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April 2006
Artist's depiction of fetus at 40 weeks after fertilization, about 20 inches (51 cm) head to toe. Source: Melchior Meijer, 3Dpregnancy.com.
In 2004 the term "designer baby" made the transition from sci-fi movies and weblogs into the Oxford English Dictionary, where it is defined as "a baby whose genetic makeup has been artificially selected by genetic engineering combined with in vitro fertilization to ensure the presence or absence of particular genes or characteristics."1 This coinage was prompted by recent advances in genetics that may make such babies possible. We need to pause and ask what moral or ethical limits, if any, should apply to the selection of our children's genes or characteristics. Before we can answer this we must address other questions:
- How would designer babies be made?
- Is there a moral or ethical difference between using genetic technologies to prevent disease and to enhance human capacities?
- Should we be striving to protect our humanity from genetic enhancement?
- What effect will human genetic modification have on society?
Designer babies: Not today, but perhaps tomorrow
There are two types of moral or ethical questions one can ask about designer babies. The first addresses the specific technologies that might be used to modify or select a baby's genetic makeup. The second question looks away from technological details to focus on the very idea of a designer baby.2
- Are the technologies of genetic modification and selection safe enough to be used on humans?
- Even if the technologies are safe, can they be morally defended?
The Oxford English Dictionary definition describes the way of making designer babies that at the same time is the most conceptually straightforward and raises the biggest concerns about safety. One way to make a designer baby begins with an embryo created by in vitro fertilization (IVF). Genetic engineers modify the embryo's DNA and then introduce it into a womb.
Farmers in many parts of the world now plant crops with genomes altered to make them resistant to pests or herbicides.3 Recent discoveries about the influence of genes on human traits such as susceptibility to disease, shyness, and athletic ability open the possibility of transferring these techniques to human beings. An experiment on mice performed at Princeton University suggests one way this might be done.
Geneticists introduced into mouse genomes an additional copy of a gene, NR2B, that codes for one type of glutamate receptor and is known to play a role in the development of the brain.4 The resulting "doogie" mice, named for the teen genius central character of the early 1990s TV show "Doogie Howser, MD," seem to learn faster than other mice and retain information longer. The NR2B gene exists in humans, prompting speculation about performing the same trick on one of us. Before this is done, we need to examine pressing safety concerns.
Current techniques of genetic modification introduce genes at random places in the genome. We should be concerned about the possibility that an inserted copy of NR2B may arrive in the target genome in a way that disrupts the function of another gene crucial for survival.
Many genes have more than one effect. The effect we intend may be accompanied by others of which we become aware only later. There is evidence for such effects on doogie mice, which seem not only to have improved powers of learning and memory, but also to have a greater sensitivity to pain, an enhancement of more dubious desirability.5
Many of the traits that we may want to select are influenced by multiple genes. A gene affects intelligence only in combination with other genes. We are unlikely to find single genes whose modification would reliably produce a 20-point boost in IQ, for example.6
We should expand on the dictionary definition to consider other ways of selecting our children's characteristics. These ways of making designer babies will avoid some of the risks inherent in the genetic modification of human embryos while introducing others. One technology is preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), currently used by some people at risk of passing serious genetic disorders on to their children.
- People who use preimplantation genetic diagnosis to avoid passing on a disease to their child have a collection of embryos created for them by IVF.
- These embryos are grown to the eight-cell stage, at which point one or two cells are removed and checked for genetic variants associated with the disease.
- Only embryos lacking these variants are introduced into the womb.
PGD is an expensive procedure currently offered only to couples at risk of having a child suffering from a serious genetic disease. But there is nothing inherent in the technology that limits it to such uses. For example, Dean Hamer presents evidence that the gene for a vesicular monoamine transporter, VMAT2, influences a trait labelled self-transcendence, that is, the "capacity to reach out beyond themselves, to see everything as part of one great totality."7 He proposes that different versions of VMAT2 lead to different degrees of self-transcendence and, therefore, to different propensities for religious or spiritual belief.
Hamer's proposal is controversial, but suppose he is right. You might use PGD to select your child's version of VMAT2. Presbyterians who select children with the high self-transcendence version of VMAT2 should, however, be warned that they may end up with a child who expresses this selected psychological characteristic by way of a devotion to astrology.
PGD does not involve the genetic modification of human embryos and hence avoids some of the risks described above. But it is not entirely risk-free. Some commentators fear that the removal of one or two cells from eight-cell embryos might have implications for the well-being of people created by PGD. Defenders of PGD respond that the cells of eight-cell embryos are totipotent, meaning that they are undifferentiated and equally capable of forming all the cells of the human body. As the technology has been in use for under a decade, it is too early to say with certainty who is right in this dispute.8
Another biotechnology—cloning—may enable the selection of children's characteristics.
- Cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer uses a somatic, or body, cell from the person to be cloned.
- The nucleus of this cell is introduced into an egg cell whose own nucleus has been removed.
- The resulting reconstructed embryo is introduced into a womb.
Although some people may view cloning as a last-ditch response to infertility, others may see it as a way of selecting the characteristics of their child. This choice would be exercised through the choice of the person to be cloned. For example, you might pursue physical attractiveness on your child's behalf by using a somatic cell from Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt, who may, in the future, have to be more circumspect about where they leave their saliva and hair follicles.
Those who hope to clone designer babies should be wary of genetic determinist misrepresentations of the technology.9 Genetic determinism is the view that an organism's significant characteristics result mainly from the action of its genes, with environmental influences playing a negligible role. This view, now widely recognized as false, has been supplanted by the view that organisms emerge from a complex interaction of genes and environment. Roger Federer's clone would be subjected to a different collection of environmental influences from the original, meaning that the clone might easily lack any interest in or aptitude for tennis. Prospective parents who accept that cloning comes with no guarantee might reassure themselves that a clone of Federer would be more likely to be a tennis champion than a child they produced naturally.
This way of making a designer baby will not be attractive to prospective parents who place value on a genetic connection with their child. The woman who gave birth to a clone of Roger Federer would be no more genetically related to the clone than she is to the original. She might establish a rather limited genetic connection by contributing the egg into which the nucleus of the Federer somatic cell is inserted. An enucleated egg retains the DNA of its mitochondria, cellular machinery residing outside of the nucleus. But the significance of this connection is vastly outweighed by that with the donor of the nucleus.
Even if we understand how somatic cell nuclear transfer might enable us to make designer babies, we are not yet ready to create children by cloning. There are major concerns about the health of clones. Animal clones suffer from a variety of problems that some scientists connect with incomplete reprogramming of somatic cell DNA or damage inflicted by the process of nuclear transfer. Human clones may also suffer from these problems.10
Preventing disease or enhancing attributes?
Suppose we move away from discussion of risks to focus on the reasons for having a designer baby. We can identify two different kinds of motivation:
- Replacing the version of the gene linked with heart disease, for example, aims to ensure that the resulting person's cardiac functioning does not fall below a level considered normal for humans. We call it "therapy" because we recognize that it aims to prevent a disease state.
- Adding an extra copy of the NR2B gene to a human embryo, on the other hand, has the quite distinct aim of producing someone who, in some area, functions beyond a level considered normal for human beings and as such qualifies as an "enhancement."11
This prompts a question: Is there a moral distinction between treating or preventing disease and enhancing traits? Some think that we should pass different moral judgments on enhancement from those we pass on therapy. They say that while therapy is justifiable, enhancement is not.
The problem is that it is difficult to make the therapy-enhancement distinction principled. It is hard to find definitions of disease suitable to serve as a moral guideline for genetic technologies. Social constructivists consider diseases to be states to which society takes a negative attitude. Cancer seems to satisfy the requirements of this definition, but so might homosexuality and practicing a religion different from the norm in your society. Objectivist accounts avoid these difficulties by making the definition of disease independent of our attitudes. According to the most widely advocated version of this view, I suffer from disease when some part of me fails to perform its biological function. For example, cholesterol deposits on the arteries constitute or conduce to disease because they impede the heart in the performance of its function, which is to pump blood. The problem with this way of defining disease is that it may sometimes set goals irrelevant to human flourishing. Suppose we were to discover that homosexuality was a consequence of malfunction in the part of the brain responsible for sexual attraction. Should this rather obscure fact about biological functioning count more than the fact that many homosexual people seem to be living excellent lives?12
A further moral complication emerges from the different approaches to treating disease and those who suffer from them. Genetically modifying an embryo so as to remove a gene linked with a higher than average risk of asthma may prevent asthma, but it need not prevent the existence of the person who might have suffered from it. Compare this with the use of PGD to avoid having a child at a high risk of asthma. This seems to prevent the disease only by preventing the patient's existence.13
Should parents be permitted to enhance their children?
Finding a difference between treatment and enhancement does not in itself show that enhancement is impermissible. Some think we should reject genetic enhancement because of its connection with the eugenics programs promoted by the Nazis. The scientific minions of Adolph Hitler sought to shape the German population by murdering those judged inferior and encouraging those they saw as their betters to reproduce. Advocates of what has come to be called "liberal eugenics" would take responsibility for human enhancement from the state and pass it to individuals who would be guided by their own distinctive values in their selection of genetic advantages.14
Parents in liberal democracies already make choices about which schools to send their children to, how to feed them, who counts as a suitable after-school companion, whether children are to be given religious instruction, and if so of what type. In effect, they manipulate their children's environments to improve or enhance them.14-16 The moral parallel between upbringing and genetic enhancement draws support from modern understanding of the contributions that genes and environment make to human development. As we saw above, the genetic determinist view of development has been displaced by the view that organisms emerge from a complex interaction of genes and environment. The comparison of genetic enhancement with upbringing suggests that we were all designer children. Prospective parents who avail themselves of genetic engineering, PGD, or cloning are simply making use of another means of design.
Are designer babies "posthumans"?
Opponents of the liberal argument for enhancement argue that there are morally significant differences between upbringing and genetic enhancement. Francis Fukuyama thinks that genetic enhancements may change our descendents to such an extent that they lose their humanity.17 According to Fukuyama, environmental influences operate only within limits set by genes, meaning that even ambitious education programs leave their subjects' humanity intact. A genetically enhanced child is more fittingly described as a "posthuman." The price for her super intelligence will be the experiences that give human lives meaning.
We might ask whether there are already posthumans among us. Albert Einstein and Ray Charles achieved well beyond the norm in their areas of endeavour. Some of the explanations for this achievement may be traced to their genomes. Would a parent who modified her child's genome so that it contained some of the genetic advantages of Einstein or Charles be taking the first step toward posthumanity? If we answer this question in the affirmative, should Einstein and Charles be considered accidental posthumans?
The most forthright response to the concern that genetic enhancement might deprive our descendents of their humanity comes from a group of thinkers who call themselves "transhumanists."18
Transhumanists propose posthumanity as a goal rather than something to avoid.
They allow that we may have difficulty relating to the inhabitants of the biotechnological future but claim that if they are free of disease, super-intelligent, and routinely compose symphonies whose brilliance surpasses that of Beethoven's Ninth, this failure of identification is our problem, not the posthumans'.
The end of liberal democracy?
Some of the most challenging moral and ethical questions about a licence to design babies concern the societies it might lead to. The movie Gattaca depicts a future in which genetically enhanced people take the lead, viewing unenhanced people as fit only to clean up after them. Liberal democracy is a cooperative venture in which all are seen as having something to offer.17 Will genetic enhancement bring this social arrangement to an end, creating societies in which unenhanced people are viewed by their genetic superiors in much the same way that we currently view chimpanzees, suitable for drug testing and zoo exhibits but little else?
© 2006, American Institute of Biological Sciences. Educators have permission to reprint articles for classroom use; other users, please contact editor for reprint permission. See reprint policy.


