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Decided to mix things up a bit and try a close-up doodlewash of Château de Chambord. Philippe and I toured this amazing château on our last trip to France. It's the most recognizable châteaux in the world because of its very distinctive French Renaissance architecture which blends traditional French medieval forms with classical Renaissance structures. Which translates to, something super hard to sketch!!
We took a lot of photos while we were there and many of them were closeups as a distant shot doesn't really do it justice because of the many intricate details. I wanted to get the idea of intricacies across, but many of the details are missing here as it that would have taken hours and I have trouble spending more than an hour on a doodlewash. Dastardly short attention span. I wanted to try something with fewer colors, and this one relies heavily on my fave Quinacridone Gold along with Cobalt Blue and Cobalt Turquoise. I little Cadmium Orange was added to make the large window pop and some Indigo was added to deepen the shadows.
One of the coolest parts of the Château de Chambord is the stunning double helix open staircase. The two helices ascend the three floors without ever meeting, cleverly illuminated from above by a sort of light house effect at the château's highest point. There are rumors that Leonardo da Vinci may have designed the staircase, but these have not been confirmed. Since I'm a da Vinci fanboy, I'm going to go ahead and believe the rumors, because it makes it even cooler!Recommend0 recommendationsPublished in By Charlie
Creator of Doodlewash®, founder of World Watercolor Month (July), World Watercolor Group™, and host of the Sketching Stuff Podcast. Sharing daily watercolor illustrations and stories while proudly featuring talented artists from all over the world! If you'd like to be a guest artist on Doodlewash.com, contact me!

subset: commoncrawl


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Hi there. Sandra here. This week I stared booking weddings for the next year. I'll be more than glad to be part of your most important events, sharing the love and saving your memories in the best way I can do it...taking pictures.
Contact me for more information about the costs and the special prices for destination weddings.


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Yes, there are Diet Plans to Lose Weight Fast, but in many cases, keeping the weight off will take a lot of willpower. Diets that help you lose weight fast have not been known to be permanent. With willpower and determination, you can use a diet plans to lose weight and keep it off. It's all in what diet you choose, and how dedicated you are to staying with it.
17 Day Diet plan:
The 17 Day Diet Plan was proposed by a physician Dr Mike Moreno hailing from California.
This diet is designed to help people control or lose their weight. This diet plan offers cycles of seventeen days in which the food to be consumed is adjusted with time.
This plan is a cyclic carbohydrate diet which is divided into four phases. The consumption of carbohydrates is adjusted according to the phase in which the dieter is. At certain times, you are allowed a low carbohydrate diet and at times you can eat what you want. This can trick the metabolic system of the body and it results in loss of weight.
The food which is recommended in this plan include eggs, turkey breast, chicken breast, seafood, grapefruit, berries, lettuce, broccoli, tomato, cucumber and green tea.
- The first phase of the plan is called Accelerate in which dieter is allowed reduced amounts of carbohydrates to expedite the fat burning and weight loss.
- The second phase is called Activate and it involves carbohydrates cycling. The intake of carbohydrates is brought back to normal levels.
- In the third phase, called Achieve, the restricted foods are integrated back into the diet.
- The last phase is called Arrive and it involves eating natural, healthy food everyday and eating what you desire on the weekends.
This cycle can be repeated again after some time. This plan also requires the dieter to do a seventeen minute exercise to lose weight six days a week and it comes with the diet plan.
17 Day Diet Plan Advantage
The best point about 17 Day Diet is the emphasis it lays on the intake of natural foods. The variation of food allowed to the dieter avoids the monotony associated with other diet plans. The cycles of carbohydrates and calorie intake increase the rate of weight loss. It is simple enough to follow and it comes with tips to help you maintain the weight after using the plan. However, this plan shouldn't be followed by diabetics.
The required calorie intake is not enough for people who undergo physical exertion. People susceptible to bad eating habits may gain weight quickly after they stop following the plan. The plan does not address the psychological factors which can influence the maintenance of weight in the long run.
In short term, the weight loss achieved is significant but if we look at it in the longer run, the dieter can be as successful as they want to be. It depends on how much control they have on their eating habits and whether the diet plan changed their attitude.
I Love this diet plan:
This diet plan helps in the reduction of weight loss by using products like Frozen Meals, Lean Cuisine along with vegetables, fruits and dairy products low on fat. We achieve a weight loss up to 1 to 2 lbs. per week with this plan.
Our current weight determines the maximum calories we are allowed per day. As time passes and we lose weight, the calorie intake is increased or decreased accordingly. The daily routine consists of a healthy breakfast, a Frozen Meal lunch and then another Frozen Meal at dinner. Along with this the dieter should eat vegetables and fruits.
If you are bored or don't want to eat Frozen Meals, then there are recipes with the required calories which you can eat. In order to meet the nutritional requirements, we should also take a multivitamin and 1200 milligram of fish oil. Exercise is good for health but it is not considered necessary to lose weight with this program.
The food which is recommended in this plan is Lean Cuisines, Frozen meals, fruit, vegetables, whole grain cereal, whole wheat bread, skim milk, cottage cheese, egg whites, light peanut butter, baked potato chips, microwave popcorn, salad, coffee, tea and diet soda.
This plan has been created by a professional so the nutritional deficiencies associated with other diets have been taken into account. It is a really simple plan and easy to use. The Frozen Meals used are ideal for a lifestyle that is busy, in which a person doesn't have time to cook special meals.
This diet plan can accommodate the vegetarians as special plans exist for them. It has a narrow target audience as some people will not be willing to eat frozen meals. The dieters make their own meal plans from a given options which can be confusing for some people. Research shows that the sodium consumption is greater than the levels usually required.
I Love this Diet Plan is ideal for businessmen or any other person who find themselves short of time as it is based on frozen meals. It also integrates fruits and vegetables into the diet hence stressing the importance of natural foods in our life.
Bistro MD Diet plan:
It is a US based company which specializes in delivery of ready to eat meals on your doorsteps. The food is approved by a doctor and prepared by highly qualified chefs. It is low on carbohydrates and focuses on greater protein intake. The daily calorie intake averages at 1200 per day which is better as compared to other diet plans.
The company gives the customers' four plans to choose from whose contents vary with the cost. For example the most expensive of them costs 180$ and includes seven day meals along with two snacks per day. The second most expensive plan has the same contents as the first one but it doesn't have the snacks. Similarly there is an option for a five day plan with snacks and without snacks.
Bistro MD Delivery
Bistro MD delivers the plan you requested using courier service. Users report that deliveries are made on time. The food items are well packaged and come in a cardboard box with dry ice. The packages are labelled clearly and the dieter can easily use them. The food is ready to use off the shelf. It just requires defrosting and then heating in a microwave oven.
The best part of Bistro MD Diet is that it has something for everyone. It offers customized menus to the dieters so they can add or drop any item from them the menu based on their personal choice, religious preferences etc. The food is well packaged and insulated. There are clear labels on each packet of food inside stating the ingredients and their nutritional value. This is convenient for the user. The variety of food which is allowed to the dieter does not let him get bored.
Bistro MD diet plan disadvantage
One of the disadvantages of this plan is that it is expensive. If money is not an issue, then this is the diet for you. Another problem that some dieters have with this plan is that it does not allow any deviation from the plan. This is restrictive for some people. This diet does not provide any guideline to maintain weight after stopping the diet. As a result some people might put on extra pounds after the diet.
If you can afford the expense, this diet is the way to go for you. It has the nutritional value and won't let you get bored. In order to succeed the purpose should be like any other diet to control our eating habits. If we fail to do that, we'll end up eating excessively after the diet and gain weight.
Detox Diet Plan
One diet to lose weight fast that has grown in popularity is the Detox Diet. This diet takes out the most fattening foods like potatoes, bread and dairy products, and allows eating fruits, herbs, nuts and grains. In one month, if real dedication, you will lose a significant number of pounds.
The wisest words in dieting is "eat healthy". Giving up carbohydrates for natural foods is definitely healthy, so the Detox Diet has real potential for losing weight fast. After using the Detox Diet for a month, you have lost weight and gained new eating habits
7 Day Diet Plan
If you are wondering how to lose weight fast without exercise, there is another diet plan to lose weight that has real potential to fast weight loss is a seven day diet with daily limits on what you eat.
- On day one, you can eat all the fruit you want, except bananas. All fruits are allowed, but eating melons and cantaloupes will bring the best results.
- On day two, eat only vegetables, every vegetable you like except potatoes. Vegetables can be eaten raw or cooked, but they should be cooked in only a little oil, if any.
- On day three, you can combine fruit and vegetables. Enjoy all the fruit and all the vegetables you want.
- Day four is banana and milk day. You can have up to eight bananas and three glasses of milk on day four. For supper, enjoy a soup made of vegetables.
- Day five is the day you can eat whatever you want. Be sure to have lots of water with everything you eat.Drink only water with everything. If you are determined to lose weight however, you will notice that although you can eat all you want, you will not really want that much. After four days of fruits and vegetables, your body is beginning to crave good natural foods.
- Day six is back to vegetables all day, with one serving of meat.
- Day seven is brown rice, vegetables and some fruit.
Repeat this seven day eating ritual for two more weeks and you will lose several pounds. You will be thinner, and you will have a new eating pattern established.
These diets will get you into a better habit of eating the right foods, and eliminate the wrong foods. After you have lost the desired amount of weight, usually in a month on either of these diets, you should try to maintain the basics of the eating pattern to keep the weight off. If you do fall into old eating habits and notice the pounds returning, these diets are easy to jump back into. It's all about how you eat from now on out. That's all about Diet Plans to Lose Weight.


