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A bedside companion and journal filled with inspiration and wisdom from one of the world's best-loved spiritual writers.
A bedside companion and journal filled with inspiration and wisdom from one of the world's best-loved spiritual writers.
`Alchemy is the projection of our spiritual longings onto the physical world. This diary is intended to accompany you on your path towards making these longings reality...towards trusting in your own decisions and accepting life's challenges.'
* This attractively packaged book acts as a companion and source of daily enlightenment in one, allowing you to journey through life with guidance from one of the most loved and influential authors of our time, Paulo Coelho.
* Beautifully illustrated in colour throughout, each page offers space for you to detail your thoughts, feelings and activities at any chosen time, accompanied by an inspirational selected quotation.
* Includes extracts from Paulo Coelho's bestselling titles, including The Alchemist, The Pilgrimage and Eleven Minutes, as well as insights from interviews and previously unpublished sayings.
`His books have had a life-enhancing impact on millions of people.' THE TIMES
`Coelho's writing is beautifully poetic but his message is what counts...he gives me hope and puts a smile on my face.' DAILY EXPRESS
Paulo Coelho's books have won numerous awards and have been translated into 56 languages, becoming permanent fixtures on bestseller lists around the world. They have become the subject of social and cultural debate, touching the aspirations of millions of readers. Paulo Coelho's titles include The Pilgrimage, The Valkyries, By The River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept., The Fifth Mountain and Veronika Decides to Die. He and his wife Christina live in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.


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With all the pre-eclipse coverage, I somehow initially didn't grasp there'd be much to see here in Albany, NY, quite far from the totality band. But the map in The Economist Saturday showed we'd get about 2/3 of it. So then my wife and I started scrambling for viewing options. By now it was too late to obtain the needed glasses (one risks eye damage looking directly at an eclipse without special protection). And most venues with eclipse activities were already fully booked.
We decided to try our luck at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, across the river in Troy, offering free glasses. The hoo-ha was scheduled to begin at 1:22 PM; we arrived about 40 minutes before, and there was already a huge line snaking around the building. Within a short time it was twice as long. They had 400 pairs of glasses, and we did get one. Our neighbor and acquaintance Heidi Newberg (an RPI astrophysicist) was there, helping to instruct the crowd. (I think the last time our paths crossed was actually in the Beijing subway.)
The weather report called for cloudless skies, and it started that way, so we got some good looks. My wife had also made a pinhole camera for viewing, which worked pretty well; she had decorated it with relevant poems. Unfortunately, it clouded over during the time of maximum eclipse, so we had only glimpses of that. Of course, we didn't get real darkness, but during the maximum it did seem eerily dimmer than it should have been on a cloudy afternoon. The whole experience was pretty cool.
We get solar eclipses like this only due to a freakish confluence of facts: the moon is vastly smaller than the Sun, but it's far closer to Earth, so when the two line up, it just happens that their profiles exactly match, producing the dramatic effect.
Well. The next solar eclipse will occur in April, 2024, and with that one, we'll get the Full Monty quite near us. I'm already praying for clear skies 😉