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5-TAMRA is the purified single isomer of 5(6)-TAMRA. It is preferred for some complicated biological applications where reproducibility is more critical than material cost since the minor positional difference between 5-TAMRA and 6-TAMRA might affect some biological properties of the underlying conjugates.


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New 2019 KiaSedona LX Van Passenger Van
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KBB.com Consumer Reviews
- 5.0
Value and comfort
By iChariot on Tuesday, January 16, 2018My Kia Sedona LX is a handsome vehicle. I love the elevated seating position and ever comfortable seating. The instruments are easy to use. The vehicle is quiet and transmission is smooth. The slide and stow seats make it very easy to get to third row. The space behind the third row is adequate for my needs. Overall, I deem the Sedona to be of great value and utility. No recalls yet unlike those other vans.
- 3.0
It's a decent vehicle, but I wouldn't buy again.
By Lindsay on Sunday, December 16, 2018We've now had our 2017 Sedona for right at almost a year, and we've put about 12,000 miles on it. This is our third Sedona, and we've had other vehicles in between. We liked the first two, but they were both the older body style and I never was completely crazy about it. When this new style came out, I opted to lease a Toyota Sienna at the time, and when I turned that in, we bought this Sedona. We really like the body style, but it's hard to love overall after driving the Sienna for three years. There were a few reasons we went back to Kia after that lease and I'll discuss those shortly. Value: This is a main reason we went with the Sedona. With a couple thousand negative equity in our trade for it, we got out the door for less than $37000 including all taxes, fees and negative equity due to purchasing a year end model. So...we saved about $6000 by going for the 2017 in the beginning of 2018. Compared to the Sienna and other van models, the price was several thousand lower. One HUGE complaint I have with the Sedona is gas mileage. No matter how easy I drive it, I can't get more than 16 around town and 20 on the highway. This to me is unacceptable for a mini van. If I had it to do over, I wouldn't buy it just to save a couple thousand on purchase price. Over time, I definitely pay more for gas. Performance: Overall, not great. It's sluggish upon acceleration. The computer system is glitchy. The CD track will change randomly, the touchscreen is slow to respond, and the technology system just does what it wants. And of course, that system is only warrantied for three years. I just deal with it because I won't be keeping it past that anyway, and I know the service department "won't find anything" anyway. It's just a waste of my time. Comparing to the Sienna, NO CONTEST. The Sienna had wonderful acceleration, the entertainment system was fast, and I never had a problem with any random switches. Reliability: We haven't been stranded yet, but I will say the exhaust is a bit concerning. The smell of gas is so strong when it's running and the exhaust is always thick....even when it's hot outside. Time will tell on that, but I will be mentioning this at my oil change tomorrow. Styling: This is the best part of this van. The interior and exterior looks great. However, comparing again to the Toyota Sienna (only because it was our last vehicle), this Sedona has way less leg room in the back and the cargo room behind the third row is significantly less. One of the reasons we did choose the Sedona this time around was because the second row seats fold straight up to the front row so you have much more cargo room if you're carrying something large. With the Sienna, the second row seats had to be completely removed, and it was no easy task. Quality: It's just typical. Cars are overall being made with cheaper materials. Doesn't matter if it's a Kia or a Toyota. Comfort: It seems to be pretty comfortable for everyday commuting. We will be going on a road trip soon, so we'll see how it is for longer rides. I do dread the packing room shortage as we'll have to buy the cross bars for the roof rails to be able to take what we need. As you can probably see, we would not buy this again. Of the two vans we compared, the Sienna outshines the Sedona for miles even with the second row inconvenience.
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Best Minivan I ever owned
By centrust on Sunday, May 08, 2016I have owned a Plymouth Voyageur, Honda Oddysey and Volkswagen Routan before this van. Also, before purchasing this van we looked at the Chrysler Town & Country, The Honda Oddysey and the Toyota Sienna. Frankly for overall styling, comfort, functionality, sales and service there wasn't even a close second when comparing the other minivans. We have owned this van for 15 months and it has been incredibly reliable. The buying experience was low pressure and very consumer oriented. Service has been quick and responsive. The vehicle itself drives like a dream. We have 4 teenage kids and there is plenty of room for them. Access in and out is great with the fold up vertical seating. The Chrysler Stow and Go is fine but the seats are puny and don't offer great support. The Kia's vertical push forward second row seats do not disrupt the driver's vision if they are folded forward, is easy to fold up and down and allows for a very comfortable full size seat. The Kia appearance is very nice and has a sportier look (well, as sporty as you can be in a minivan). The interior amenities are really well done and for $4000 to 6000 less then the competition, you get all of the amenities of any full loaded minivan in the market. Room is abundant in all the seating. The driver's seat area is like walking in a lazy boy lounger compared to the diminutive driver space in the Chrysler mini-van (keep in mind I'm only 5'10" tall and it is very tight for me). The Sedona driver cabin allows you to stretch and could comfortably seat a person that is 6'6". Instrumentation is easy to access with minimal to no driver distraction. My only things I wish were better were that there was just a bit more cargo space (although the cargo area is decent). Video system is a fold up at seat level between the first row seats. Would be better to have dual screens on top of each of the first row seats. The single screen is decent size though. Also the fold up storage space between the two front seats has an opening that can either slide or pop up. The sliding function tends to unlock easily. It doesn't spill anything but it is just a slight annoyance. After my first experience with the Sedona, I can easily see myself driving in another Kia passenger car or SUV. The writer of this review could easily afford to drive a Mercedes, BMW or other luxury vehicle. Frankly, the Kia offers a driving experience similar to those luxury SUV vehicles for a relative fraction of the price. Attractive style, smooth and quiet drive with great dealer service and sales. Oh, and of course, the Kia 100,000 or ten year warranty. We had one minor problem with the wiring in one of the electronic sliding doors. It was fixed with no hassle in one day. No bickering about what was and wasn't covered. What's not to like?
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South Africa's Zulu tribe is being urged to shed its customary leopard-skin garb for fake pelts in a bid to save the endangered animals.
Zulus, who are largely associated with the five-million-strong Nazareth Baptist Church are encouraged to wear the real thing by leaders such as South Africa President Jacob Zuma, according to Tristan Dickerson, a conservationist who studies leopards and is offering a fake version of the fur.
"I have used digital photography and imaging to produce an exact synthetic replica of a leopard-skin stole with all the dots in the right place," he told The Independent.
Church leaders seemed receptive to the idea.
"We are aware that we cannot keep killing this animal, and yet we cannot stop using leopard skins," said Mkululeko Mthathwe, a spokesman for the Nazareth Baptist Church. "[The synthetic fur] seems to be a good solution. Our church has grown phenomenally and it is true that nature cannot keep up with the demand from our followers."
No one knows how many leopards remain in Africa, but Dickerson says reasonable estimates place the population at under 4,000. Dickerson says the fake fur will boost the textile industry, provide a cheaper alternative to poached pelts and help save a species.