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I Had a Little Nut Tree is a very old nursery rhyme. It was published first time in 1789. So it was maybe also used by your great-great-great-grandparents.
Lyrics To "I Had A Little Nut Tree"
I had a little nut tree,
Nothing would it bear
But a silver nutmeg
And a golden pear.
The King of Spain's daughter
Came to visit me
All for the sake
Of my little nut tree!
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"I'm bored."
Ethan said it to me for the first time a couple of days ago and I thought to myself: Life is over as you know it. Before I could start crying, an idea popped into my head:
An "I'm bored jar."
I've been reading a lot of crafty/mom-type blogs lately and I recently came across this idea. Get a glass jar and fill it with slips of paper with ideas of what the kids do when they say they are bored. Brilliant. Let's do it. I show Ethan some of the things I had read about it on the computer.
Here are a couple I'm Bored Jars I found:
From Stephanie in her Somewhat Simple blog:
From a blog called Home Spun Threads:
First let me say that I really enjoy reading these two blogs. The things they come up with and put together are so cute!
But, guess what? I am not the bored one. And, while I enjoy feeling inferior while reading these blogs, I will not put myself through the hell of actually realizing I am inferior by attempting to make such perfect pieces of art out of pickle jars.
So I explained the overall premise of the I'm Bored Jar to Ethan and sent him on his way to make it on his own. He showed up every couple of minutes with questions like "Where are the scissors? Where can I find a jar? How can I color the jar? I'm hungry because I am working so hard. Can I have a sandwich?
With the exception of the sandwich - I made him hunt for stuff and figure the rest out. It took him the entire morning to create his I'm Bored Jar.
Ethan, 7, concentrating on not being bored.
Then it was time to fill it with ideas.
Ethan: I'm going to put, "Play a board game with Mom."
Me: Oh noooo. These things have to be things that don't need me or money involved.
Ethan: Go to the pool?
Me: That involves me. I would have to keep an eye on you.
Ethan: Play in the sandbox?
Me: There you go!
A few hours later Zach announced that he too did not want to be involved in the "I'm Bored Jar."
Apparently Ethan had put in a slip that said, "Follow Zach" - or something to that effect.
Zach: Okay - he put in there, "Play with Zach" and he's been following me around. I refuse to be part of the Jar.
Me: Then help him come up with some ideas.
That suggestion was a mistake.
Zach: Write down... Bet on horse racing.
Ethan: Okay!
I hear Ethan slowly repeating the phrase: Bet on horse racing.
Zach: And... how about... go clubbing.
Me: Zach! Don't do that to him!
Ethan: Gooooooooooo cllubbbbbbbbinnnnnng. What else?
Zach: Organize a 5k fun run/walk for rabies.
Ethan: I don't know how to spell that.
Zach obligingly helps him spell it out.
At no point does Ethan ask what any of these mean, which I find troubling.
Zach: Organize a gang.
Me: Okay - this is not funny. Don't tell him to do that.
Ethan: Orgaaaaaannnnizzzzze a gggaannnnnng.
Me: Come on Zach! Help him come up with good ideas.
Zach: I think these are all very good.
Zach: Make a documentary of mom's day.
Ethan: How do I do that?
Zach: You just follow her around with the camera all day and video tape everything she does.
Ethan: Oh! Okay!
He writes that down too.
Zach: My work here is done.
He goes to the basement to play video games.
A few minutes later I hear Ethan.
Ethan: I'm bored. Oh! I'll pick out something from the I'm bored jar!
Ethan: Bet on horse racing!
Ethan: Mmmmoooooooommmmmmm! How do I bet on horse racing?


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Iowa State continues to be right in the middle of the hunt for Rashad Vaughn.
Iowa State continues to be right in the middle of the hunt for Rashad Vaughn.
The 2014 five-star shooting guard announced Friday the five schools that remain in contention for his services.
"Blessed to say my final 5: Kansas, UNLV, Kentucky, Iowa St, North Carolina #NoOrder," Vaughn tweeted.
Vaughn has made official vists to ISU and UNLV as the Cyclones and Runnin' Rebels have seemingly emerged as the front-runners to land Vaughn, though he has said multiple times he does not have a favorite.
A Minnesota native who is now attending Findlay Prep in Las Vegas, Vaughn made an official visit to ISU in November when the Cyclones defeated then-No. 7 Michigan at Hilton Coliseum. He said then that his relationship with the ISU coaching staff is the best he has with any of the schools he was considering.
Kentucky's inclusion is of note as Vaughn had previously eliminated them from contention, though the Wildcats recently re-upped their recruiting efforts of him. UK's recruiting prowess under coach John Calipari is unmatched, with future NBA lottery picks cycling in and out Lexington every season.
Vaughn's new list featured cuts of Arizona, Baylor and his home-state Gophers. He has said previously he plans to make his college decision sometime this spring.


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Lemon Juice for your Skin – Some Awesome Facts
The health benefits of the lemon have been known for centuries. This simple yellow fruit has many antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-boosting powers, helps in digestion, and cleanses the liver naturally. But do you know that lemon juice can do wonders for your skin? Here are some amazing skin care properties of this ubiquitous fruit. Applying … More


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"I would like to share some new developments on how Delta PM has become more involved in our local ISPE San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, namely around three key achievements.
First, I am happy to announce that Delta's co-founder and Chairman, Feras Al-Zubaidy, has recently been made co-Chair of the ISPE SF Programs Committee. The Programs Committee organizes CEO Night and other events such as the Facility Tour, and develops technical content and themes for the local chapter to organize around every year.
Secondly, I am super proud of the turnout that Delta PM had at the latest Vendor Night at AT&T park that took place last month. I lost count of the number of employees who made it to Vendor Night, but I think it was almost 20! Thanks to everyone on the team who was able to show up and hang out at our booth and walk the halls for networking with the rest of our colleagues in the industry.
Lastly, Vendor Night was also a success in that our own Director of Validation Services, Shawn Sutton, gave a technical presentation on the proposed revisions to the Eudralex Annex 1, which was well received by the audience and resulted in some very good Q&A dialogue afterwards. Staying up on the latest industry trends is core to our DNA as a company, and we will continue to build on this presentation with others in the near future."
- Scott Kobayashi, CEO of Delta PM


