theatre
One Hour, One Night Only: Live Models Preview Syracuse Style Fashions in Windows of Landmark Theatre
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Syracuse, NY - This evening, the Landmark Theatre's windows will come to life with living models for the third annual Syracuse Style Landmark Theatre Window Project. The free event is presented by Syracuse Style, the premier fashion event, which is a collaborative effort between Syracuse Fashion Week and the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc. From 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm, the community is invited to watch as 16 area businesses unveil 22 window displays in the back of the Landmark Theatre along South Clinton and West Jefferson Streets (map). The exciting event provides a sneak peek into the Syracuse Style Fashion Show, now just one week away.
Each Window Project participant creates a window concept and design. Then, they decorate and clothe a live model to add to the ambience. Last year, hundreds watched as 14 local businesses unveiled their displays. This year, organizers expect 300 to 400 spectators. After the live modeling, guests are invited to the Landmark Theatre for an after-party. The after-party will include music, food and a cash bar.
"The Window Project is a unique event in a historic venue," says Lisa Butler, executive director of Syracuse Fashion Week. "A fusion of fashion and commerce, art and business, creativity and advertising, The Window Project highlights local businesses, retailers, boutiques, salons, artists and designers, and brings new eyes to Downtown Syracuse."
The windows, featuring the designs of five Downtown businesses – Marisa's Fortress of Beauty, Empire Brewing Co., Better. Skate Shop, New York Optometrics, and Showoffs Boutique – as well as Susan Fixx, founder of the Museum of Young Art, will remain decorated for the next week to stir excitement about Syracuse Style, the largest fashion show in Syracuse. Next Thursday, September 17, the 100 block of Walton Street will become an 80-foot-long fashion runway. 90 models will walk the runway, showcasing the latest styles in men's and women's fashions, jewelry and accessories from 18 downtown retailers. Four downtown salons will style the models.
The event is free to attend, but VIP tickets are also available. For $50, attendees are able to sit around the runway and receive a gift bag filled with coupons, gift cards and other surprise perks. Those who purchase VIP tickets are invited to a pre-show party at Empire Brewing Co., where there will be food and drinks. New this year, there are also street seat high-top tables available for $160, for a table of four people. Each table will receive a bottle of red and white wine from Owera Vineyards as well as chocolates from Sweet on Chocolate. Those who purchase a high-top table will also receive a gift bag. Both VIP tickets and street seat high-tops may be purchased through Eventbrite.
"Syracuse Style is the premier fashion event in Syracuse," said Merike Treier, the executive director of the Downtown Committee. "We hope members of the community will come out to experience Downtown's retail strengths through the talents of our unique clothing retailers, boutiques and salons. With the variety of retail shops located within 82 blocks, Downtown Syracuse is Central New York's destination for high quality fashion."
Syracuse Style is presented by the Downtown Committee of Syracuse and local fashion designer Lisa Butler of Inspired Designs and Syracuse Fashion Week. It receives additional support from Onondaga Beverage, Empire Brewing Company, Syracuse Woman Magazine, Armory Square Association, Blue Rock Energy, the Blue Tusk, James Bass Photography, Hall of Fame Barbershop, Brookline Development Corp, The Landmark Theatre, Owera Vineyards and The Merchery Print Shop.
Window Project Participants
Marisa's Fortress of Beauty
Syracuse Fashion Week
Empire Brewing Co.