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The Foundation for Medieval Genealogy
ProGenealogists Great Britain-Genealogy Research
The number of records containing genealogical information surviving from before is 1500 is definitely finite. It is highly likely that very, very few of the people claiming extended pedigrees have actually read or researched those records considering that nearly all of them are written in Latin. Quoting from ProGenealogists, Great Britain - Genealogy Research:
The ProGenealogist article is written by Gary T. Horlacher, he cautions "Various genealogies have been compiled for royal and noble lines. Some of these connect with the Bible genealogies which continue back to Adam and Eve. Although it may be reassuring to some to think they have connected their lines back to the earliest times, such compiled genealogies contain many errors. None of these genealogies have been proven. Some pedigrees include the names of various gods from which the earliest ancestors of their peoples supposedly descend and which come from early folk tales or mythology. It is practically impossible to separate the fact from the fiction. At this time it is not possible to document a lineage back to Adam."
Most records of genealogical value dating from prior to 1500 concern only a small percentage of the total population, namely the nobility, royalty, and land-owning or merchant classes.
The primary sources for genealogical research in the British Isles is church and probate records. The earliest church records in the British Isles date back to 1538. Prior to that limited probate records, tax lists, population lists, court records, land records, and manorial records exist, however they contain much less genealogical information and are difficult to research, generally written in Latin. This is also true for most of the countries of Europe whose earliest church records begin in the 17th century. ProGenealogist
In an article in The Ensign Magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for February, 1984, Robert C. Gunderson, Senior Royalty Research Specialist of the Church Genealogical Department wrote a short article entitled "I've heard that some people have extended their ancestral lines back to Adam." He states,"In thirty-five years of genealogical research, I have yet to see a pedigree back to Adam that can be documented. By assignment, I have reviewed hundreds of pedigrees over the years. I have not found one where each connection on the pedigree can be justified by evidence from contemporary documents. In my opinion it is not even possible to verify historically a connected European pedigree earlier than the time of the Merovingian Kings (c. a.d. 450–a.d. 752). Every pedigree I have seen which attempts to bridge the gap between that time and the biblical pedigree appears to be based on questionable tradition, or at worst, plain fabrication. Generally these pedigrees offer no evidence as to the origin of the information, or they cite a vague source."
Gunderson gives the opinion that "I would recommend that no one undertake research prior to a.d. 1500 without first checking with the Genealogical Department, and then only after all avenues of research for more recent generations have been exhausted."
Again returning to Horlacher's ProGenealogist article, "
Of five thousand heads of families who came to North America between 1620-1640, less than 50 or less than one percent were known to have belonged to the upper-class of England. Less than 250 more (5 percent) were minor mercantile or landed gentry. The rest were from the local farming or labor classes of England. Most claims to the British noble class in America are unfounded and unsupported by evidence. If you have a connection to royalty through a colonial North American immigrant ancestor, you should look carefully at the documentation for that connection."
So far, in my own experience, I have yet to meet a person who claims to have such a genealogy with sufficient education and research experience to even know what they are talking about. Before you waste your time adding these extended genealogies to your own family file, please read the ProGenealogist article carefully.


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British National 3 Frame 1/3 Bee Hive Extra Deep Box, Jumbo 14x12 The external width of our 1/3 Hives is exactly a third of a standard sized box so this can be used in conjunction with standard equipment. All components are included. Instructions and fixings are available but not included. All woodwork is knot free untreated 19mm timber. A natural weather proofing of Linseed Oil & Beeswax is recommended to keep hives dry.