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"Being the Body" A Story of Interconnectedness at Lord of Life Presbyterian Church Sermon by Betsey Moe, 10.19.14
1 Corinthians 12:12-26; 27-31a
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If the foot were to say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body', that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear were to say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body', that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many members, yet one body. 21The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you', nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.' 22On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; 24whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But strive for the greater gifts.
Five years ago, I told the fictional story of three members of a place called, Lord of Life Presbyterian Church, which, in many uncanny ways, looks and feels a lot like Hamblen. Finally, five years later, I am bringing you an update about Lord of Life Presbyterian.
One of the reasons it seemed fitting to relay their most recent stories to you is that just as we are in a transition time at Hamblen, so also is Lord of Life. Their beloved pastor, Pastor Steve, retired at the first of the year and moved to an RV park in Yuma, Arizona. His departure left many people holding their breath, wondering what would happen next. What the people at Lord of Life are finding is that in unsettled times, when the future is largely unknown, it's hard to figure out how to be the Body of Christ. They can all pretend that they're going along with business as usual, but underneath the surface, there is grief and anxiety right alongside hope and anticipation.
One long-time member named Grady Daniels -- known for his warm smile and firm handshake, the consummate usher-greeter -- remembers exactly where he was when his wife told him the news that Pastor Steve was retiring. They were at the westbound rest stop near Sprague, Washington. His wife saw Pastor Steve's email to the congregation on her smartphone and read it aloud. Grady remembers their location so well because he couldn't drive after that; he was too shaken. In his letter, Pastor Steve had attempted to reassure the congregation that they would get through the transition period. They were, after all, the Body of Christ functioning together. God had worked through them in the past and would provide in the present all the gifts they needed to thrive.
"If the church is the Body," Grady told his wife, "then Pastor Steve was the heart. And we've just gone into cardiac arrest."
"You're overreacting," his wife had said, but Grady was just being honest about the way he felt. "Who is going to preach – I mean, really preach the Word to us? Who is going to visit me in the hospital? Who's going to do my funeral?" His wife wanted to know how soon he was planning on having it.
The point Grady finally got around to articulating was that he was afraid. Afraid that the Body wouldn't be able to function without a heart. Pastor Steve had made Grady feel loved and accepted even though he knew Grady's whole flawed personal history. Grady couldn't imagine that anyone else – especially a brand new person coming in – could do the same.
"Don't tell me you're going to be grumpy about this until a new pastor is found," his wife said.
"I reserve that right."
Another member named Malcolm heard about Pastor Steve's retirement on the pastor's last Sunday at Lord of Life. Malcolm was a young, single guy – a web developer -- who had started going to Lord of Life a year before. He liked the worship because it was similar to what he had grown up with, and the church was close to his apartment. It was no wonder he was in the dark about the pastor leaving. He hadn't been to church in about two months, and he must have assumed the email was more church spam. He liked Pastor Steve. In fact, Steve was one of the only people who had learned his name. Malcolm gave him a fist bump that day, wishing him good luck in retirement. Malcolm had no idea what happened when a pastor left. Would some kind of pope appoint a new one? Would the associate pastor become the senior pastor? Would they post the position on Craigslist?
Malcolm decided that he would come back in a year when this whole thing blew over. If the church was the Body, it would probably be limping along, sputtering for breath for a year or so until they got a new pastor, and Malcolm preferred not to be around to watch. As for himself, Malcolm hardly counted as a part of this Body. Perhaps he was a freckle on an arm. No one knew exactly when he had appeared, and no one would miss him if he were to go away.
And then there was Constance. Constance remembered the buzz about Pastor Steve's departure in her small group the night after the letter arrived. Some of the women in the group shook their heads in disbelief, a couple women had smug looks like they had seen it coming, some shed tears. "I don't know what our church is going to do," one woman said.
"I'll tell you what I'm going to do," Constance said. "I'm going to roll up my sleeves and step up my involvement. The church needs me now more than ever."
"How is that even possible?" one woman asked. It was true. She had sung in the choir for twenty years and had only recently dropped that commitment because of throat issues. She also had served as a deacon, an elder, a Sunday School teacher, pictorial directory coordinator, and the chairperson of the Ladies' Spring Tea. Currently, Constance delivered clothing bank donations, counted offering money, and dusted the shelves in the sanctuary that held the plants because no one else seemed to notice when they were dusty. Constance had always been of the mindset that some parts of the Body would inevitably under-function, and who if not she would compensate? Now that such an important part of the Body was in Yuma, Arizona, she figured the rest of the Body would waste away and die without someone like her – the Body's arms, legs, brains…let's be honest, the central nervous system – keeping it alive.
Eventually, an interim pastor named Tom joined the staff. He had gifts for speaking the truth in love and for seeking and recognizing the gifts in others.
Grady, Malcolm, and Constance had never sat around a table together, but they found themselves doing so after Pastor Tom invited the three of them to a meeting in his office. When he called each one on the phone, he said he needed their help with "an important project." Grady's wife made him go; Malcolm questioned whether Pastor Tom had confused him with someone else; and Constance wondered what had taken so long.
"Believe it or not," Pastor Tom said to open the meeting, "we have had more first-time visitors in the last two months than this church has seen in ten years."
"I thought I recognized that trend on the friendship pads," Constance said. She had been keeping her own charts when she entered the data in on Mondays.
"And these people need to be noticed and greeted and welcomed back," Tom said. You know that Lord of Life is going through a major change. It is no small thing when a pastor leaves; it's like a body that's had a jolt to its system, but this is no less the Body than it was a year ago. Christ is still here, and that's what these people see. People are still coming, wanting to give glory to God, the Word is still being preached, and the world is still in need of care. I see you as a team of people who can lead the way in tending to the Body in this season. Grady, Malcolm, and Constance glanced at each other without moving their heads.
"Grady, you have the gift of warmth; you exude welcome and genuine care on Sunday mornings. If we are the Body, I see you as the heart. I'd like to ask you whenever you're here to stand and greet people and lead by example." Grady was dumbfounded. He …the heart?
"Constance, I looked in the church database, and in all my years of church work, I have never encountered someone with such a long resume of congregational service. You must know every name and face in this church."
"Well, ninety percent," Constance said, trying to stay humble. "I've headed up the pictorial directory project six times."
"Well, Constance," Pastor Tom said, "I think of you as an eye." (An eye wasn't the central nervous system, but it was something.) "I want you to keep an eye out for these visitors that other people might not notice. Introduce them to someone else in the congregation with whom they might have something in common. And keep a record of the contacts you make."
"I'd be happy to do that," Constance said.
"Constance, there may be some other things you need to let go if no one else is doing them. Sometimes we need to see the gaps in ministry as well as where the energy is." She nodded.
"And Malcolm, is it true that you are a web developer?"
"Yes, I am."
"Would you be willing to help me and team of technology folks think through a new website for Lord of Life? It's the first point of contact for most new people and one of the main ways many of our members stay connected to the life of this church. It is absolutely crucial – as crucial as the central nervous system is to the Body -- that it reflect who we are."
"Sure," Malcolm said. "I already have some ideas about that, but no one had ever asked for my opinion."
Grady, Constance, Malcolm, and Pastor Tom talked through logistics and set some goals before Pastor Tom closed in prayer. The three members left feeling energized the way a body does when endorphins kick in during exercise.
Contrary to their fears, Lord of Life Presbyterian Church was still pulsing with the Spirit of God. The congregation kept moving, breathing, changing just like all bodies do. These three members and many others were learning to tend to this body– and as they did, each one of them felt more alive.


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Not even a killer robot can keep Agent May down for long. In "Wake Up," the next episode of "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.", May wakes up in Holden Radcliffe's lab again -- but this time, she's ready to fight.
Immediately upon waking up, May rips free of her bonds and strides for the door, obviously enraged. However, as soon as she reaches the door, Aida punches right through and pushes May to the floor in a flurry of broken glass.
RELATED: New Agents of SHIELD Promo Reveals a Leak in the Organization
A fight ensues, and Aida proves she's more innovative than Radcliffe ever dreamed. As soon as May hits the floor, Aida rips a light fixture off the the wall and uses it as a blunt weapon. "Perhaps you are going to be a problem after all," she intones, as May struggles to fight for her life. Of course, Aida is much stronger and far more resilient than May, and she's able to toss her across the room with little effort.
RELATED: Agents of SHIELD Reveals Patriot's Big Secret
"I like you, Agent May. I don't wish for you to suffer," Aida says, echoing Radcliffe's earlier sentiment about May being a "poor woman." However, she seems far more willing to kill than he is, despite the fact that he told her to be less lethal in her approach.
Over the first half of the season and into the second, Radcliffe and Aida replaced May with an LMD. Meanwhile, the real Agent May has been kept hostage in Radcliffe's lab, but his means of keeping her sedated seem to be failing again and again. What's more, Radcliffe's carefully laid plans began to unravel in "The Patriot," the last episode of "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," when the LMD May discovered what she was. As such, it seems that Radcliffe and Aida won't be able to keep a lid on their secret plans for much longer -- especially considering that Aida is a lot more murderous than she first let on.
RELATED: Agents of SHIELD Won't Bring Back Blaze's Ghost Rider Anytime Soon
Airing Tuesdays at 10 pm ET/PT on ABC, "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." stars Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, Chloe Bennet as Daisy "Quake" Johnson, Ming-Na Wen as Melinda May, Iain De Caestecker as Leo Fitz, Elizabeth Henstridge as Jemma Simmons, Henry Simmons as Alphonso "Mack" Mackenzie and more.
(via Entertainment Weekly)