Cuse Pit Crew
Tori's Closet
Urban Life Crossfit
Better. Skate Shop
CNY Mode Magazine
New York Optometrics
Infinite Clip Studios
Susan Fixx, founder of the Museum of Young Art
ACR Health
Showoffs Boutique
Cathy's Cookies
Brewery Ommegang
Nail Bang
Syracuse Style: Fashions by 18 Downtown Shops
Accents of Armory Square
The Changing Room
Eureka Crafts
Georgio's (Designs by Laura Marino)
Indie Kids
Ish Guitars
Kenn Kushner Designs
Koolakian's Menswear
Lulemon athletica
Michelle DaRin Jewelry
Midnight Sun
Modern Pop Culture
Mr. Shop
New York Optometric
Projex 214
Showoffs Boutique
Also Featuring Designer Fix It Fashions
Syracuse Style: Styling by Four Downtown Salons
Ashley Hansen's Beauty Nation
Blown Away
Marisa's Fortress of Beauty


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The increase in animal mortality risk following exposure to sparsely ionizing radiation is not linear quadratic with dose
The US government regulates allowable radiation exposures relying, in large part, on the seventh report from the committee to estimate the Biological Effect of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR VII), which estimated that most contemporary exposures- protracted or low-dose, carry 1.5 fold less risk of carcinogenesis and mortality per Gy than acute exposures of atomic bomb survivors. This correction is known as the dose and dose rate effectiveness factor for the life span study of atomic bomb survivors (DDREF LSS). As a result, it was calculated by applying a linear-quadratic dose response model to data from Japanese atomic bomb survivors and a limited number of animal studies.
- Authors:
- Northwestern Univ., Chicago, IL (United States)
- Univ. of Chicago, Chicago, IL (United States)
- Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Grant/Contract Number:
- Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- PLoS ONE
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 10; Journal Issue: 12; Journal ID: ISSN 1932-6203
- Publisher:
- Public Library of Science
- Research Org:
- Northwestern Univ., Chicago, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Org:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; bombs; death rates; radiation exposure; carcinogenesis; dose prediction methods; animal studies; archives; ionizing radiation
- 1240244


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EDISON — Brittany Parsons of Edison scores in the Middlesex County College women's soccer game against Montomery County Community College Sept. 5. Middlesex took the contest 6-0 and is now 1-0. (Photo courtesy of Middlesex County College)
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Rhythm studio is an exciting collection of groove box synthesizers and drum machines. With its patterned based sequencer, create electronic beats in no time.
Dynamic workspace full of awesome audio gear
Up to any 4 instruments per song
Audiobus support
Audio copy
WIST support
Background audio supported on multi-tasking iOS devices
Pattern and song sequencer
3 easy methods to making songs
Classic drum machines
Classic synthesizers
6 synths, 2 drum machines, and 15 effects
The Control Pad is a live performance tool to control the other instruments in your song. It can be used to record patterns live or jam live on top of existing patterns. The control surface plays the key and scale set from within the song settings so hitting a wrong note is impossible.
The DR-8 is an emulation of the classic TR-808 analog drum machine.
This virtual analog beast has huge bass and good headphones or studio quality monitors are recommended to fully appreciate the sound. The DR-8 synthesizes 11 simultaneous drum sounds. From the snappy snare to the crisp noise of the high hats, this drum machine has the signature sound of the original.
The DR-9 is an emulation of the classic TR-909 analog drum machine.
The punchy kick and snare made the original hardware a legend in electronic and dance music. The DR-9 synthesizes 11 simultaneous drum sounds. There are three types of drum triggers, normal, accented, and flam.
The FM-3 is a 3 operator frequency modulation synthesizer. By changing the operator routing algorithm, a great number of sounds are possible. In addition, each operator has the ability to feed back on itself creating unique noise shaping possibilities.
The Gemini synthesizer has been modeled to have the characteristics and controls of a vintage synth. The sound synthesis consists of two oscillators with analog modeled waveforms and a 24db/oct resonant filter. Full ADSR envelopes for the filter and amplifier as well as a configurable LFO are standard. Oscillator sync and ring modulation are also included.
The Hornet synthesizer produces three waveforms simultaneously, along with noise. The Hornet synth was designed to have a lot of character and be simple and easy to use.
The 4 channel mixer is used for combining the audio signal of all devices. Integrated send and insert FX as well as a master fader with stereo level meters are on the mixer.
Fifteen audio effects are included in the app that enable you to create your own sound and bring life to your mix.
The Phoenix synthesizer recreates the famous supersaw sound with 7 detuned oscilators and a hybrid filter. Create lush strings and huge bass sounds with this synth.
The ST-1 is a simple synthesizer which plays back preset sounds. Each sound is sample based. To add variation to the sounds, a brightness control and amplifier envelope can be used to change the timbre and shape.