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Courtesty of Tina Springer and Max Powers who researched this subject tirelessly. This very small list is but a mere fraction of the sources that we've discovered, and is intended for those who are either new to this subject or those who at least have the common sense to see that christianity is not original but just couldn't find the damning evidence to verify it.
The egyptians deified the sun as a trinity of gods -- Osiris, the Father, Horus, the Son, and Ra, the Highest Sun -- each corresponding to at least one of the sun's 3 key positions throughout the day. Osiris represented the *setting* sun, and is reborn as horus, the *rising* sun. Ra, who alone represented the *mid-day* sun completes the trinity as "RaHorakty" (translates to "Ra who is Horus of the Two Horizons") the conflation of all three gods and positions of the sun. "Horakty", meaning horus of the two horizons indicate that the egyptians regarded the son as also being the father. This is why throughout the pyramid texts and book of the dead Horus and Osiris are frequently interchangeable.
Pyramid Texts Utterance 77
52a. Oil Oil arise open thou; (thou) who art on the forehead of Horus, arise, open thou.
52b. Thou who art on the forehead of Horus, put thyself on the forehead of this N. (pharoah)
52.c Make him sweet with thyself (PERFUMED OIL); glorify him with thyself
Utterance 576
1505.a "N is your seed, Osiris, the pointed
In his name of "Horus of the great green"; "Horus of the chief of spirits".
1511a. "N ANOINTS himself with the best ointment'
Pyramid Texts Utterance 667
1941b "Oh Horus, this hour of the morning, of this ---THIRD DAY ----, is come, when thou surely passet on to heaven, together with the stars, the imperishable star"
Utterance 556
1382f "this hour of the ---THIRD DAY--- comes, where the father Osiris will be reborn as horus, at the place where the gods are born..."
According to the Ikhernofret Stela (2000 BC) translated by Richard H. Wilkinson, Osiris' Death and Resurrection was celebrated in a 5 day festival known as the "Passion Plays". He is entombed on the 2nd day, and remains so until the 4th day (3 DAYS). Afterwards, on the 5th day, he is reborn AT DAWN. This is why Horus represented the sun's *rising* position, whereas Osiris represented the sun's *setting* position; Horus is symbolic of Osiris' resurrection/rebirth.
The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts (Translated by R.O Faulkner)
"You are this LONE STAR that comes forth from the EAST of the sky, and who will surrender himself to Horus of the Netherworld..."
The Second Story of Khamuas (Griffith, F. LI, Stories of the High Priests of Memphis; The Sethon of Herodotus and the Demotic Tales of Khamuas)
"Si-Osiris (revealed to be Horus, son of Paneche). "Numerous are the marvels that he shall do in Egypt.."
"...I would cast my magic up to Egypt that I might cause the peope of Egypt to pass three days and nights without seeing light except kiki"
"I will not remove my spell, until you have sworn an oath to me not to return up to Egypt."
..."Now when the boy Si-Osiris (son of Osiris) had attained -- 12 YEARS -- it came to pass that there was no [good scribe or learned man] that rivalled him in reading and writing that compels."
In two official translations of the Pyramid Texts Horus is said to have walked on water or is referred to as "LAKE STRIDER"
The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts, James P. Allen 118, 154
The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts, R. O. Faulkner Pg 192
The Book of Gates
Chapter 3
The Gate of Saa-Set
The Second Division of Tuat
Note: Ra was a solar deity representing the sun's *mid-day* position while Horus represented the sun's *rising* position. By the time of the Book of Gates, Ra had already merged with Horus to represent both positions. In the texts Ra is traversing the underworld in a boat, and in the pyramid texts, it states very clearly that when Horus enters the boat he becomes Ra.
The Book of Gates states: "The 12 worshippers of Ra/Horus who are at peace...They who praised Ra/Horus upon Earth...They who spoke Truth upon Earth (On Ra/Horus' behalf)..."They who UTTERED WORDS OF POWER (exorcism) against Apep, the serpent...and have vanquished Apep for me"
jesus' 12 followers are referred to as "apostles". An apostle is one sent forth as a messenger; one SPREADING TRUTH. According to Matthew 10:1, jesus' apostles also exorcised demonic spirits in his name.
In Chapter 5 of the Book of Gates, Horus is mentioned as having ANOTHER group of 12 in his service, to who he tells "Live delicatley on the BREAD of HU, and drink ye the Ale of Maat". This ale is later referred to as the "Tchesert Drink" which translates to "Divine Drink".
This concept is reworked in the NT when jesus, at the Eucharist, offers the 12 apostles his body in the form of BREAD and his divine blood in the form of WINE.
Book of Gates
Chapter 5
The Gate of Tchetbi
Fourth Division of Tuat
Note: Again, in the Book of Gates Ra is Ra-Horakty (Ra who is Horus of the two Horizons: the sun traveling from one horizon to the other.)
The 12 double headed/jackal headed gods say unto Ra/Horus: -- " Immerse thyself, O Ra, in the holy lake wherein the lord of the gods immersed himself, whereunto the souls of the dead approach not; this is what thou thyself hast commanded. O KHUTI... Their food consisteth of -----BREAD...their vessels are filled with WINE-----
1. "In Egypt the epiteths dd.t, rnn.t and hwn.t, 'girl; young woman; VIRGIN', are applied to many goddesses -- e.g Hathor and ISIS WHO HAD NOT HAD SEXUAL INTERCOURSE"
- Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible by Karel van der Toorn PhD, Bob Becking PhD, Pieter W. van der Horst PhD, Erik Hornung PhD, Hans Dieter Betz PhD, Andre Caquot PhD, Jonas C Greenfield PhD, Michael E Stone PhD, Manfred Weipert PhD
2. In a text in the Abydos Temple of Seti 1, Isis herself declares: "I am the great VIRGIN"
3. Among the glyphs of Denderah, is the depiction of the *non-physiscal* intercourse between Isis and Osiris. The glyphs show Isis sending out her Bah, Sothis (a hawk), the hawk being inseminated on Osiris' phallus, and then returning back to Isis. Because the sex between Isis and Osiris was non-physical, her virginity wasn't compromised.
The inseminated bird now flies back to Isis
4. It is a well known fact that the greek religion is but a mirror of the egyptian religion e.g Dionysis is actually Osiris, Typhon is actually Set, Hermes is actually Thoth, etc. With that said, the glyph for Virgo is a Virgin holding WHEAT (Bread) and CORN (Spica) as Virgo is the constellation of HARVEST, and this is how the Egyptians depicted Isis:
"Lady of GREEN CROPS, Lady of BREAD, Lady of Abundance..." -- Egyptian Book of the Dead
"It is Sirius (Isis) the beloved daughter, who provides the YEARLY SUSTENANCE (flooding of the Nle for crops) for you in her name of "Year" -- Pyramid Texts
"Sirius (Isis) opener of the Year's flood"
All of the above depictions of Isis refer to Harvest, which is exactly why the Greeks designated their constellation of harvest a VIRGIN.
"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a TREE" (Gal 3:13)
"Jesus bore our sins in his own body on the TREE, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto rightieousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:24)
"The god of our father raised up, who ye slew and hanged on a TREE." (Acts 5:30)
"And we are witnesses of all the things which jesus did both in the land of the jews, and in Jerusalem; who ye slew and hanged on a TREE" (Acts 10:39)
"And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took jesus down from the TREE and laid him in a sepulchre." (Acts 13:29)
Note: Crucifixion, before it had become exclusive to christian context, meant a display or spectacle on a cross, pole, or tree either by execution or symbolic imagery See here: http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Qur...l/crucify.html
The relief from the Egyptian Book of the Dead shows Horus spectacled in cruciform (arms outstretched) on the combination of the Ankh Cross and Djed Pillar/TREE TRUNK containing his dead body...osiris' body. The two sisters, Isis-Meri and Nephtys-Meri are at the feet of the figure, just as the two sister Marys in john 19:25. The Ankh Cross represents the Eternal Life that Horus/Osiris achieves through death.
In numerous biblical verses, jesus is said to have died on a tree while tradition holds that it happened on a CROSS. This tree/cross discrepancy, is not really a discrepancy, but rather an accomodation of both the DJED and ANKH, forming the combination in jesus' myth.
Revelations 22:16
"I, jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright ---MORNING STAR--
Egyptian Book of the Dead Chapter 109 "I know the souls of the easterners, they are Horakhty (horus of the horizons), the sun calf, and the ---MORNING STAR--
Journal of Near Eastern Studies Ro Faulkner Pyramid Texts "O Morning Star, Horus of the Dlet, divine falcon, widwid-bird whom the sky bore..."
(John Gardener Wilkinson, Manner and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians, III)
Sokar, Osiris, and Ptah -- 3 kings -- approaching baby Horus in a manger at the Winter Solstice.
Like christians, the ancient egyptians went by the belief that the son-of-god was the "way" to immortality or eternal life. The ankh cross, which was the cardinal religious symbol in egypt, just as it is in christianity, represented the eternal life that Horus achieved for himself and his followers.
Death and salvation in ancient Egypt - Page 38 Jan Assmann
"Horus, the son, was responsible for the aspect of redemption from death."
On Page 58
"I am one of you, Salvation from Death through inclusion."
Page 127:
"The deceased owes his redemption from death to the grace of the god (Osiris) who recognises him as his peer and receives him into his kingdom"
Page 115
"What was important was for Osiris to go to the Netherworld and remain there. Only thus in the realm of death, could he become the center of a sphere of eternal life that held out the promise of salvation from the realm of death and the promise of eternal life for every deceased person who followed him. Salvation and Eternal life are Christian concepts, and we might think that the Egyptian myth can all too easily be viewed through the lens of Christian tradition. Quite the contrary, in my opinion, Christian myth is itself thoroughly stamped by Egyptian Tradition, by the myth of Isis and Osiris, which from the very beginning had to do with salvation and eternal life."
In short, Zeitgeist was more than 100 percent correct -- there's even more parallels between these religions than shown in zeitgeist -- and Richard Carrier and Robert Price can both go f*&^ themselves.
Views: 3903
You give me way to much credit here Horus!
lol Richard Carrier and Robert Price can both go fuck themselves!
Im surprised that within the atheist community, this information is not that big a deal. : (
Cool article! I'm sure I can find some use for this information, some way or another.
As you can see in the following, Horus is also sinless:
"O Ra; your son Horus has been stung who is without sin"
I live by truth, in which I exist, I am
Horus who is in hearts, he which is
in the middle of what is in the
body, I live by saying what is in my heart, and it shall not
be taken away,
my heart is mine, and none shall be agressive against it, no terror shall
subdue me. I take it that I may be in the body of my father geb and my
mother Nut, for I have
committed no sin against the gods and nothing
shall be deducted in that respect from
my vindication.
400BC Nag Hammadi Texts:
Isis states: I am the first and the last
I am the venerated and the despised one
I am the prostitute and the saint. I am the bride and the ****VIRGIN***.
I am the mother and the daughter, I am my mother's arms,
I am the sterile one, yet my children are numerous,
I am the married woman and the unmarried one,
I am She who gives birth and She who has never given birth,
I am the consolation for the pains of childbirth.
I am the bride and the groom, And it was my man who nurtured my fertility,
I am my father's Mother, I am my husband's sister. And he is my rejected son.
Respect me always, As I am the Scandalous and the Magnificent one.
Similarly many Eastern religions and variations of Norse religions maintain a structure similar to the story of Christ. Leading one to believe that there have been representations of one religion being exchanged throughout different sections of the globe. Since Egyptian Hieroglyphics predate the coming of Abraham the father of Judaism, Christianity and Islam it is safe to assume that images of Christ were set in place long before the conception of the Old Testament
So interesting!
This reminds me of this video the (Christ Before Christ).. It's not a coincidence here! It's so clear that the pagan figures were transformed into different names!
Sorry, but I refuse to take W. Ward Gasque's word for it, and I am surprised that Nelson did considering that Gasque is president of Theological Studies and also considering that Ward didn't name the 20 Egyptologists in his article, only what they supposedly said. So how can ANYONE verify that he is telling the truth?
Also, in Gasques article, he discounts Kuhns work by claiming he was a high school teacher which is an understatement because Kuhn had a Phd and he claimed Kuhn was a proponent of theosophy.
Can anyone say FALLACY?
If we were to go by this ideology we should just take Christians word for it that Jesus was the son of God because the theologians tell us so!
Very impressive! Odin also was tied to a tree for seven days, and pierced with a spear - he allowed this to be done to him, as somehow, that was a means to acquiring some magical secrets that he needed to learn.
I shall certainly bookmark your page and refer back to it occasionally.
Quite likely the same way you would disprove fuzzy pink unicorns --
Let's say next year read a book with a similar story to that of harry potter. Almost identical characters, plot etc. Then 5 years later you read another book, which again sounds very similar to harry potter. After that you come across yet another book, which yet again has a plot very similar to that of harry potter.
Now. Would you think that since all these books have so much in common, that magic must be real.. or would you conclude someone plagiarized to make profit?
The other catch is that even if it were like you say, why would it lend credibility to the bible? Why not to ancient egyptian pergaments? How do you know you shouldn't be praying to horus instead of christ?
Humanity made thousands and thousands of gods Jessica, saying one is real and the others aren't is just wishful cherry picking.
It has long been suggested that Jesus was not the only person in that area around that time to have been claimed to have been born of a virgin, had twelve apostles, and performed a bunch of miracles. Appolonius of Tyana's bio is almost precisely the same.
It's far more likely that, as Christ's earlier followers began to embellish their stories, and their successors continued doing so, they simply added the virgin birth, etc., to make the story seem more like the story of a miracle worker. This sort of story was downright common back then; miracle workers were considered a rarity but by no means non-existent. Everyone had heard of plenty of them.
Try an exercise. Try to momentarily forget everything you've heard about Christ's birth. Then read the account of the nativity in Matthew. Take notes, or do whatever you do to fix details into your head. But be careful NOT to add anything you "know" should be part of the story that isn't actually in Matthew.
Then do the same with Luke. You will notice the two stories are very, very different! One (Matthew) strongly implies that Jesus' parents actually lived in Bethlehem before he was born (there are references to their house), the other tells the story of staying in the manger. One tells the story of the flight to Egypt followed by returning and deciding to go to Galilee instead (being safely outside of Herod Archelaus' kingdom). The standard Christmas Tale is a melding of two very different tales, an attempt to reconcile them. They don't quite flatly contradict each other--though they come very close to doing so--but each version leaves out important things the other one mentions.
My personal theory is that there was indeed a perfectly ordinary, mortal preacher from Galilee named Jesus (an Anglicization of Yeshua) who eventually got executed in Jerusalem, most likely for causing a ruckus of some sort on the grounds of the temple. But I think he was born in Galilee and the nativity tales independently written and added later by people who realized, "Oh shit, according to our traditions, the Messiah is supposed to come from Bethlehem! We'd better figure out some way of making it look like he did!"
I lend more credence to the stories that are in common between the gospels (with the caveat that such a thing often simply means that both Matthew and Luke's authors cribbed from the gospel of Mark) than the ones that appear in only one place. And I lend no credence whatsoever to tales of miracles--which are violations of physical law--no matter how often they are repeated.