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Monday, March 8, 2010
The rise of the individual - the fall of the community
"I stopped getting anything from Mass, so I stopped going X number of years ago".
"I don't like the kind of songs that we have in Church these days, so I refuse to sing with the others".
"I agree with most of the teachings of the Church, but there are some which I feel are outdated and are out of touch with reality. So, I pick and choose what I want to follow. I still call myself a Catholic".
Do any of these statements sound familiar? I am sure that no matter which part of the world you are reading this blog from, you would probably have known someone who has said/felt this way, or perhaps have found yourself thinking this way at some point in time. Why do we think this way? What is the Church's view of this mentality that seems to be rather prevalent amongst the faithful? Is there something not quite right with the Church, or could it be that we are not quite 'getting it' as the jargon of the younger generation tends to put it?
French philosopher Rene Descartes who lived in the early 17th century is hailed as the "Father of modern philosophy". The 'individualistic' revolution is generally attributed to his thought of 'cogito ergo sum' or 'I think therefore I am'. It made the world sit up and believe, erroneously, of course, that the "I" is what everything should revolve around. So, as long as "I" am not pleased, if "I" am not made to feel interested, or if "I" am not entertained or feeling good, whatever it is that I am doing would not serve me well in the long run. This philosophy has its spill over effects into so many areas of our lives, religion and faith not withstanding. And it is because of this mentality that many (not just the young) think that even religion and God needs to serve them.
When the "I" becomes the dominant subject, it is expected that everything should revolve around the self. And one doesn't have to be a king or an emperor to have this kind of thought process. Even to a simple person with basic education, this kind of thought becomes the seedbed of a problematic society. One begins to negate the need to respect elders, neighbours, and the larger society.
When this is brought to the realm of faith, the problem persists. When God and God's Will should be what everything and everyone revolves around, we become rightly ordered. But many think that the self should be what everything revolves around. So, when I am not longer finding it interesting to participate at Mass, or when rites and ritual ceases to keep me engaged, or when Church laws (which are expressions of God's will and guidance) make MY life difficult and inconvenient, I will abandon them. We become dis-ordered.
But is it really all about the "I"? Perhaps we need something like a Copernican revolution, to look at things anew. It's really not we who the world should be revolving around, and it has always been God's invitation to invite us into his ambit of love and grace. It's not ours to call the shots in life, but only to respond with grateful hearts.
Once we come to that true enlightenment, we may be able to change our original self-centered stand on Church, and re-think our original thoughts. Maybe then, we can hear ourselves say: "Even though I may not be getting anything from Mass, even though the hymns aren't lively, even though I may view some of the Church laws as archaic and infringing on my individual freedom, I still go to Mass, still sing hymns, and still abide by Church laws. Because it's really not about me."
8 comments:
- AnonymousMarch 8, 2010 at 2:51 PM
hi fr luke..ReplyDelete
what a timely reminder on this article. There's no such thing as "pick and choose" or either You are a catholic or not. period.
As a catholic.. we must accept the the teachings of the church of the magisterium "wholesale" and not at yr whims and fancies..
Also, there's no such thing as arachic or "old fashion" teaching of the church.. Often you hear this esp on contraception.. "the church does not know abt bedroom issues" The pope and the priests are celibate .. what do they know ?? tell me.?? Of course they do.. Look at the maital problems of today.. and you know that the church know better than many us.. lay people.. In fact the late pope (cannot remember which one) wrote on the dangers of contraception 40 yrs ago.. on his encyclical and it's happening now.. divorces and sexual immorals are on the rise ..
bottom line is God knows better than us.. so what He imparts to us in His teachings is for our own good..
Hi Anon,ReplyDelete
If we take the church at its word, then wouldn't some of the evils perpetrated by the church in the past continue ad infinitum? I know that the church isn't a democracy, and shouldn't be one as that only serves to tether the church to the whims and fancies of the populace whom are themselves subject to socialisation within the socio-economic system. Given the above 2 points, there is quite a problem here isn't it.
Hi Father Luke,
With regards to Descartes, if i'm not mistaken, the only thing he realised that he could be certain of was not the 'I' but his ability to 'doubt'. This, in part, founded the basis for the scientific method which attempted to discern the means by which we could 'doubt' correctly. I do stand by the scientific method without question though, as i'm aware that the only thing we can be certain of is the certainty of the fallibility of humanity.
With regards to 'the rise of the individual' and 'the fall of the community'. I am, on persuasion by reason, a Socialist - no, i am not an atheist...that's an illogical concept - and believe in the value of the community that abides by the 13th Commandment of the Christ. However, without the rise of the individual, would not the individual be subject to the dictates of the elite within a community? I suppose it is not the 'rise of the individual' that is the problem, but the 'rise of the individual' within particular socio-economic conditions, such as those which hold the class-system as sacrosanct, that compromises the community.
If we were to all live within a community where we hold true and fast the 13th Commandment of Christ, and bring about the institutions that do not put obstacles in the way of its practice, then the rise of the individual would further elevate the community would it not?
I am, officially, a Catholic by the way (parish, Risen Christ, where i was an alter boy between 1978-81 before i was sacked for bringing potato chips to a retreat amongst a couple of other ridiculous reasons). But have ceased to attend mass since 1999 as i find the church in singapore to be more of an opiate than a solution - unlike the Church in the UK where the priest proffers perspectives on how we can live good Christian lives in consideration of the socio-economic system and whilst acknowledging the evils of the capitalist system. It was quite the eye-opener for myself. This particular priest reminded me of a Father Adrian Anthony back in the 80s whose sermons drew thousands on the first sunday of the month. Gone are those days with the emergence of singapore as a Confucian state.
Thank you for the above perspective, it is an issue that i've been concerned about for the last couple of decades, and in essence, I do agree with your perspective. Keep them coming.
- AnonymousMarch 9, 2010 at 2:33 PM
Lovely reading - thks ! Wondering ....was Descartes doing a dis-service or just putting into words what we know ( a disconcerting truth ) deep in our hearts - are we vilifying or pillorizing the right villian ? Also you did mention about religion & faith - are we,the church-goers, perhaps, mistaking one for the other ? If I take faith to be a gift of God ( He chooses me first) & religion to be the choice I make to express my beliefs, then if I have religion but no abiding faith - my act of attending church is not to celebrate with the community, not to "offer my soul for salvation but my nerves for titillation " After a while, being jaded, I may even engage in "spiritualized sensation-hunting", hopping from church to church in a desperate need to pass over moments of intolerable boredom of life. Thus, I may religiously attend services not because I want to be better but only because I want to FEEL better. It is actually a desperate cry of an anguished soul - to be nourished but not 'getting it' ( like you said.)-remember St Augustine's restlessness...? tessa leeReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 11, 2010 at 11:56 AM
hmmm frLuke, i was like that lah, and until i came to realisation who God Is and what i am, worked on my relationship with Him (still working), and, learn to obey :)ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 11, 2010 at 3:09 PM
Dear Fr Luke,ReplyDelete
Sometimes, it is difficult to completelty seperate the teachings of the Church from its practitioners' actions.
What has been particularly disturbing is the recent revelations of the various physical and sexual abuses by priests of helpless children over the years and how nothing was done for so long.
Here there is a danger that the fall of the individual leader may herald the fall of the community.
God Bless
Dear AlanReplyDelete
Thanks for the comment. It is indeed sad when a leader leads the flock astray by his actions. I doubt that any leader has it in mind from the day he took office, to lead people astray. But obviously, when God and his will are no longer the raison d'etre of his priesthood, these things can end up happening.
It is hoped that when sheep are formed thoroughly and have developed a keen moral sense and heightened spirituality, they will not be swayed so easily and 'lose their ground' when leaders get out of sync. You correctly pointed out that it is difficult to separate the two. But that must be what defines a mature church from a maturing church. Judging from the way many have left the Church because of the negative examples of her leaders who have gone astray, perhaps it shows that there are many of us who still don't own our faith, and are depending on 'what so-and-so says'.
Many of us still have yet to really own our faith, partly because spiritual maturity takes a conscious effort on our part, combined with God's grace on God's part.
God bless you too Alan
Fr Luke
- AnonymousMarch 16, 2010 at 12:17 PM
Dear Fr LukeReplyDelete
Why are there more Christians than Catholics? Most of my better educated friends are Christians and half of the Catholics don't go to church. Is there somnething wrong with the church or is it the fault of individuals? Well, we live in an imperfect world, there is room for improvement.
If mass is still conducted in Latin, would Anglicans join the Catholic church? If this blog is not created, can we be communicating on line?
As for the individuals, we are only human. Some people choose to remember God only in times of need, give them a second chance. If there is faith..... even if i am not chosen, even if i am not holy.... even if the grass look so green where there are wolves, i shall not want.
Mary B.
I'd like to reply to Tessa Lee's comment made a little earlier. It has something to to with separating feeling from faith. While it is true that many of us are feeling-centered, meaning that many of us go to places which give us a positive feeling, so some Catholics may have moved out of the Catholic Church to someplace else which provides much more stimulation than the Catholic liturgy, could the problem be that too many of us have been nurtured by the media where every one of our senses are constantly assuaged and teased, thrilled and tantalized ad infinitum, such that when we come to the house of God, we expect the same (if not, better?).ReplyDelete
Feelings are only one of the characteristics of being alive. Not necessarily being human. Even animals feel. But perhaps we have ceased to reflect regularly enough to not mistake faith for feelings that we fall into that mistaken notion of substituting feelings for faith that some of us have gone to places which make the titillating of the senses a priori.
But if we really take time to appreciate and understand Catholic Liturgy, and if it is celebrated well and with sensitivity, we will realise that there is no shortfall of giving participants a rich and felt experience of God.
God bless
Fr Luke


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It was brought to my attention that one of my poems is now up online at Floating Bridge Press. You can read Words in the Key of C online now, just click on 'Poems' and scroll down a little. (Their new website is looking spiffy.)
I also forgot to mention that a few months back that same poem was accepted for publication in Ooligan Press' inaugural volume of the Pacific Poetry Project, set to be released in March, 2013. My poem will be nestled in a book among other Pacific Northwest writers in a book that celebrates this awesome part of the country. Stay tuned for more info.