The TB-3 is an emulation of the classic 303 analog synthesizer.
We built the TB-3 based from the original synth schematics and circuit diagrams. We analized the original TB-303 and a modified version of the x0xb0x so that we could study every nuance and characteristic of the true sound.


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Facebook: Not A Good Severe Weather Platform
Yep, I know… the world lives on Facebook, and I spend long hours there pushing weather information. But, quite frankly, it is a horrible way of disseminating severe weather information. Here is why…
*FACEBOOK "LIKE PAGE": I am honored to have over 107,000 people "liking me". I don't think more than 5 people "liked me" in high school. You can find the "like page" here.
For a few years, I posted all Alabama severe weather warnings here, with the idea that over 100,000 people would be seeing them. After some investigation, I learned only a FRACTION of those people actually saw the warnings in their news feed. It is just the way Facebook works; 10 to 15 percent see it, and that is all. I can pay Facebook some cash to get that figure up a bit, but even then most still will never see the warnings. I started getting this message recently…
Unacceptable for a reliable severe weather warning platform, needless to say. I am all for Facebook making money, but my job is getting severe weather warnings to people, and this is a disaster.
*FACEBOOK REGULAR ACCOUNT: In an effort to work around this, I have encouraged the 107,000 people on the like page to come over and subscribe to my regular account. Of course, I only reach a fraction of the 107,000 people when I ask them to do this. And, the process is very confusing.
So far, over 67,000 have come over and subscribed…
First off, most come over and try the "friend request". They are told I have "too many friends" since the Facebook limit is 5,000. You have to "subscribe", which is almost impossible to do on a phone or tablet, which is how much people access Facebook. You really need to be on a computer to do this. And, then, to be sure you get the warnings, you have to opt in and go through a series of hoops to be sure all of my posts show up in your newsfeed.
TWITTER: If you want to use social media to get warnings, Twitter is the most reliable and widely used platform for now. You can get all Alabama warnings on our @ewarn account, and I put most warnings on my personal account as well… @spann.
GOOGLE PLUS: Honestly, this is the best platform for severe weather… we just have to get more people over there. Google's social network is reliable, fast, and made for mass distribution of weather information like severe weather warnings. You can find my personal account here…. come over and join us. Their mobile apps are second to none.
But, yes, I know most won't get away from Facebook for now, but please don't make that your exclusive way of getting severe weather warnings….
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About the Author (Author Profile)James Spann is one of the most recognized and trusted television meteorologists in the industry. He holds the AMS CCM designation and television seals from the AMS and NWA. He is a past winner of the Broadcast Meteorologist of the Year from both professional organizations.
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Actor Tony Hale says he hopes he's less like his Arrested Development character and a little more like his Veep character.
"Since Buster went more into the psychotic realm, hopefully I'm a little more like Gary," Hale tells TVGuide.com. "I definitely wish I had a Gary in my life, especially [his memory]."
In the HBO series, Hale plays "body man," aka glorified assistant, to the Vice President of the United States (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). "I carry around a very large bag for whatever she needs, maybe some shoes, a speech, some Xanax," Hale says.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus gets political on HBO's Veep
In the video below, Hale explains why his new series shows the humanity in politicians and what he hopes Buster is up to when he goes back to filming Arrested Development this summer for Netflix.
Veep airs on Sundays at 10/9c on HBO.


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Every action figure has a special tool that defines who they are, by virtue of what they do. A construction worker may carry a hammer, a wizard wields a magic wand. And if there were kitchen action figures, each would carry a special utensil as well. One might brandish a chef's knife, while another holds a submersible blender. Some cooks can get by with a can opener, while others need a mere bottle opener. And if there were a Chef Boy Ari doll, it would brandish an oversized cast iron pan.
I collect cast iron cookware, of all sizes, the way others collect guns or shoes. Each piece in my collection has its own niche in my kitchen ecosystem, from the adorable 6-inch personal breakfast pan to the Dutch oven, and of course the 12-incher that I use most often. But at this time of year, a pan that's large enough to feed the whole family is the one I turn to, when a slow, "winter pan" for dinner is in the cards.