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10 Cool Events to Check Out at San Diego Beer Week
San Diego is once again set to become awash in suds during San Diego Beer Week a 10-day celebration of local craft brews that will take place from November 1st through 10th. With a reported 600+ events, from intimate meet-the-brewer dinners, to tasting events showcasing dozens of rare brews, there's no shortage of places to go, but formulating a plan of attack can be daunting.
To help you make the most of San Diego Beer Week, we waded through the multitude of events, to uncover 10 must-not-miss options. Will we see you there?
Friday, November 1st
Rare Beer Breakfast
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. More than 60 rare beers will be available for sampling at this kick-off event at Stone Brewing Co.'s Escondido location. Tickets include 15 three ounce tasters, a commemorative glass, and an all-you-can-eat brunch, featuring beer-battered Monte Cristos, Belgian waffles, and fried chicken, Arrogant Bastard Ale donuts, and more. $65, designated drivers and non-drinkers $40 at the door. Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens Escondido, 1999 Citracado Parkway Escondido, CA; tickets and event details
Karl Strauss Brewmaster's Brunch
Friday November 1st, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. This seven-course brunch pairs inventive cuisine by MIHO Gastrotruck with Karl Strauss brews, including the brewery's special beer week release, Peanut Butter Cup Porter (an English-style brown porter brewed with peanut powder and cocoa nibs), paired with chocolate beignets stuffed with peanut butter cream. See the full menu here. $50. Karl Strauss Tasting Room, 5985 Santa Fe Street, San Diego, CA; tickets and event details
Johnny Brown's 5th Annual Barrel Night
Friday November 1st, 5:00 p.m. Enjoy barrel-aged brews from Lost Abbey, The Bruery, Hanger 24, Deschutes, Stone, Ballast Point, and Port Brewing, plus an assortment of complimentary appetizers. No cover or entry fee. Downtown Johnny Brown's, 1220 3rd Avenue, San Diego, CA; event details
VIP Brewer Takeover
Friday November 1st, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This new event is held at the same location as the Brewers Guild Festival, but has a stronger focus on rare and specialty beers, including some brewed specially for the event. Tickets include unlimited beer samples and bites from craft-beer friendly restaurants. Several local bands will provide the live entertainment. $75 in advance or $100 at the door, designated driver tickets are also available for $50 at the door. Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier, 1000 N Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA; tickets and event details
Saturday, November 2nd
Bikes, Brew, and Brats
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This event starts with a scenic mountain bike ride from Cal Coast Bicycles to The Regal Beagle through Balboa Park and Mission Hills. When you arrive, Green Flash beer and brats will be waiting. Tickets also include a mountain bike jersey, two raffle tickets, and a bike tune-up. $45. Check in at Cal Coast Bicycles, 3020 Adams Avenue, San Diego, CA; tickets and event details
Sunday, November 3rd
Ultimate Beer and Chocolate
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Two vices come together for this special tasting event at Stone Brewing Co. A total of 15 different chocolates from Eclipse Chocolate, So Rich!!! Chocolates, and Tony Martin (Stone's pastry chef) will be matched with 10 craft brews selected by "Dr." Bill Sysak. $45. Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens Escondido, 1999 Citracado Parkway Escondido, CA; tickets and event details
Wednesday, November 6th
Beer Night at the Museum
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Ballast Point, Mike Hess Brewing, Modern Times, and Saint Archer pair up for an event that pairs learning with libations. Sample unique craft beers and gourmet food pairings, meet the chefs and brewers, and learn about the history of San Diego's craft beer culture. Tickets include eight food pairings, unlimited beer samples, and entrance to the "Bottled & Kegged: San Diego Craft Beer Culture" exhibit. $69. San Diego History Center, 1649 El Prado, Suite #3 (inside Balboa Park), San Diego CA; tickets and event details
Thursday, November 7th
The Other Side of Stone: Not Big and/or Not Especially Hoppy
7:00 p.m. This tasting event led by the Stone Brewing Co. team (including CEO & Co-Founder Greg Koch) will showcase over a dozen rare Stone Brewing specialties, including Levitation (with green tea leaves), Perfect Crime (aged in red wine barrels), Cask of The Tiger Cub Saison (aged in white wine barrels with pineapple guava), and many more. 7 p.m. until the kegs run out. No tickets required. Neighborhood, 777 G Street, San Diego CA; event details
Friday November 8th
Tyson's Big Ass Barrel Aged Beer Blowout Bonanza
5:00 p.m. Sample the huge selection of special barrel-aged brews (both on tap and bottled) that have been squirreled away by GM Tyson Blake throughout the year in anticipation for this event. To eat, there will be slow smoked pulled pork from West Coast BBQ & Brew. No tickets required. O'Brien's Pub, 4646 Convoy Street, San Diego, CA; event details
Sunday, November 10th
Beer Garden @ The Lodge at Torrey Pines
12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The closing event to San Diego Beer Week matches 24 local breweries with a local chef to create a unique food and beer pairing. The outdoor setting (on the Arroyo Terrace at the Lodge at Torrey Pines) combined with unlimited beer and food samples makes this event one of the most highly anticipated happenings of SDBW. Check out some of the highlights from last year's event here. $75. The Lodge at Torrey Pines, 11480 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA; tickets and event details
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AMD Set to Phase Out ATI Logotype for Radeon Graphics Cards - Sources.
by Anton Shilov
AMD to Make Questionable Branding Move[08/28/2010 04:56 PM]
by Anton Shilov
Advanced Micro Devices, the world's largest supplier of central processing units (CPUs) and the currently the largest vendor of discrete graphics chips, plans to phase out the "ATI" logotype from the markings of graphics processors, which are developed by engineers of ATI Technologies, which AMD acquired back in 2006.
The new logotype that will mark discrete graphics processors developed by AMD will only carry the "Radeon" sign on it, but the "ATI" mark, which has been around for 25 years now, will be missing, people who saw the new image, but declined to be identified, said. The new logotype is projected to appeal to both gamers, the group that acquires expensive graphics cards, and general consumers, potential buyers of performance solutions that are set to tangibly speed up their applications.
The loss of ATI letters from the logotype of Radeon graphics processors marks AMD's intention to unify the brands of products that are developed within it and emphasize the importance of the Sunnyvale, California-based company. However, end-users are likely to miss the ATI logotype since in general people associate the brand with high quality, performance, experience and so on. Besides, 25-years old trademarks like ATI are generally recognizable.
People, who saw the new logotype of Radeon-branded graphics cards, claim that it would still catch an eye even without the ATI label on it.
"When I saw the new Radeon logo, I shortly forgot that ATI was not next to it. It looks rather compelling," a person, who has seen the new logotype claims.
The re-branding of ATI Radeon into plain Radeon may easily become the worst branding decision ever made by AMD due to the fact that ATI has a larger scope on the market of discrete graphics chips than AMD does on the market of CPUs. However, it is also likely to play a significant role when AMD launches its hybrid Fusion chips featuring x86 cores and graphics engines on the same silicon in 2011.
AMD did not comment on the news-story.