subset: commoncrawl


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Everyone remembers where they were on 9/11, when they heard the news 17 years ago. For older generations, it's an ingrained memory like when Martin Luther King Jr. or JFK was shot.
Today was the first time this anniversary has made me cry. Today was the first time I actually let myself remember it all, when I watched this video
On September 11, 2001, I was in my sophomore year at NYU. I had spent the night at my friends' dorm in SoHo, so we could wake up early to study before a test. From her kitchen table, we had a perfect view of the Twin Towers.
We saw the first plane flying towards the towers. At first, it wasn't clear whether it was a little plane or a big plane. It looked like it must have been an optical illusion and was flying high enough to clear the buildings certainly. But no, it became clear that it was both a big plane and going to fly right into the tower.
We thought, it must have been a terrible mistake and the gravity of it 100% did not register. We grabbed our bags and headed out the door to get to class. By the time we got outside, the second tower had been hit. Emergency vehicles were heading downtown in droves. We didn't think the school tram would be able to make it down to us, so we walked up to school.
We weren't the only ones floating through the insane chaos like everything was normal. We still had our test. The whole class period, we heard non stop sirens. When class was over, we ran out the Washington Square, where we could see the towers, but we couldn't see them anymore. They fell while we took a freaking sociology test.
We didn't go back to our next class and heard later, they were cancelled. We started walking south and met people covered in building dust walking towards us, like zombies, dazed by the horrors of what they just saw. People were trampled. People jumped out of windows because that seemed like a better idea than going down in the burning building. People who were at work, at jobs they had worked their whole lives to get, taking stupid tests like I just had, and they died.
Our cell phones didn't work. Every single person was trying to use their phones and every single person who had loved ones in Manhattan was trying to call them. We went to an Internet Cafe (side note, remember when they were called that and it wasn't assumed there would be wifi?) and emailed our families, who were no doubt terrified. I remember being irate at the cafe for charging people to use their computers in an emergency.
I couldn't go to my dorm at the Seaport because south of Canal Street was evacuated and closed to the public. I stayed with friends the first night in their dorm on University Place. I don't remember exactly where traffic was closed, but there weren't any cars allowed on the roads where we were.
Then tanks rolled down the streets. It should have felt comforting, when the National Guard came, but it didn't. By this point, we were glued to the TV and found out about the Pentagon attack. The additional attacks made it way scarier because this was no accident; America was attacked.
I don't like talking about it. I don't like feeling the feelings from this day. I am not special in any way and I know many other people saw the planes crash into the towers. I know there were millions of other people in Manhattan that day. That day, 17 years ago, made me want to leave that city. Every time I saw a plane, I watched to see where it was going to crash. Every time a building swayed, I irrationally freaked out. I didn't realize right away, and did a superb job of numbing my feelings, but I couldn't live there anymore. I didn't even finish my sophomore year. I dropped out of NYU because I couldn't hang.
2,996 people died and over 6,000 people were injured. All of those people had family and friends who had to mourn such a horribly tragic loss. Our country changed that day. The word terrorism became a domestic issue, not just something happening to people in other countries. We celebrate the heroes from those days: first responders, firefighters, law enforcement, and everyone who helped another human live. Also, those brave passengers on the third plane who crashed the plane into a field.
In the days and weeks that followed, "MISSING" signs went up everywhere. People who hadn't heard from loved ones put up fliers with pictures and contact info. As the days went on, more and more bodies were recovered and identified. After weeks had passed, the signs just served as the saddest reminder of how many people were gone forever, and their families wouldn't even have a reason for a casket.
I normally try to not think about 9/11/01. I don't watch the news. I don't listen to the radio. For years, my mom would ask how I felt, and for years I would change the subject until she stopped asking. I would roll my eyes (hopefully just on the inside) when I got stuck talking to someone about how traumatic it was for them to watch it on the news.
The tragedy is America's. Every single person who was alive and old enough to remember was impacted that day. I cried for the first time, 17 years later.


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Show products of the category: Digital signage
Today, digital advertising with modern state-of-the-art technologies is becoming increasingly important. Attract attention with our digital signage solutions with interactive touchscreen monitors. Electric posters, in-store marketing at the point of sale or videowalls for indoor and outdoor use - we are your partner!


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SUSTAINATOPIA-STI**STI= Sustainability, Technology and Impact
December 9th – 11th, Silicon Valley
About Us
Founded in 2009, SUSTAINATOPIA remains one of the leading events in the world for social, financial and environmental sustainability & impact. Attendees have participated from more than 60 countries.
SUSTAINATOPIA- STI* brings together the global ecosystem of social, financial and environmental sustainability & social impact like no other singular event.
SUSTAINATOPIA- STI* will take at Plug n' Play Tech Conference Center, a leading Silicon Valley VC firm.
Tracks & Power Circle Groups
The Ecosystem of Impact, SRI & ESG Investing
Leading Impact + SRI Investors, Funds, Social Entrepreneurs, Foundations, Non Profits, B Corporations, State/Local/Federal Government Agencies.
Sustainable Strategies & Innovation (Fortune 500s)
Focus on Fortune 500 companies: Leading Executives For Latest Trends in Strategic Branding & Sustainable Innovations. More than 100 Speakers. Including Public- Private Partnerships.
Paris in 2020 (Smarter Cities, Resilience & Transport)
Paris in 2020 includes special workshops + sessions for Paris Under2 Coalition members + other sustainability professionals. Both tech and non-tech solutions featured as well as underserved & collaborative solutions.
Energy, Water & Clean Tech Revolution
Clean Tech & Energy includes leading investors, companies in renewable energy, recycling, info tech, green transport, green chemistry, buildings. Water Investment is a continuation of our previously successful California program.
Developing Blockchain for GOOD
Working groups and deep dive sessions focused on Blockchain's new technological approach which fosters distributed power + the potential for new and fair exchange value, authentication, fairer share distribution, financial inclusion, justice, new infrastructure for identity, and the reinvention of citizenship.
Focus on Consciousness, Mindfulness & Holistic Living
Explore your passions about mindfulness, meaning, and holistic living. Connect with the economic leaders and businesses driving this massive movement across the globe. Experience what's next and expand your horizons.
Impacting the World for GOOD-
10+ Years and Counting
With more than 3,000 speakers since inception, and with record attendance expected, the 2019 event will mark our 4th annual conference in Northern California.
Join us!
Join Hundreds Of Experts For This Special Summit
Plug n Play Tech Conference Center
440 N Wolfe Road. Sunnyvale, California 94085