The winter pan isn't a specific recipe as much as a way to use a pan to cook any and all cold weather ingredients, including root crops like potatoes and celeriac, honorary root crops like winter squash, and other storage crops like onions, garlic, carrots and bacon, not to mention winter greens like kale, spinach and Brussels sprouts. The winter pan also is an opportunity to display one's proficiency with a cast-iron skillet, as roping a calf demonstrates one's skill with a lasso. The calf doesn't always run the same pattern, just as each winter pan will use different ingredients and require a different procedure. As the cowboy has to adjust on the fly to the conditions of a particular circumstance, the pan expert must do the same. If you're good with a rope, it doesn't matter how elusive the calf is. And if you're good with a cast iron pan, you can cook anything you want.
Before we get into the winter pan, some words on cast iron cookware are in order. Many people are intimidated by it, thanks to a long list of specific needs, most of which are geared to protect the pan's seasoning — that thin black coating on the exterior of a pan to which chefs are expected to revere the way organic farmers worship their topsoil. And there are so many rules about what and what not to do with cast iron that you'd be afraid to use it if you listened to them all.
Bon Appetit magazine even cautioned against cooking eggs in cast iron: "Be wary of scrambled eggs and frittatas, which can get gummy and stick to a poorly-seasoned pan." Similar directives against cooking tomato sauce or deglazing with wine in cast iron, as well as soaking overnight and washing with a course scrubber, all followed a similar pattern: don't do it, unless the pan is really well-seasoned.
But a good seasoning isn't that fragile. My pans never lose their seasoning, which I make no special effort to maintain, other than avoiding the use of soap when washing them. Basically, the more you use your cast iron, the better-seasoned it will be. Especially if you cook with a lot of fat.
But giving credit where it's due, that Bon Appetit article did give me a great trick: Wash the pan with salt and olive oil. The gritty salt busts up even the most browned of coatings, and the oil floats off the pieces. Supposedly the salt trick also is good for the pan's seasoning. A true pan jockey is always on the hunt for new moves.
Don't be afraid of your pan. Just cook with fat and everything will be fine. And better yet, be a slacker and leave the pan out all night with a congealed puddle of grease before washing it. That really helps.
Winter pan
The winter pan is a simple recipe, but how it's interpreted depends entirely on what the ingredients are, and what they need to be their best. Along these lines, I'll break the recipe into steps.
Prepare the pan. In my house this is a euphemism for "cook some bacon." I keep it frozen so it's easy to chop into little pieces, as I'm going for bits, not strips. If I can get my hands on some guanciale, which is Italian-style jowel bacon — especially one with a good hard cure — I do. It's fattier, for one, and the fat is why we like bacon. When cooked slowly, it tastes like fried chicken skin. Olive oil is a great oil too. A mix of olive oil and butter makes for a decadent flavor, and won't burn as easily as straight butter. Fat can be added to this recipe at the beginning, middle and end, from bacon to mayo.
The heat under the pan should be at medium or less. This dish gets ruined if it's rushed.
Stir judiciously, maybe four times at the most over the course of an hour. When you do stir, do it gently, with a spatula or other flat bottomed utensil, scraping the bottom of the pan clean as you do.
Add dense ingredients, the ones that need a while to cook, like potatoes and slices of squash. I don't peel my winter squash. I just slice it into half-inch slices. Cut potatoes equally thick. Add a layer of potato slices first, followed by a layer of squash and any other veggie that needs a lot of cooking, like carrots. Add a few whole cloves of garlic if you wish. Let it slowly cook and brown and get delicious. Pour in more olive oil, add more butter.
Maintain proper moisture. This is crucial for a long, slow pan, because you don't want to stir it too often — which can break the veggies — and you don't want stuff to burn. You can add moisture by simply adding water. Moisture also can be added with a layer of chopped onions or cabbage, either layered on top or carefully stirred in. After adding moisture I often cover the pan to steam the upper layers. When you fry and steam at the same time, we call it freaming, and it can be a powerful technique.