text:
|2010-04-21, 07:50
|Link #43
Tenshi's Defense Squadron
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Fighting against those who oppress the system
|2010-04-27, 20:54
|Link #45
Twintails are wintails!
Join Date: Mar 2010
Age: 38
Some more thoughts pointing to Angel being an android, or perhaps even a cyborg who is just following a programming:
- no reaction to being wounded (no pain/fear/anger etc.)
- shows no emotions
- only reacts, e.g. only puts up shield after she is hit, not before
- only answers questions (like in the beginning where Otonashi asked her), doesn't talk by herself
|2010-04-28, 02:13
|Link #46
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
|2010-04-28, 16:12
|Link #47
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
For the react thing, she uses delay on Yuri before Yuri manages to stab her.
|2010-04-29, 05:37
|Link #48
Made in Japan
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Tokyo
Rememebering that many "0" and "1" appear when Tenshi protects herself from the shot done by Otonashi in Episode 1,
May I interpret this scene as a hint that she makes her guard skills using her computer?
Last edited by Pellissier; 2010-05-01 at 10:17. Reason: please use "url" tags or thumbnails for such humongous images
|2010-04-29, 06:12
|Link #49
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Last edited by Pellissier; 2010-05-01 at 10:17. Reason: switched "img" tags to "url" tags
|2010-04-29, 20:35
|Link #51
Twintails are wintails!
Join Date: Mar 2010
Age: 38
|2010-05-01, 00:15
|Link #53
suicidal self-flagellator
Join Date: Apr 2008
So we have a name: Tachibana Kanade.
Honestly, the more I see Kanade / Tenshi, the more I prefer her over Yurippe.
Seems to cut a lonely figure, even more so now that she's lost her student president position...
Edit: Can't wait for next week's episode. The replacement president seems to prefer iron-fisted measures unlike Kanade, who seems to fight only when the SSS go overboard.
Last edited by zetsubou-san; 2010-05-01 at 00:34.
|2010-05-01, 06:15
|Link #54
Komrades of Kitamura Kou
Join Date: Jul 2004
Age: 34
Well with episode 5 it now throws out the biggest question out there about Kanade, aside from her humanity (which is sort of confirmed I guess):
What exactly is she fighting for?
I know we really don't know a lot about her right now but after the supports of her being an Angel gets diminished with every episode it pulls into question the reason she goes against the SSS despite being self-aware. It might actually simply be because she was the student council president, but perhaps she truly believes in trimming down and controlling the group? At the moment it would seem she wants to follow the rules of their world and exact those rules on anyone who rebels against it, but even then we're not exactly sure what those rules are besides being the usual rules in a school.
If she DOES truly believe in what she is doing, by being a enforcer of sorts, then it goes to prove that not everyone who becomes self-aware "rebels" against the system, so to speak. Perhaps she really believes that the system works or is "right" while Yuri is "wrong" which of course leads to a tricky gray area of sorts. It might be that her successor as president might also be self-aware and share some similarities with her.
What's interesting now is what she chooses to do as a regular student.
|2010-05-01, 06:39
|Link #57
Join Date: Dec 2005
This looks like the potential answer to 'why doesn't Tenshi disappear if she's one of them'. Because she's not REALLY working to elilminate the SSS and instead letting them do as they please within certain limits, she's not fulfilling her role, and won't disappear.
|Thread Tools


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I met her last December at the Museum of Arts and Design as a… More… HUT 13 HUT 13 I love the way things happen whereby I go out to see someone for one thing and find out a whole lot more than I bargained for. HUT13 was like that. I went there to check… More… Melbournalia Melbournalia Melbournalia is a souvenir shop with a difference. Along with three other like minded Melbournians, fashion and marketing guru Alasdair Mackinnon set about putting… More… Copyright THIS ENTIRE SITE © 2010-2012 ISIIAD. ALL OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND WRITTEN MATERIAL HEREIN, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ARE COPYRIGHTED BY ISIIAD. NO PART OF THIS SITE, OR ANY OF THE CONTENT CONTAINED HEREIN, MAY BE USED OR REPRODUCED IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER. Designed by Image-fx Scroll To Top


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A new Irish company claims that it has developed an online training programme which can raise a person's IQ in a significant way, providing them with cognitive skills which increase intelligence levels. The SMART (Strengthening Mental Abilities with Relational Training) programme has already proven its effectiveness on the students of one Irish school.
A trial involving 15 students from Rathmore National School in Athboy in Meath, resulted in an average IQ increase of 23 points among students bringing them from an average IQ of 97 to 120, a level considered 'superior intellectual functioning'. In the case of two students, diagnoses of dyslexia were revised following an improvement in their reading skills. By the end of the trial, the lowest IQ of 84 had risen to 106 while the highest IQ of 119 had risen to 140. The company has also noted that these IQ increases are still in place four years later.
The SMART system was developed by Relational Frame Training Ltd. which is a National University of Ireland, Maynooth, campus company. They claim that, "Unlike 'brain training' products on the market which merely enhance memory, SMART improves the ability to reason logically and think clearly, so it also leads to improvements in verbal ability, perceptual reasoning and speed of information processing," IrishHealth.com reports.
The system used by the company is based on relational frame theory which operates on the theory that the development of relational skills is essential for intellectual development. Rational skills refer to an understanding of how words and numbers are related to other words and numbers. This theory has been developed over the last two decades and seems to be working for the Irish company.
Speaking at the launch of the programme, co-creator of the programme, Dr Sarah Cassidy said that the results and feedback they have received are "very impressive, with improvements across all students who participated in the trials". She stated that the improvements "change the entire educational outlook of the children involved" and that the "findings represent a genuine breakthrough for educational psychologists."
Dr Cassidy said that the company expects "significant adoption of the programme by schools and families across the world," IrishHealth.com writes. "The online system is designed to be very user friendly and cost-effective, so that it can be employed in the classroom by teachers or at home by students in their own time," she explained.
Dr Bryan Roche, a lecturer in psychology in NUI Maynooth and psychologist, Dr Sarah Cassidy are currently launching the programme for use by the general public. They designed a series of over 50 programmes, which appear as a game in which users attempt to acquire points as they move through levels. It will be made available to both adults and children through different types of pay plans ranging from €14.95 per month to €89.95 per year.