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Big runs make and break volleyball games. On Tuesday, Aug. 22 at West Holmes High School, runs played a predominant role for Indian Valley, who went on a number of runs to secure a 25-22, 25-22, 25-19 victory over the Lady Knights.
The first game was a nip and tuck affair that saw Indian Valley eke out a win late, and that set the stage for what was a fairly competitive evening of volleyball.
In game two West Holmes got out to a 12-9 game, but in the blink of an eye Indian Valley was up 17-12 after reeling off an eight-point run to take command. During the run Indian Valley got a huge boost from Kitanna Rakeshaw and Kiara Rakeshaw.
The lead grew to 20-14 for the Braves before the Lady Knights came pounding back, led by senior captain Lauren Park, who mashed her way to a pair of kills and a service ace. When Regan Wilcox recorded a kill, West Holmes was back to within 21-19. However, Kiara Rakeshaw got a kill, and then Indian Valley senior Kayla Tschudy took over, slamming home a pair of winners to give the Braves another 25-22 victory.
IV's Kayla Tschudy rocks a winner in game two as Braves top West Holmes 25-22, same score as game one. IV up 2-0 @GuggisbergCheez pic.twitter.com/nbeqUfueNo
— OhioSportsTicket.com (@OhioTicket) August 22, 2017
Game three saw West Holmes take over early with a five-point run that included some strong play from Emily Anderson, four straight service points from Park and another kill from Wilcox.
But just as it had in game two, Indian Valley responded, this time with an impressive 12-0 spree that saw Kitanna Rakeshaw serve up a pair of aces and Kiara Rakeshaw pound down five kills. That, along with some unforced West Holmes errors, was more than enough to send Indian Valley on to victory.
West Holmes got one final bolt of electricity when Sarah Anderson made a diving play, knocking the ball over the net and into no-man's land for a point to stop the bleeding. That seemed to energize the Lady Knights momentarily as Park drilled two kills and Nadia Rouse served up an ace, getting West Holmes within 21-17, but it would get no closer as the Braves would close things out with a kill from Tschudy.
Down 9-5 in game three, Indian Valley reeled off 11 straight to take a 17-9 lead on West Holmes pic.twitter.com/2oGEpjfyDo
— OhioSportsTicket.com (@OhioTicket) August 22, 2017
"We were really inconsistent all night long," West Holmes coach Savannah Moore said. "I told the kids I couldn't fault them for trying, especially when we got down. But there is no reason we should go from being up five to being down six."
Moore said she felt the inexperience and youth of her team led to them becoming complacent when they forged leads. She said the hope is that the Lady Knights can develop some sense of urgency when it takes a lead and learn to put away a team when they have it on the ropes.
Down 20-11, the Lady Knights fought back to within 21-17 in game three pic.twitter.com/CAezc3wirs
— OhioSportsTicket.com (@OhioTicket) August 22, 2017
"It's a little lack of maturity and experience," Moore said. "We have to learn to take advantage of those kinds of situations. We did some good things at times, and we got some solid efforts from a lot of girls, but we have to develop more consistency to avoid those prolonged runs like we gave up tonight."
Moore said she wasn't totally discouraged and noted that her team simply needs to develop its passion and heart. She did add that in the four-game loss to Dover, her team really played inspired volleyball.
"We saw there what we can accomplish against a really good team," Moore said. "We have now played two terrific teams that have really challenged us to get better. That is what we need right now to keep improving."
Indian Valley head coach Tara Pryor has seen her team come storming out of the gate early with a pair of wins, and that has been driven by her offensive firepower that returns all of the main hitters and setter Reagan Love from last season.
Three close games all go Braves way including this game-winner in game three for a 25-19 win over Lady Knights @GuggisbergCheez pic.twitter.com/VfgEDg07kx
— OhioSportsTicket.com (@OhioTicket) August 22, 2017
"We still have plenty of things to work on, but I think our ability to move the ball around and go to a lot of different weapons will make us tougher to defend," Pryor said.
Pryor went on to say that while her team responded well to falling behind early, it marked a very different picture than she saw this summer, where her team was the one giving up big leads.
"It was pretty bad this summer," Pryor said of her team's inability to hold leads. "We talked a great deal about not allowing teams to go on runs to put us in a hole and about staying on top when we get there. We were able to do that tonight."
Pryor said having played West Holmes twice last season, she knew stopping first-team All-Ohioan Lauren Park would be the key. They didn't shut her down, but the Braves were able to somewhat limit the damage Park did.
"We definitely kept a close eye on her throughout the night," Pryor said. "I thought overall we played pretty good volleyball against a great program."


text: The Communities of the Tri-Valley Posted on September 7, 2018 - 02:13 PM by Rene Ferland Are you, or someone you know, interested in relocating to the Bay Area? Consider moving to our great area known as the Tri-Valley, and the communities of Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville, San Ramon, Dublin, Livermore and Pleasanton. These communities are loc... Read more


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adoption, babies, Blogs, children, Deborah Beasley, foster care, Good Parents, helping, History, Inspiration, Irena Sendler, LinkedIn, mother, parent, Parenting, People, People in History, Saving children in Nazi Germany, Saving children of Warsaw Ghetto, special parents, Together At Last Family Support, Warsaw Ghetto Children
Please check the PARENT HEROES Page for the article on Irena Sendler. Thanks.
You'll find the Page listed in the right column.


text: When we leverage guilt to make our relationships work things get messy. Guilt is not mean to run our lives or relationships. Guilt is meant to move us on to something better. Today Darryl talks about what that better thing is. He also talks about how those of us who never feel guilt are not likely to be what God has called us to be.


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UM Conference on Undergraduate Research
The University of Montana will host the 19th annual conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR) on Friday, April 24, 2020 in the University Center.
Every year, UMCUR has been organized by the Undergraduate Research Committee in collaboration with the Davidson Honors College, and graciously sponsored by the UM Provost. Since 2001, UMCUR provides a great opportunity for undergraduates of all majors to present their research and creative scholarship in a public forum. The conference is free and open to the public. All members of the UM campus community are encouraged to attend and participate.
The day-long conference offers opportunities for University of Montana students of all majors to present their research and creative scholarship through oral presentations, posters, performances, and exhibits. In addition, students are welcome to organize group presentations, where students within or across disciplines present roundtable discussions on their collaborative and interdisciplinary research activities.
It is our intention to accommodate every student who wishes to participate. Creative scholarship, exhibits, readings, and performances are quite welcome, along with research presentations in all disciplines. Please make sure to submit only one abstract per group and enter any/all co-authors or presenters during the submission process. Once submitted, your Faculty Mentor will be requested to review your abstract. The Undergraduate Research Committee will also offer training sessions designed to help interested students prepare their presentations and posters prior to the conference.
Please visit the Call for Submission Page for more information on how to submit.
Awards: The Committee on Undergraduate Research will present awards for the top oral and poster presentations in each of the five research categories: Humanities, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, and Visual & Performing Arts. The Franke Global Leadership Initiative will present an award to the top GLI capstone team oral presentation. See Call for Submissions Page for more Eligibility & Award Information.
Judges & Volunteers Needed: The Davidson Honors College invites you to be a part of this year's UMCUR. Please sign-up to be a Judge or to Volunteer. Your time is greatly appreciated. Read More.
Questions about UMCUR may be directed to the conference coordinator, Michelle Eckert.


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Is Gray the New White for Kitchen Neutrals?/
The kitchen is the hub of the home, the center of family life, and inevitably the place where everyone gathers at a party. Not only is your kitchen a central living space, it is an investment in the value of your home. For these reasons and more, kitchen remodeling projects tend to use a neutral color palette. White has been the most popular color by far for kitchens, with other neutrals such as brown, beige, or warm wood tones being a common choice as well. Bright colors, when incorporated into the kitchen design, are often left to accessories or wall colors that are more easily altered when your tastes change.
Kitchens have become bigger and evolved over time to form part of a larger living area that combines kitchen, dining, living, and entertaining space. At the same time, views on kitchen décor have changed to show that this room is no longer just for food preparation, incorporating design elements like furniture style cabinetry and islands built for entertaining. Likewise, sophisticated gray tones are becoming a more popular choice as the new neutral for kitchen renovation. While white still holds the number one position for kitchen color schemes, gray rises in popularity every year and rivals white for the top spot.
Why has gray become so popular?
It sets a sophisticated tone.
More than any other neutral, gray gives your kitchen style a sophisticated flair that reflects the kitchen's role as part of a larger living space within the home. Gray is a more subdued neutral than white, and it integrates well into other parts of your home style.
It provides a calming influence.
The kitchen is the hub of activity in the home, and a focal point for family life. Gray is an ideal color for this busy room as it is a calming color that that contributes to a soothing atmosphere.
It is a versatile choice.
Gray suits all styles and tastes, and mixes well with other neutrals and accent colors. It has the ability to adapt to almost any type of kitchen, including traditional, contemporary, and rustic styles.
It offers different shades to suit your room.
By varying the hue you select you can enhance your available space. A lighter tone will open up a smaller space, while a darker gray works better in a large room. The various shades of gray also evoke a different mood depending on the undertone in the color, making it either a warmer or cooler color. When selecting your gray, it may be necessary to look at different shades before you find the right one. You can also alter the look when selecting gray kitchen cabinets by choosing either a painted cabinet for even coloration or a stained gray that allows some wood grain to show.
It mixes well with other colors.
Since gray is a neutral tone, it can work well with a variety of colors, including other neutrals as well as bright accent colors. This allows you to change the mood of the room by selecting gray for certain items such as kitchen cabinets, floor, or backsplash and mixing it with another neutral or accent color. For example, the kitchen design in Newtown, PA pictured to the right mixes a gray countertop and floor with white cabinets to provide a softer transitional design.
If a new kitchen is in your future, a gray color scheme may be the ideal solution to give your kitchen a sophisticated flair. Click here to see more kitchen design ideas, or contact us to find out more.


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Posted by Jake on April 20, 2004 at 08:41:27:
In Reply to: ceremonial bowl = dad sues son posted by ptf on April 19, 2004 at 11:28:54:
As I recall, the must use Jean Michelle in addition to the surname as Cousteau had already been copyrighted. JMC is an opportunist like his dad, you have to be in the entertainment business. Nice to know America in general and Socal in particular doesn't have the corner on dysfunctional families.
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Add to your Limes collection with this new Geo. F Trumper stick deodorant.
This glycol deodorant stick is fragranced with the vibrant scent of limes, to ensure that you stay fresh throughout the day.
Free from Alcohol and tricosan.
N.B. For Health and hygiene reasons this product may not be returned for refund.