Add delicate veggies, starting with the toughest of the lot, like cauliflower florets or Brussels sprouts, followed by tougher greens like kale, and finally tender ones like spinach or tatsoi. At this point, add fresh garlic, minced or pressed or grated. Add cheese now, if you wish. Put the lid on one more time, after splashing in a final dash of water, to wilt the tender greens and melt the cheese.
Add proteins, separately cooked, like eggs, tofu, meat or beans.
Once you have the proper skills and wisdom, a recipe for a winter pan — or a spring, summer or autumn pan for that matter — can be written as a simple sequence. For example: bacon/radish/carrot/cabbage/garlic/oyster sauce.
In between meals, prepare the pan and experiment with the heat on low. Add something, and see what it does. A sparse pan filled with a diverse assortment of goodies is a beautiful thing. And what you learn about your ingredients, and your pan, will improve your cast iron improvisation skills. At that point, with pan in hand, you won't need a plan.


text: Corn 84% Harvested, Soybeans 91% Harvested November 12, 2013 09:11 AM Tweet TAGS: Marketing, Overseas December 18, 2014 By Nate Birt Top Producer Managing Editor Email Eighty-four percent of the U.S. corn crop has been harvested, up 5 percentage points above the 5-year average of 79%, USDA said Tuesday afternoon. That represents a jump of 11 percentage points over the previous week. Meanwhile, 91% of the U.S. soybean crop has been harvested, down 1 percentage point from the 5-year average and an increase of 5 percentage points over the previous week. The information is published by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Of the 18 states that harvested 93% of the 2012 corn acreage, North Carolina is the only one to have completed its corn harvest. Texas is at 98% completion, followed by Illinois and Tennessee at 93% completion. In soybeans, two of the 18 states that accounted for 95% of 2012 harvested acres are finished. They are Louisiana and Nebraska. Close behind them are Iowa and Minnesota, which have both completed 98% of their respective harvests. "Harvest is winding down," wrote a farmer in Whitley County, Ind., on AgWeb's Crop Comments page. "A lot of corn was shelled this week. Our corn yield was at 159 and beans at 55. ... We need to figure all the acres planted when we come up with the yield. We had beans and corn the tallest I have ever seen. If we would have gotten a 2-inch rain in the middle of August, I'm sure our beans would have made another 10 to 15 more bushels. We are happy with our yields but hope for a better price for corn." A Dallas County, Iowa, farmer noted that while yields weren't ideal, they were a pleasant surprise overall. "Every acre failed to reach the 85% insurance level but were much better than I was expecting in August. Just going to pay storage and see what happens next spring." Click here to view the 2013 AgWeb Corn Harvest Map. Click here to view the 2013 AgWeb Soybean Harvest Map. Back to news


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Newcastle, a great place to be a bookkeeper!
Newcastle is vibrant and energetic city that, for the last 20 years has been undergoing a gradual transition from a tough mining town to a vibrant and innovative city. The University of Newcastle, Hunter Medical Research Institute and leading defence and aerospace manufacturers like BA Systems and Newcastle-bred Varley Industries are all contributing to making…


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The Salubrious Himalayan terrain and Industrial belt of Rudrapur is an elusive learning environment which has greatly helped to create a keen interest to learn management practices. The perfect combination of academics, industrial exposure, extra-curricular activities and opportunities to take national level initiatives have greatly helped me to execute an international career with excellence.
The biggest advantage of joining a new IIM is that it brings out the entrepreneur in you. Every batch that has joined IIM Kashipur has added something new to the Institute and has become an entrepreneur in the process. There is always so much going on and yet there is so much new that one can do. Life at IIM Kashipur is like watching Fast and Furious at 2X speed. You rush through it while having a lot of fun and when it's over it leaves you with a memorable experience.
IIM Kashipur instilled a sense of data-oriented approach to solving problems and an analytical mindset in me. This has come in handy in my current role where data analysis is one of the buzzwords thrown about when we approach any business challenges. The rigour that we were exposed to at IIM Kashipur where we juggled our regular academic activities with extra-curricular and co-curricular activities in various interest-based and academic clubs and committees, has made it easier for me to handle the rigour and expectations of the corporate world.