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…leads to fines and lost points?
Recently, NASCAR has levied some pretty major penalties in the Sprint Cup ranks. I wouldn't necessarily say I disagree with NASCAR, as rules are rules, but I will give certain crew chiefs credit for ingenuity! My gripe with NASCAR is its seemingly endless quest to take the creative engineering out of a sport in which such engineering is the foundation.
I understand the rules are written in black and white and there is (usually) no debating the letter of the law. But what's wrong with getting creative in the gray area? I'm not advocating cheating, although I will say I've soaked my fair share of tires and knowingly run cheated up engines in the past. One of my favorite aspects of circle track racing is the ability to think outside the box and get creative in the shadowy sections of the rulebook where it's not so black and white.
Paul Wolfe and Todd Gordon are smart—very smart! They just went a little too far. But that is what you have to do, especially when NASCAR rolls out a new car, like the Gen 6 cars. There is so much uncharted territory that crew chiefs need to explore the limits. While this may stop other crew chiefs from getting creative at the top because Papa NASCAR is watching a little closer, I hope it gets the Saturday night short track crew chiefs and drivers thinking and acting on the gray area in their rulebooks.
When I first started working on race cars, an engine builder, who's name I will leave out of this, taught me to read a rulebook for what it doesn't say. His example that sticks with me is about the specs for the valve job. The rulebook stated that three-angle valve jobs were allowed, but four-angle valve jobs were prohibited. When he read this, he turned to me and said "It doesn't say you can't have a five-angle valve job!" While not in the spirit of what the rulebook said in black and white, five-angle valve jobs were not addressed and fell into the gray area.
My point to the racers and crew chiefs is: Don't lose the ingenuity and creative out-of-the-box thinking that this sport is built on! Push the limits! Make your tech officials mad! They are there to enforce the rulebook…give them something to add next year! Then next, find something new to drive them crazy!
Sure, some things will work and some won't, but it's worth trying to find the limits. Who knows? Maybe you'll find something that takes you from mid-pack car to a Top 5 car. Maybe you'll go the other way, but it's worth trying.
Spend time looking at other racers' stuff. Ask some questions. When they stop answering, maybe that's a place you start focusing on. Look at all the stuff the NASCAR guys get in trouble for, maybe there is some trickledown that you can start at your track!


text: Derrick Rose returned to action last night and it went pretty well. He dunked in an actual game against other NBA players, officiated by NBA referees and watched by paying NBA fans. So it was preseason. Whatever. Get on the Fun Time Express. Happy Derrick Rose is back (again (for almost-real, this time))!


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General discussion on the open world action game from Avalanche Studios that will knock your socks off!
© 2016 SQUARE ENIX LTD. All Rights Reserved
SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
Square Enix Limited, Registered in England No. 01804186 Registered office: 240 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NW.


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Get Active Indoors and Out
Stay in or go out? At Savoye/Savoye2, there's a shared community feeling that plays out across multiple, high-end venues where residents can take fitness classes, attend regular concerts, or host gatherings with friends. We offer plenty of entertainment spaces, both inside and out. Here, it's never what to do, but what to do next.


text: Meet a Specialist: Oon Tian Tan, M.D., Ph.D. Oon Tian Tan, M.D., Ph.D., joined Mass. Eye and Ear in June 2010, bringing with her a wealth of experience in a range of dermatological conditions and treatments. A pioneer in both the development and use of lasers to treat skin diseases and disorders, Dr. Tan is the Director of the Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Laser Center. "Mass. Eye and Ear has been known for its leading-edge care of the eye, ear, nose, throat, head and neck," said Dr. Tan. "We are now able to add general dermatology services to the treatment options we provide. Our use of specialized lasers, as well as our close collaboration with the physicians who perform facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, make us unique." Dr. Tan utilizes an array of lasers to treat birthmarks including hemangioma, portwine stains and café au lait, as well as other benign cutaneous pigmented lesions, warts, tattoos and scars. "Lasers are a well-established tool for a physician to use when treating a patient," she said. "We are now finding new ways of using lasers to treat parts of the body – such as inside orifices like the nose – that might otherwise be inaccessible using a conventional surgical tool." According to Dr. Tan, the close working relationship between the physicians in the Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Laser Center and the Facial and Cosmetic Surgery Center offers a seamless provision of care. "A patient whose face has been damaged in a car accident, for example, can undergo facial reconstruction and then come to see me for laser treatments of the scars," Dr. Tan said. "That level of coordinated care is a tremendous benefit we offer our patients." As she looks to the future, Dr. Tan is excited by what she sees. "Our patients have access to all the options for care provided by different specialties all housed within one institution," she said. "I am delighted to be part of such an outstanding multidisciplinary team." Contact Dr. Tan's office at 617-573-6493 View Dr. Tan's online bio for more information. Contact Us Today! 617-523-7900


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Shand engages the community through her art
Tuesday, July 9, 2013 2:00 AM
Pittsburg, KS
Art is a powerful thing. It's a transformational thing. It can make people weep. It can make people laugh. It can make people stop and stare.
And it can also have a tremendous effect on the community surrounding it.
That's one of the main reasons Rhona Shand, chairperson of the Department of Art at Pittsburg State University, submitted an application to be an artist for the inaugural SEK Art Fest in downtown Pittsburg.
"I actually did it for school reasons," Shand said. "It's important for artists to be involved in the community, and I wanted to show my students how much of an impact art can have on the community. I did it for my students."
SEK Art Fest is an art exhibit in downtown Pittsburg that features 26 large, fiberglass coal buckets, which were decorated by artists from throughout the region. Nearly 60 artists submitted applications, and Shand was among the 26 chosen.
Her design features an aerial view of the wildlife management strip pit area with a floral overlay. Shand's bucket is the "traveling exhibit," meaning it is being toured around the area to help promote the downtown collection.
Shand said being involved with SEK Art Fest allowed her to meet other regional artists and take part in a community effort to promote the arts.
"The arts are so important because it really gives the artists a voice, a way of communicating," she said. "It's a reflection of society, and it the arts truly help build community."
Shand isn't the only PSU connection in SEK Art Fest. The panel of judges that selected the artists included faculty member Portico Bowman and alumna Heather Horton. Several of the artists were also PSU alumni. Pittsburg State University was one of the bucket underwriters.
"It's wonderful to be a part
of a project that includes so many personal connections," Shand said.
The large coal buckets of SEK Art Fest are located between 2nd and 8th streets in downtown Pittsburg, where they will remain until Sept. 1.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/SekArtFest.


text: Use this set with watercolour techniques for unique artistic cards. Our classic wood-mount rubber stamps* Have deeply etched images so you get a superior stamped impression each time. * Are precut so you don't have to trim.* Come with farmed-maple wood blocks—you don't need to buy blocks separately.* Permanently mount on the blocks so they're ready to go when you are. * Come packaged in cases with images on the spine for easy storage and quick reference.Quantity: 15 rubber stamps


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That being said, I do think it would be cool to make a movie. I just wouldn't want to be a star. I wouldn't want to carry the responsibility of making a multimillion dollar gamble pay off. I wouldn't want the attention. What I would want is to be the weird character actor that you see for 30 seconds onscreen. That would be fun.
I could be an awesome bag lady, the nasal complaining neighbor, a bored salesclerk, or the belligerent shopper. It would be fun to put on makeup, play pretend, see the inner workings of movie-making (fairly boring, so I've heard), and then go back to real life and still be able to shop in my sweatpants.
So if either of my loyal readers are casting directors who are looking to fill slots for Curious Bystander #2 or Complaining Restaurant Patron, give me a call. I have an amazing repertoire of annoying voices and weird faces I can do. I don't have any headshots to send you, but I've got lots of food pictures. Does that count?
Surprise, it's both! Yes, as deceptively gorgeous as a Hollywood celeb on the red carpet, this cake is actually something that fits our current, weird dietary needs. Imagine how happy it makes my family to have cake and eat it, too! And it's full of good ingredients, so I'm happy to bake and serve it.
Grain-Free Marble Cake
- adapted from The Spunky Coconut Grain-Free Baked Goods & Desserts
2 cups room temperature cooked, rinsed, and drained white beans (Great Northern or navy)
6 eggs at room temperature
3/4 tsp vanilla liquid stevia
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup coconut oil, liquified
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp baking soda
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 Tbsp + 1-1/2 tsp coconut flour
3 Tbsp mini chocolate chips
1- Preheat oven to 325 deg. F. Grease an 8x8-inch pan.
2- In the bowl of a food processor, combine the beans, eggs, stevia, vanilla extract, and honey. Process till smooth.
3- Add the coconut oil, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Process till smooth.
4- Pour half of the batter into a medium bowl. (I eyeballed the halfway point on the side of the food processor bowl and marked it with my finger.) Set it aside.
5- Add the cocoa powder to the batter in the food processor bowl. Process till smooth. Pour the cocoa batter into the prepared pan.
6- Sprinkle the coconut flour over the batter in the bowl. Whisk to combine thoroughly. Pour the batter over the cocoa batter in the pan. Gently drag a table knife through the batter, swirling to create the marbled effect. Don't overdo, or you'll lose the pretty swirl effect. Sprinkle the top with the mini chips.
7- Bake for about 32 minutes, till a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Allow to cool on a wire rack before cutting.