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Fall Leadership Challenge
When: October 17th, 2018
Where: Grizzly Adventure Course, Butler Community College, ElDorado KS
Winter Leadership Challenge
When: February 6th, 2019
Where: Burlington KS
State Conference
When: April 17-19
Where: Webster Conference Center 2601 North Ohio Street, Salina, KS 67401
High School Competitive Events
Middle School Competitive Events
LEAP Overview
TSA's leadership program, LEAP – which stands for "Leadership. Education. Achievement. Personal Growth." is available to all members at no cost. The purpose of LEAP is to encourage students to be the best member they can be as they seek knowledge about themselves, the organization, and their community, while demonstrating leadership. LEAP is a customized program specifically developed for the Technology Student Association. LEAP brings to life the TSA motto, creed, and mission statement.
National Conference
When: June 28- July 2
Where: Washington DC at National Harbor
The 2019 National TSA Conference will be held June 28th to July 2nd at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland. During the annual conference over sixty middle school and high school technology based student competitions will be held as well as leadership training, special interest sessions, and a program sponsored by TSA's national service partner, the American Cancer Society.
Click here for full Annual National TSA Conference information.
VEX Robotics Competition
The TSA VEX Robotics Competition (VRC) and the TSA VEX IQ Challenge (VIQC) provide students with exciting opportunities for learning about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). These events complement the existing technology-related competitions offered by TSA, and involve the same action-packed experience of VEX events. The format of the TSA VEX competitions allows team members to participate in VEX events and TSA competitive events and activities at the national TSA conference.
Click here to learn more about the VEX Robotics Competition.
Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science (TEAMS)
Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science (TEAMS) is an annual competition for middle and high school students designed to help them discover their potential for engineering.
When: Between February 12th and March 18th
Junior Solar Sprint (JSS)
Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) is an educational program for 5th through 8th grade students with the goal of creating the fastest, most interesting, and best crafted solar-vehicle possible. Students have the opportunity to participate in JSS through TSA chapters, Army hosted locations and middle schools across the country or through their middle school!
During JSS students will:
- design, build and race solar powered cars using hands-on engineering skills and principles of science and math,
- develop teamwork and problem solving abilities,
- investigate environmental issues,
- and gain hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills
JSS is designed to support the instruction of STEM exploring topics such as alternative fuels, engineering design, and aerodynamics.
Calendar of Events
A quick view of the Kansas TSA yearly events.
Board Meeting Dates
All meetings are scheduled to be held at the Emporia High School, 3302 West 18th Ave., Emporia, KS starting at 6:00pm
- August 8, 2018
- November 7, 2018
- February 20, 2019
- May 8, 2019
Additional Meetings may be called as needed.
TSA Pin Design Contest
Completed pin designs must be submitted to firstname.lastname@example.com by midnight on December 1.


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Survey: Robots Will Soon Become a Part of Our Daily Lives
C-3PO, Rosie and HAL are all engineered for reliability and service. They are fictional robots from Star Wars, The Jetsons and 2001: A Space Odyssey and people around the world seem to think robots just like them will soon become part of our daily lives. But back when C-3PO was first introduced to moviegoers in


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While I am busy "rethinking" the legal profession (and doing my part to implement change with FreelanceLaw and the National Association of Freelance Legal Professionals), the ABA Journal has given a great boost to us visionaries through its Legal Rebels project.
A Legal Rebel road tour has just kicked off that will profile 50 of the countries' legal visionaries and I am eager to follow its progress, especially because I've personally talked with some of them and know what profound and important changes they are working on.
The first rebels to be profiled have already been identified –
Cheryl Conner
Founder, New Prospects Collaborative
Advocating holistic, collaborative law
Susan Cartier Liebel
Founder, Solo Practice University
Teaching lawyers how to be solo practitioners
Daniel Schwartz
Chair, Task Force on the Future of the Connecticut Bar Association
Helping a state bar association become more tech-savvy
Kenneth Adams
Founder, AdamsDrafting
Educating lawyers to be better writers
Michael Will
Founder & CTO, docGenix
Designing software that helps lawyers work better and faster
Frank Aquila
Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell
Using mainstream and social media to pull back the veil on mergers and acquisitions
David Lat
Founder, AboveTheLaw.com
Remaking legal journalism by crowd-sourcing the news
William Mellor
President, Institute for Justice
Proving humor has a place in issues advocacy
Rodney Smolla
Dean, Washington and Lee School of Law
Revamping law school in a practical mode
Cynthia Calvert
Co-director, Project for Attorney Retention
Seeking a work/life balance in law firms


text: Degree earned during a 6 month intensive course in Alicante, Spain. I had the privilege to study with some of the best guitarists and musicians in the world including Grammy award winning David Russell and Paul O'dette. As well as renowned artists Pepe Romero, Manuel Barrueco, Fabio Zanon, Roberto Aussell, Paul Galbraith and Igancio Rodes.


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Traditionally appealing and elegant, the Urban Ash Burl collection will be a wonderful addition to your home office. Featuring a lovely urban ash burl finish, the beautiful natural look of this collection will richly enhance any décor. The desk offers plenty of storage space and the matching file cabinet is great for letter and legal files. Functional and stunning, the Urban Ash Burl collection will provide a magnificent look for your home.
Browse other items in the Urban Ash Burl collection from Stuckey Furniture in the Mt. Pleasant and Stuckey, South Carolina area.
Nothing on this page may be copied or reproduced without explicit permission.


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Additional Information
Gem Type
- Diamond
Number Of Stones
- Prongs
Stone Clarity
Stone Color
Center Weight
Stone Shape
- Round
These huggie round earrings are decorated with genuine earth mined diamonds in solid 14-karat white gold. Prong-set round white diamonds cover half of the exterior and half of the interior for a face-on view of every precious stone. A latch back clasp fastens the earrings quickly and easily onto pierced ear lobes. The total diamond weight of this pair is 1 carat.
Also available in yellow gold
Real Diamonds: Natural conflict free white diamonds
14k Gold: Made with Solid 14-karat White Gold.
Fast and Reliable Shipping: We are located in the heart of bustling Los Angeles CA. The earrings come carefully packed and placed into a box, not a baggy or pouch, for your convenience of gifting or storing. The outer packaging will not contain any mention of fine jewelry for discretion and security.
Out of stock
Made in LA
At Kobelli, we manufacture our jewelry in our Los Angeles, CA facility. As a manufacturer and direct importer of diamonds from cutters all over the world, Kobelli proudly offers unbeatably low prices, customization on nearly every piece in our collection, and quick turnaround!
Our diamonds
We are all about sustainability at Kobelli, so we guarantee that our diamonds are conflict-free and are compliant with the United Nations Resolutions. We also offer moissanite and lab grown diamonds, which are both created sustainably in a laboratory.
Our gold
Every item (unless stated otherwise) is made using recycled, eco-friendly gold that will never change in color.
Our purpose
We are committed not only to bringing you the best jewelry, but also the best team to help you make your purchase easy. We want to ensure complete confidence in every purchase.


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Digital Gallery Images
The Gallery includes images of the borough's streets and buildings and portraits of people and communities. The Digital Gallery images are displayed as thumbnails. Full size images can be viewed by clicking on a thumbnail.
How do I obtain a copy of an image?
Photographic copies can be obtained from Tower Hamlets Local Studies and Archives (there is a charge for this service) or a maximum of 5 digital copies can be emailed to you. If you would like to use the images for publication or display please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com
Morris Oxford
Image Number:
Island History Trust Image Collection
Morris Oxford 1929 14-horse power family saloon; features included a running board on each side and on the far side, the spare wheel and two gallon petrol can together with tool box; the dipped headlight was operated by an air plunger on the steering column which put out the offside headlight and turned the near side headlight towards the kerb. In the car: Cecilia McSweeney, of No.31 Thermopylae Gate, Isle of Dogs, who worked as a typist and teleprinter operator for Hollis Bros. Date about 1935.


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To receive an incoming international wire, please follow the steps below:
- Click here
- Choose the country/currency you are receiving funds from
- Complete the relevant information in the online form and submit
- You will be then presented with the payment instructions. Forward these payment instructions to the "Payor" or "Sender".
- Ask the sender to:
- Present these instructions to their bank when sending the payment to you
- Instruct bank to include Payment Notes section on the bank's reference field as specified in the payment instructions.


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Sustainability Intern - Part Time
At Bozzuto, it's all about experience. Whether it's the experience you bring, gain or give, we want your journey to be exceptional. Guided by our core values of creativity, concern, passion and the pursuit of perfection, we've been creating inspiring, engaging and vibrant communities for three decades.
Why do we do it? Because home is where aspirations are pursued and memories unfold. We believe in the power to impact the lives of the people we touch through the delivery of extraordinary experiences.