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There's a fine line between cautious and over-protective
Now that Alexis is mobile and active and daring, I find myself constantly second-guessing my actions. She has had numerous bumps and falls and accidents already. I know this is just the beginning!! As a mom, I have a natural instinct to want to protect my child from getting hurt. When I see her standing and about to fall, I want to steady her and grab her. But I also know that it's good for her to fall, it'll teach her her limitations and she will learn how to fall. She needs to try things on her own in order to grow and develop. It's so tough for me to know when to step in and when not to. A perfect example, last night she was crawling in her room and tried to stand up on a step stool that is just her size. It's not extremely sturdy and I knew that it could tip over if she didn't put her weight in the middle. But it's only about a foot off the ground so I also knew that she wouldn't fall far if she did and the room is carpeted. So I let her do it and she fell, of course she bumped her lip and it started bleeding a little. I felt terrible!!!!! I shouldn't have let her do it. But the tears and the bleeding soon stopped and she was no worse for the wear, so I guess it was ok.
That brings me to my dilemma, when is it cautious and when is it over-protective. It is with held breath that I watch her let go and stand on her own and even when she wobbles and I want to step in and grab her, I hold back and usually I learn that she can re-gain her balance. Not always though and sometimes she falls, most of the time on her butt, occasionally not and she will get scared/hurt, but nothing serious. I can see into the future and having the same issue with allowing her to go out with friends somewhere without me. I guess the worrying never stops. My job as a parent from now on is to teach her good judgment and to instill in her the belief that mommy will always be there when she stumbles (literally or figuratively) and sit back and hope that she can take on all of life's challenges with me behind her ready to catch her if she falls.


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Art Population Stream
Tomorrow, September 28, from 1 to 3pm we will be streaming art population for our second level! We'll be live on twitch here: https://www.twitch.tv/faffinabout
If you wanna see an inside scoop into how we make From Light you should stop by. You can ask us anything, happy to answer :)
See you then!
Get From Light
Leave a comment
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You can now play A Girl Adrift for PC on a desktop/laptop running Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and MacOS/OS X. This can easily be done with the help of BlueStacks or Andy OS Android emulator.
◆ Open World Growing Tap game: Drifting Girl!
◆ A fun tap-RPG-fishing game!
◆ The adventures of a Drifting Girl in the world that has been submerged in water!
◆ Cures insomnia in the beautiful sound of the sea
Home page
Tweets by daerisoft
■■■■■ Game Introduction ■■■■■
The survival of a girl who drifts around in a world that was submerged in water!
A new open world game by DAERISOFT, a popular Google Play game developer!
Let's fish and explore in the world you have never seen before!
■■■■■ Game Features ■■■■■
■ First release of a college students' development team, Team Tapas!
Please expect more contents to be updated!
■ Communication game where we communicate with users to make a fun game together!
– It's true! – I could not believe it at first either!
■ A new game that drifts you into tomorrow!
– It's true! – I started playing without thinking…-
■ A healing game that heals your mind with beautiful sound effects!
– Again, true! – It cured my 30 years of insomnia.-
■ A beautiful game where you can learn about amazing fish around the world!
– True, again! – I've never seen fish like these before. LOL.
Fishing? RPG? A fun-filled tap-RPG-fishing game!
Infinite collection!
Heal your heart with soft colors, graphics and sounds!
Every review you leave encourages us to make a better game. Thank you!
How to download and run A Girl Adrift on your PC and Mac
A Girl Adrift For PC can be easily installed and used on a desktop computer or laptop running Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and a Macbook, iMac running Mac OS X. This will be done using an Android emulator. To install A Girl Adrift For PC, we will use BlueStacks app player. The method listed below is set to help you get A Girl Adrift For PC. Go ahead and get it done now.
More Details
Download Links For A Girl Adrift:
Download: Bluestacks Android Emulator
Download: A Girl Adrift (Play Store)
More From Us: Girly m Pictures 2017 For PC / Windows 7/8/10 / Mac – Free Download
Step to Step Guide / A Girl Adrift For PC:
- As you have Downloaded and Installed Bluestacks Emulator, from Links which are provided above.
- Now, After the installation, configure it and add your Google account.
- Once everything is done, just open the Market in Play Store and Search for the 'A Girl Adrift'.
- Tap the first result and tap install.
- Once the installation is over, Tap the App icon in Menu to start playing.
- That's all Enjoy!
Also Read: Vegas World Casino: Free Slots, Best Slot Machines For PC / Windows 7/8/10 / Mac – Free Download
That would be all from our side. In case you have got any queries or you have any issue following the guide, do let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments section below.