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Positive Signs is a weekly series of interpretive diagrams, quotes, and speculations on creativity, optimism*, and the lives of artists, published every Wednesday through June.
*Notwithstanding brief forays into the nature of space, stuff, experience, and cognition.
Next Wednesday: Positive Signs #23 & 24 on space and experience.
See all Positive Signs to date.


text: HI Bob, et al, Figured out the problem... I didn't have both sides enabled (dual not set). Duh. Works fine now. Greg KO6TH > From: bruninga at usna.edu > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Kenwood TH-D7 split Tx/Rx > To: ko6th_greg at hotmail.com; amsat-bb at amsat.org > Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:43:17 -0500 > > The APRS mode TX/RX is in the APRS menu. There is a separeate TX/RX setting for PACKET mode in the radio menu. You maybe using the wrong one. > > Bob, WB4APR > > > ---- Original message ---- > >Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:10:09 -0800 > >From: "Greg D." <ko6th_greg at hotmail.com> > >Subject: [amsat-bb] Kenwood TH-D7 split Tx/Rx > >To: <amsat-bb at amsat.org> > > > > > >Hi folks, > > > >Ok, so in the manual it says that I can set up the D7 to transmit on one side, and receive on the other, with APRS. With the ISS seemingly in that sort of mode, this would seem to be the configuration to use. APRS menu 2-M gives me that choice, but when I have either of the spilt modes selected (Tx-A, Rx-B, or Rx-A, Tx-B), I can't turn on APRS mode. Packet turns on, but not APRS. > > > >I tried transmitting blind (simplex) on the last pass, but it would be good to be able to hear what's going on too. > > > >What is the magic spell to run on split operations with APRS? > > > >Thanks, > > > >Greg KO6TH > > > > > >_________________________________________________________________ > >Send e-mail anywhere. No map, no compass. > >http://windowslive.com/Explore/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_anywhere_122008 > >_______________________________________________ > >Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > >Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > >Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _________________________________________________________________ Send e-mail faster without improving your typing skills. http://windowslive.com/Explore/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_speed_122008


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Washington, D.C. — The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) and efficiency organizations including the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) have submitted a petition to the ENERGY STAR program to recognize the benefits of smart appliances and jump start the smart grid. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) estimates that implementing smart grid technologies could reduce electricity use by more than four percent annually by 2030. Smart appliances can have an even more profound impact on reducing expensive peak demand.
The petition urges the ENERGY STAR program to incorporate a five percent credit to the energy performance level required to meet ENERGY STAR eligibility criteria for smart grid-enabled appliances as soon as possible. AHAM and efficiency organizations agree that the incorporation of this incentive for smart grid-enabled appliances will increase the deployment of these products across the country.
A newly released cost/benefit analysis by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) accompanied the petition, and determined that the annual benefits from having smart grid capabilities in an appliance are greater than the costs of an equivalent five percent increase in operational machine efficiencies.
Specifically, if a consumer chooses, a smart grid-enabled appliance will be able to receive a signal from a utility and automatically adjust its operation to move its electricity use to a better and less expensive time of day. PNNL's analysis found that smart appliances can be a significant and cleaner alternative to today's "spinning reserves," which are power plants that are required to be "idling" and are a wasteful, but necessary, part of today's electrical grid.
The petition to ENERGY STAR is one of three aspects of an agreement between appliance manufacturers and energy efficiency advocates signed last summer. The other parts of the agreement relate to new, more stringent minimum energy efficiency standards for appliances and tax credits for very high-efficiency tax incentives. The appliance standard proposal is now pending before DOE. The first year of the tax credit proposal was enacted into law in December 2010.
"This petition recognizes the opportunity for smart appliances to contribute to energy efficiency and the smart grid. A credit of five percent is a significant incentive for manufacturers to produce smart appliances and the data show that smart grid-enabled appliances can deliver a greater benefit to the American consumer than the five percent request," stated Joseph M. McGuire, AHAM's President.
"The three parts of our agreement with manufacturers are designed to work together to produce large cost-effective energy savings to consumers. ENERGY STAR, the subject of today's petition, promotes products with above-average energy savings. These are high-efficiency products; today's petition asks that product intelligence be included as a pathway to achieving energy savings," said Steven Nadel, ACEEE's Executive Director.
Besides AHAM and ACEEE, other parties to the agreement are the many companies in AHAM's major appliance division, Alliance for Water Efficiency, Alliance to Save Energy, Appliance Standards Awareness Project, Consumer Federation of America, National Consumer Law Center, Natural Resources Defense Council, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, and Northwest Power and Conservation Council.
Visit www.aham.org/smartgrid to download the petition to the ENERGY STAR program, and for a link to the DOE cost/ benefit analysis on smart grid-enabled appliances.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection.
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers is a not-for-profit trade association representing manufacturers of major and portable home appliances, floor care appliances, and suppliers to the industry and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. You can visit the AHAM Web site at www.aham.org.


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Great picture of a Dallas Cowboys football, helmet and stadium.
Click the photo to see the full version. To make it a wallpaper, right click, "save as" to your desktop. From your desktop, rick click and "set as desktop picture."
Photo © Cliff Baise, All Rights Reserved. View more of Cliff's photos at his site, TheCreativeGap.com.


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In a recent visit to Turkey, the UK's Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the current blockade on Gaza and referred to the territory as a "prison camp". The Israeli embassy in London accordingly responded to Mr. Cameron's remarks by asserting that the Palestinians living in Gaza are actually prisoners of Hamas, rather than prisoners of the Israeli blockade. Furthermore, the Israeli spokesperson claimed that Hamas, due to its election in 2006, is responsible for the situation in Gaza.
While the media is focusing on the visit and remarks by David Cameron, the responding statements by the Israeli embassy are, in my view, more interesting. Both statements are clear examples of political spin, but spin that has gone so far as to place the blame for Israeli actions upon Hamas.
The logic is impossible to follow, but according to the Israeli envoy to the UK, this is what we are supposed to understand about the blockade. They want us to believe that Hamas really doesn't care much about the well-being of the Palestinians who elected it into power. And that Hamas is enforcing a strict blockade on the territory that they control. Clearly, they would never want any form of international trade, freedom of movement, secure access to power, or building materials. Instead, Hamas focuses solely on building rockets and killing Israelis, at the expense of any effort that might aid Gaza.
However, the officials who work at the Israeli Embassy are not idiots. They most likely understand that the blockade of the Gaza Strip, and the ensuing conditions of poverty, are not the responsibility of Hamas. But they still try to put out this kind of spin, wriggling their way out of any sort of blame or consequences and using Hamas as a scapegoat. Unfortunately, many in the United States accept this spin without question.


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Interactive Fiction Club
Monday, April 233:00—4:00 PMGround Floor Community / Meeting RoomMain Branch401 Merrimack St., Lowell, MA, 01852
Solve murder mysteries. Explore fantastical worlds. Save doomed planets. Interactive Fiction is a computer game in which you are the main character of every story. Open to young people 6th - 12th grade.
For more information call the Youth Services Department 978.674.1529. If you have any questions, email Beth Brassel at email@example.com
No Registration Required


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U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission
On September 25, 2008, the President signed the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 ("ADA Amendments Act" or "Act"). The Act emphasizes that the definition of disability should be construed in favor of broad coverage of individuals to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of the ADA and generally shall not require extensive analysis.
The Act makes important changes to the definition of the term "disability" by rejecting the holdings in several Supreme Court decisions and portions of EEOC's ADA regulations. The effect of these changes is to make it easier for an individual seeking protection under the ADA to establish that he or she has a disability within the meaning of the ADA.
Learn more about the ADAAA:
EEOC's Notice Concerning The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act of 2008
Final Regulations Implementing the ADAAA (published in the Federal Register on 3/25/2011)
Questions and Answers on the Final Rule Implementing the ADA Amendments Act of 2008
Questions and Answers for Small Businesses: The Final Rule Implementing the ADA Amendments Act of 2008
Fact Sheet on the EEOC's Final Regulations Implementing the ADAAA


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FMC Agricultural Products Group has been busy in the digital space this past year, whether it's providing basic product information, delivering educational opportunities, promoting scholarships for agricultural students or even developing mobile apps.
The company announced at the 2013 National Farm Machinery Show four new and continuing online initiatives.
1. FMC announced it is extending its CropPro University Training Module through March 8, 2013. Participants are able to complete a training module for CEU credits.
2. The company also announced its Authority Minute web video series. Paul Redhage, strategic communications manager, says he hopes the videos will provide a "full compass" seasonal approach to weed issues. The first 6 videos are available online, with the intention of producing 18 total videos for the project.
3. A "Stand and Be Heard Anthem Singing Contest" will enter its second year starting March 1. This program awards scholarship opportunities to four agriculture high school students who upload videos of themselves singing the National Anthem. Entrants need to be members of their local FFA, 4-H or student NAMA chapter.
4. In coordination with Ag PhD, FMC developed the Ag PhD Field Guide, a free mobile app available for free on the Apple App Store. The app is expected to be available on Android devices later this year.