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ANAHEIM – Two people were injured after a suspected drunken driver crashed his car into a power pole and a responding ambulance struck a live wire, Anaheim police said.
The crash occurred at 12:23 a.m. Tuesday when a black Toyota Corolla struck a wooden utility pole at East La Palma Avenue and Blue Gum Street, police said.
An ambulance struck one of the downed wires and caused a flash, said Anaheim police Sgt. Glenn Gate. Two occupants from the Toyota were taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
The driver who struck the pole was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, Gate said.
City News Service contributed to this report.
Contact the writer: 714-704-3709 or email@example.com


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Hydrocodone acetaminophen is a combination medicine that alleviates moderate to severe pain, notes Mayo Clinic. Acetaminophen may also relieve a fever. Hydrocodone is a narcotic medicine that cannot only reduce pain, but also prevent or treat a cough.
Hydrocodone acetaminophen occurs in many forms, including solution, syrup, elixir, tablet and capsule, according to Mayo Clinic. Different brands of the medicine include Maxidone, Lortab, Lorcet, Hycet and Zydone. A person without a prescription should not use this medicine.
Like other narcotic medicines, the abuse of hydrocodone may result in addiction or death, explains Everyday Health. The medicine is habit-forming and may slow or stop breathing. On the other hand, acetaminophen may not only cause death, but also liver disease, and in rare occasions, it may lead to serious skin conditions. The medicine may impair thinking, vision and reactions. Other side effects of hydrocodone acetaminophen include drowsiness, headache, dry mouth and stomach problems.
The medicine may possibly cause problems to a malnourished or seriously ill person, a nursing baby, because the drug passes into breast milk, advises Everyday Health. A patient should inform her doctor if she has taken monoamine oxidase inhibitors 14 days prior to the treatment day; are pregnant; are allergic to either acetaminophen or hydrocodone; have kidney or liver disease; or are a drug addict. Any other medications being taken must also be revealed and discussed.
To prevent the risk of overdose, a person should consult a health care professional before taking other medicines, particularly pain medications and over-the-counter drugs for cough or cold, as these may also contain some amounts of acetaminophen. Drinking six to eight full glasses of water daily or consuming more fiber while taking acetaminophen and hydrocodone can help prevent constipation.


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Yesterday, I was on Alexa.com looking at their "Hot URLs" according to the Alexa toolbar, when I came across an article titled, "Jobs: Is Working Online At Home The Next Gold Rush?" Of course, this caught my attention with my niche being the work-at-home realm. I immediately clicked on the link and read the article.
The article looked authentic like it came from the Los Angeles Tribune News, which I assumed was a major publication in California. I read the amazing story of Mary Steadman, who recently lost her job as an Account Representative and started working from home with a system called Easy Google Profits. The article explained how she was able to make $5,500.00 a month with a trusted name like Google.
Read the Fine Print
Wanting to know more I clicked on the link to Easy Google Profit where you are brought to a landing page boasting "As seen & trusted on Google, CNBC, USA Today, ABC, CNN, and Yahoo." The page claims that there is a limited supply, so you need to give them your name, phone number, and email address immediately.
A couple of things jumped out at me immediately; one this site had nothing to do with Google. If you take the time to read the small print, it says, "Blazing Keywords is not affiliated with, endorsed by or in any way associated with Google." The second thing that caught my attention was the fact that you could not click on the as seen & trusted on companies. Once again when you read the small print, it says, "The trademarks in this image are owned by their respective owners who do not endorse this product."
Confused why a major publication like the Los Angeles Tribune News would feature such a story, I went back to the original article where I found some tiny print stating, "This publication is an article advertisement for Easy Google Profit." Then for kicks, I searched for the terms "Mary Steadman" and "Easy Google Profit" where numerous negative reports came up.
So is there really a Mary Steadman and does she make $5,500 a month using Easy Google Profit? I doubt it. What I do know is I don't trust companies that purposely try to deceive me.
My advice, if a work-at-home opportunity sounds too good to be true it probably is!
Secondly, please take the time to do your research on the company. By reading the small print, researching the company with the Better Business Bureau, Glassdoor.com, and by performing a Google keyword search you can help to avoid work-at-home scams.
Alternative Names
Update: It appears this same sort of scam is floating around today in 2014, but the individual's name has changed, it's now Mary Stevens, or Melissa Johnson, or Kelly Richards.
Update 2016: There appears to be a new variation of this deceptive opportunity, called Financial Health Reset. With this opportunity, they have a fake Forbes article which leads to a landing page where you enter your name, email address, and phone number. I decided to enter my information to see what it was all about — and it took me to a sales page for a work-at-home opportunity to post links online. But, to get the information you have to pay $97!
FIRST, posting links online is a scam! You can read more about this type of scam on the Fox Business website.
SECOND, you always need to verify your sources. In fact, the real Forbes website put out an article about these fake articles that are being used to promote iffy products.
THIRD, you should never have to pay for a job.
FOURTH, steer clear of ridiculously high pay rates for entry-level work. The skill level should match the pay rate level.
Make sure to check out our article on tips for avoiding work-at-home scams.
Looking for legit work-at-home jobs? Check out the paid membership site, FlexJobs where every job is hand-screened and legitimate, guaranteed!
You'll Also Love These Posts:
Studies have shown if you like this blog post — you will also love the following articles.
- How to Know if That Potential Work From Home Job is a Scam
- Common Work-at-Home Scams You NEED to Stay Away From
- Deceptive Work-at-Home Opportunities Are Being Promoted on Pinterest
This page includes affiliate links. Please be aware we only promote advertising from companies that we feel we can legitimately recommend to our readers. Please see our disclosure policy for further information.


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This is actually so adorbs you guys.
There's a new wedding band trend that's going viral, and it's literally the most thoughtful and sentimental ring EVER.
A Reddit user Im_High_Tech uploaded a photo of his sentimental and very "unique" wedding band that he had especially made with is wife's fingerprint engraved on it.
"Several years ago, I saw some guy made a similar design using wood and I thought it would be great to make my wedding band more unique than the stuff you buy at the store. So I got in contact with a company online that designs custom jewellery, and asked them to make it out of white gold with black plating on the ridges."
The post generated nearly 2,000 comments with other users praising the idea and wanting to get it done themselves.
Other users said they had done similar things when loved ones had passed and had actually got their ashes melted into a ring that they could wear.


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Superman #4 p.03 - Killer Splash!
This gorgeous and classic piece features one of the best handful of Byrne Superman images ever created! Byrne didn't actually do all that many full figured Superman splashes to begin with, and the dynamic pose, tilted perspective to catch the viewer's eye, guest appearance by Superman's pal Jimmy Olsen along with a fully drawn background, make this one of the best ever!
PLEASE NOTE: Adding and item to your Basket helps you easily create a Purchase Request on this web site. You are not asked to enter credit card information when you complete your Purchase Request.


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Visualize Ear Cancer Symptoms Pictures – Youtube inside Ear Skin Cancer Symptoms
Article Related to Ear Skin Cancer Symptoms :
What Are Some Early Signeds Of Skin Cancer? – ear skin cancer symptoms
Skin cancer is actually the most prevalent of all cancers, as more cases of skin cancer have been diagnosed than any other. The consensus belief is that the detection of early signalings of skin cancer will dramatically increase the chances of defeating it, since therapy can be applied faster and more effectively. Because early perception is critical, it is very important to learn what the early signeds of skin cancer are. Therefore, you will know exactly what to look for, you will be able to check your skin sporadically to see if any of these signalings are present.
Should you recall early signals of skin cancer, you will then be able to take action immediately before it gets out of hand.
Five Primary Characteristics
When hearing the early signals of skin cancer, you need to focus primarily on five features. Each one can be easily recollected by appointing the first 5 symbols of the alphabet to each one. The first early clue of skin cancer characteristic that corresponds with the note A is asymmetry, which refers to the malevolent growth being mold irregularly, implying it will appear disproportionate.
The next peculiarity that stands for the word B is frontier, which means that the cancerous expansion will most often not have a distinct border to it because of its irregularity. The symbol C stands for color, which is the next early signal of skin cancer. This is necessary that the cancer rises will have alternating dyes, who are capable of include colors of brown, pitch-black, red-faced, lily-white, and even blue.
The letter D represents the word diameter, which references the cancerous tumor's diameter. If these tumors are normally larger than 1/4 inch, then it should be recognized as one of the early indicates of skin cancer. Elevation is the final characteristic, and refers to the skin face being hoisted or spotty,
Additional Signs
While the importance of knowing these early signalings of skin cancer goes without pronouncing, "thats really not" the only ones you should know about. Sores could be an additional signed, as well as pimples that hemorrhage or have fluids coming out of them. Furthermore, these hickeys and sores is not able to get better and become scabs. At anytime, these can open up and embark draining is again. As you can tell, these mansions are obvious and is certainly has noted that something is wrong.
However , not every early ratify of skin cancer will be so obvious. As a matter of fact, in some cases "there wasnt" symptoms or signs that are visible. Nonetheless, checking the face, ears, neck, form, and the back of your hands is always a good notion to see if there is anything abnormal