IIM Kashipur through its challenging academic rigor and equally enriching campus life provided me ample opportunity to gain requisite knowledge and relevant life skills. Learning through doing is a way of life at IIM Kashipur. Maintaining a clarity within chaos, prioritizing tasks at hand, leveraging teamwork, and respecting the deadlines are a few key learnings IIM Kashipur imbibed in me. I'll forever be grateful to my alma mater for my successful international career.
Courses offered at IIM Kashipur, most importantly the rigour involved in each of them, are tailored to groom the individual and develop an in-depth knowledge of the specific field pertaining to the subject.
This is greatly helpful in the industry as it gives you an edge over your competitors- you stand ou in the crowd.
Today's dynamically transforming business environment needs industry ready resources who are willing to enter uncharted territories and fetch expected results, which is what IIM Kashipur can offer. The rigour in academics bundled with industrial exposure and plethora of opportunities presented by the institute in extracurricular and co-curricular areas nurtures the professional entrepreneur in students and creates socially responsible leaders which the industry and in turn the country today seeks.
My two years at IIM Kashipur was one of the toughest yet one of the best times of my life. These two years formed a strong base for my career; a base which was built on the foundation of business concepts, state of the art practices and business ethics. The curriculum, live projects, presentations, B-School competitions, sports (& occasional parties) led to overall development and taught me two key lessons - Time Management and Prioritization, which is coming very handy in corporate life. With the pressure of being part of the pioneer batch - IIM Kashipur inculcated in all of us a culture of perseverance which speaks for itself.
IIM Kashipur, being a new IIM, gave me a lot of opportunities to explore and start new ventures on the campus thereby instilling an entrepreneurial perspective to my way of performing tasks at hand.


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Miami's LeBron James had a triple-double, but it was not enough as Tony Parker made shots when it counted, Tim Duncan was steady as usual, and Manu Ginobili was again disruptive as the San Antonio Spurs, a team that was well rested, won Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Miami 92-88 on Thursday.
James and Wade were right where Gregg Popovich wanted them, stuck on the bench, when Chris Andersen's follow-up shot gave the Heat a 76-73 lead with nine minutes to play. The two stars had been stuck on the bench for three minutes during the up-and-down game, and then Popovich surprisingly called a time out, allowing James to come back in the game. The Heat scored one field goal the next 5:50 as the Spurs took an 85-79 lead and would not trail again en route to a first round upset sealed by Tony Parker's final basket with 0.1 seconds on the shot clock.
Prior to that moment, the Heat had led for just over 30 minutes of action with no interruptions.
James missed a shot after coming back in the game, and then center Tiago Splitter backed him down at the other end and hit a 6-footer to pull the Spurs within 76-75.
Parker, who had kept the Spurs within five points almost the entire 30 minute stretch in which the Heat led, then took over by stealing the ball from Mike Miller on one end, and then drawing a foul on Norris Cole on the other end and hitting both free throws to finally give the Spurs the lead at 77-76.
Bosh hit a shot to give the Heat their last lead at 78-77.
Kawhi Leonard, who did an excellent job of containing James, then reached for an incredible layup and basket to make it 79-78 with 7:00 to go.
A minute later Leonard stole the ball from James and fed ahead to Parker, who drove to the hoop to make it 81-78.
Parker's 21-footer made it 85-79 with 3:30 to play and it was the Heat who had to call timeout.
The Heat twice cut it to two points twice in the final 90 seconds, but in the closing seconds Parker came through one final time. The Heat double teamed him, he fell to the floor, but kept his dribble, then got up and rushed up a shot from 16-feet. James apparently brushed the shot, but pulling back to avoid the foul. The ball went through the hoop with five seconds to play, and video review seemed to confirm it left Parker's finger tip with 0.1 on the clock to provide the final 92-88 margin and deny the Heat a chance for a final game winning shot such as James had to rescue them from the Pacers in Game 1 of the last playoff series.
The Spurs took the 1-0 lead on Miami's home court, as Parker scored 21 points to 18 for James. Game 2 is Sunday in Miami.