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Welcome to my 3rd part of my beauty series about my favorite lipsticks; you can read my past pieces here.
Today, it's all about nudes. This was hard for me to narrow down, for different reasons than my past two posts. What is a nude lipstick? Many of what I consider "nudes", when I swatched them, just looked, well, pink. They looked no different than my favorite pink lipsticks. I started to panic a little bit internally, wondering if this would work... but finally, I narrowed it down to 3 contenders and had to decide if nude was a different designation than pink.
Ultimately, I think it depends on your skin tone! Nude lipsticks tend to fall into the taupe-brown family; they might have some pink, or orange, or red undertones, but primarily, they will wear as brown, beige, or anything in that family and match your skin tone pretty closely. That's what makes them nude!
One of the biggest battles as beauty bloggers that we face is dealing with problematic attitudes towards make up, one of which is the terms "nude" and "flesh tone." These are old ways of describing makeup that we don't really have new terminology for yet; it harkens back to a time when makeup was only marketed to people who are white, so "nude" and "flesh tone" are primarily thought to be pale, beige skin tones. (The recent dust-up about Tarte's Face Tape foundation is proof that even large makeup brands are still struggling with this one-sided approach to makeup and beauty.) So it goes without saying that, when I talk about nude lipsticks in this blog post, I'm basing that on what I would consider a nude for my skin tone. Hopefully, in the future, we'll have better terminology for these shades!
I have a funny story about this lipstick. When I first bought it, I posted a photo on my Instagram stories, wondering if it was too orange-brown for me. I got a DM reply from someone I didn't know, picking apart my coloring and telling me it made me look washed out. Oops. Maybe I didn't want to know!
Despite my early misgivings, this has become one of my favorite nude shades. It's definitely more on the brown side; as you can see from my photo and swatch, it's more of a very pale, milk chocolate (maybe chocolate mousse) color, as opposed to a pinky peach tone. Funny enough, it matches the color of the freckles on my arm almost exactly. It's pretty long wearing and retails for $9.99 (but you can often find sales at drugstores).
2. NYX Cosmetics Soft Matte Lip Cream in Stockholm
If you've been following me on social media, you know this used to be my number 1 lip color. I wore it... constantly. The bottle I took a photo of is actually almost empty; I really struggled to get a swatch! It definitely skews to a more warm, orange-y nude, which is why I like it for summer. I do find that it oxidizes after a few hours of wear, so it becomes a little darker and more suited to my skin tone.
NYX's Soft Matte Lip Creams are pretty divisive; some people love them, so people hate them. They can take a bit to get used to! But I quite enjoy them, even if they aren't as long-lasting as other lips. For a matte, they're very, very comfortable. They retail for $4.95 and are available at most drugstores, as well as Ulta.
3. Tarte Tarteist Lip Paints in Birthday Suit
I received this lip paint in a free birthday gift from Sephora, which explains why it is tiny. However, I love it so much, I'm planning to buy a full-size in the future (once I feel like I've adequately saved enough money). I love how comfortable it is to wear throughout the day, how it doesn't slip and transfer, and that it's a nice, pinky-nude shade that is flattering for lots of skin tones. It retails for $20 and is available from Tarte's website, as well as Sephora and Ulta.
If you're in the market for a great nude lipstick, I love the Beauty Crop's GRLPWR liquid lipsticks; their mini set of all their nude shades is only $24.50; you can buy it here**.
**Note: a double asterisk next to a link denotes an affiliate link, which means I receive a small commission for every sale. Affiliate links help me keep Writing Between Pauses running! For more on my disclosure policy, click here.


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Every year the technology swarm that is the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, bristles with new ideas and technology adulation. Out of the blur of this frenetic hive, both gawkers & hawkers hope to find a solution or perhaps a new customer.
Image from panasonic.com press release
How then to extract an analysis of meaningful offerings and those which are not? In the vein of photographic scrutiny, how to find anything which stands out? Which, if any, products deserve their 15 minutes of technological fame?
Although this general purpose technology venue (CES) is not about photography, for me two announcements stand out in this 2015 CES and leave me wondering; Where is the real photographic innovation actually happening? In no particular order;
One -- Panasonic
Panasonic introduced a new camera to the North American market. No, no, it was a mobile phone. Oh wait, the Lumix CM1 is both.
The CM1 was actually announced at Photokina 2014 for initial release in Germany & France. Apparently, high interest in the device caused Panny to offer it in the UK too. The big announcement is that this unique device will be available in the huge North American market this summer.
Why pick this announcement out from the crowd of new CES offerings, when almost every mobile phone on the planet is also a camera? Is there something so different about this model which warrants this interest?
Above photo from loadthegame
Panasonic has managed to install a full 1-inch sensor into a mobile phone and has done so in a form factor which is just a little bit larger than conventional mobile phones. They describe the sensor as being '7 timers larger than in a standard camera phone', making it the largest or one of the very largest sensors mounted in a mobile phone anywhere.
A few comparative sensor sizes (find more at Wikipedia):
- Apple iPhone 6 - 1/3 inch
- iPhone 5 - 1/3 inch
- Nokia Lumia 1020 - 1/1.5 inch
- Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, Sony Xperia Z1 -1/2.3 inch
The image quality of this device could indeed be stupendous, even more so for a mobile phone. Additionally, Panny has placed what seems to be, some very nice glass in front of this large sensor. This mobile phone carries a 28mm (35 mm equivalent), f2.8, Leica Elmarit lens.
A mechanical shutter and a manual ring to adjust shutter speed, aperture, ISO & focus promise to provide much tighter control over the photographic process than what's possible with conventional mobile phones. Of course it'll also provide Auto & Manual focus, Face detection, Smile detection, Exposure compensation, ISO control, White balance presets, Digital zoom, Geo tagging and the usual gaggle of tweak able settings...
In the photographic community, we've spent the last couple of years hearing loudly & proudly how great 1-inch sensors are, how they make devices with such sensors worth buying vs. those without such sensors, but this was all focused on dedicated cameras.
A few, well-known cameras with 1-inch sensors:
- Sony RX-100 series
- Nikon 1-Series
- Canon's PowerShot G7 X
- Samsung NX Mini
- Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 Superzoom
It was just toward the end of 2012 when a DP Review article quoted Aptina's Sandor Barna, '...these larger [1-inch] sensors could save the compact camera by offering a leap in quality that smartphones can't compete with.' With the easy benefit of hindsight, that comment does seem ironic. Sandor wasn't incorrect, but the market has rapidly evolved so much in the intervening 2+ years.
No sooner have these sensors found their place in the camera market, when someone comes along and redefines what is normal. Now we see this tech trickle down a truly mobile platform where it's a comparatively huge sensor.
Of all the mobile phone or camera manufacturers, Panny may just have the technical and marketing chops to make this work. After all, they bring deep hardware expertise, technology partnerships, and experience in the photographic market.
The Verge describes it as '...it's fast, full of useful camera software, and surprisingly manageable in size given what's inside.'
If this mobile camera combo is successful, we have to think ahead and ask how it might affect the market. Oh, but wait, which one - the high-end compact camera market or the mobile phone market? **This device has the potential to disrupt both the compact camera and mobile phone markets.**
With the large sensor, great glass and the ability to shoot both JPG and RAW, the CM1 will likely put out photos with very high IQ, especially so for the mobile arena. Will mobile users still purchase high-end point-and-shoots such as the RX-100s? And what about lower-end compact systems cameras (CSCs), such as the less expensive end of the m4/3 offerings? The CM1 could eat into that market as well.
Finally, what about the impact of the CM1 on perhaps the best selling / most used camera on the planet - the iPhone in it's various incarnations? As a dedicated and long-time iPhone user, I would consider switching to the CM1 in order to gain easily pocketable high IQ. Currently, that's only achievable with two devices ...and two pockets.
Two -- Dell
By now, this blog has gone on and on so much about the new mobile phone/camera, that you may have forgotten about the second fascinating photographic development coming out of CES.
Dell began selling a new tablet with a unique 3-camera configuration. This tablet was actually introduced last September, but is now available for sale and is part of the Venue 8 7000 series.
What's so innovative about this device is that it may be the first implementation of Intel RealSense technology. This is a photo technology which purports to create a depth map for every image. It does this by combining sensor info from an 8-megapixel rear camera with two more at 720p. I guess the idea is that they each shoot with slightly different focus, providing Lytro-like, focus-after capabilities. Further, the composite nature of the captures, permits different effects to (easily?) be applied to different areas of the photo.
Pic from Dell prelaunch site
Intel RealSense
According to an Intel new release, RealSense 'has the ability to detect finger level movements enabling highly accurate gesture recognition, facial features for understanding movement and emotions. It can understand foregrounds and backgrounds to allow control, enhance interactive augmented reality, simply scan items in three dimensions, and more.'
It seems the photo app has the ability to perform refocusing and filtering on images. Sure, we've seen something similar from Lytro, but we now have such features offered by a huge mainstream hardware vendor. Presumably Dell is but the first out of the gates with this tech embedded in a device.
The real market impact of this technology is likely further out than the impact of the large sensor in a mobile phone. Nonetheless, we have to ask, what could camera manufacturers do with technology like this? What if a camera vendor licensed this tech - could mainstream cameras all become Lytro-like? Will algorithmic defocusing of backgrounds someday supplant glass generated bokeh? If cameras have the ability to refocus after the initial exposure, will that convert us from photographers to snapshot artists?
- - - - -
While camera vendors continue to focus on traditional, evolutionary development of basic sensor tech and lenses to match new sensor formats, perhaps we'll see non camera vendors develop the more revolutionary photographic innovations.
We should really keep our eyes on these other manufacturers and further, on the adoption of their innovative tech by the traditional camera community. This is a fascinating time to be part of the photographic world, where it's no longer just improved optics defining what's new, but digital controls & innovation which might bring revolution to this sometimes staid industry.