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Over the last decade, pawn shops have increased – now, you can find a pawn shop in almost every town. With an increase in the pawn shops, this means that pawn shop owners are forced to be a bit more on the creative side with their businesses.
Most pawn shops purchase products out right for a fraction of its value, then they turn around and resell it for profit. If an item is used, in fairly good condition, and still of present value, a quarter of its value is a common and reasonable offer, which still allows you to sell it at half of its original retail price and still double your profits.
Some Pawn Shops Sell Online and are Willing to Trade Up
With Ebay, Amazon, and Craigslist, a majority of sales completed by a pawn shop are more likely to be sold on these sites as opposed to through their own doors. Some pawn shops also accept trades as well. This is probably not a common practice for most, but for some of the smaller mom and pop shops, if the trade is a "trade up" and the business owner can turn an even higher profit on the item, than a trade may be agreeable as well.
Also if a pawn shop has an item sitting on a shelf for a long period of time collecting dust and they are offered a trade towards it for an item they know they can resell much faster, many times, they would accept the trade.
Other Services
Along with these obvious extra transactions common in a pawnshop, like Majorpawn.com, others have also taken on watch and watch battery repair, cellular phone sales, repairs, and payments, along with utility bill payments as well. Most common for pawn shops is to add a section for a retail jewelry store. This is so popular with pawn shops because when they are buying jewelry from customers, they are most often paying scrap metal prices regardless if the jewelry is broken or not. We have noticed that jewelry is marked up around the way of 500%-1000% in retail jewelry stores.
What pawn shops are paying on scrap metal prices, there is still a huge profit margin for them to resell this jewelry at decent retail prices, but still blow away their retail jewelry store competition. It is also a common add on because pawn shops used to be set up in the rear of jewelry stores. This was set up so those on the outside would only see you heading for a jewelry store and not an "embarrassing" pawn shop.
Although all of these practices are what keeps pawn shops running, the act of charging interest on loans is mainly their bread and butter. With that being said, the objective of a pawn shop is to have as much money as possible loaned out on the street collecting interest. Therefore, pawn shops are very likely to renew contracts and offer more time to pay back loans. In the end, we encourage you to take a look at MajorPawn.com.


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MSI Plumbing Inc.MSI Plumbing Inc. Contact: Anne Thornton
1109 B Route 31 South Lebanon NJ 08833
If you are interested in becoming an Affiliate of CORE please download the Affiliate Membership application and return it to CORE for processing.
If you have any questions please call us at (908) 725-3117 for CORE North and (609) 392-3666 for CORE South.
Benefits of Membership
Your contact information and logo prominently displayed along with links to your website and contact information.
Website used by over 4200 REALTORS.
Discounts on:
– Sponsorship Opportunities at Association Events
– Realtor Membership Roster (one free roster per year)
– Realtor Office Membership Roster
– 50% off on room rental, seminars and non-Realtor meetings
Opportunity to:
– be recognized as Affiliate of the Year
– Affiliate Member Representation on Board of Directors (voice representing Affiliate Members)
– Serve on Member Committees
If you would like to join immediately, fill out the form here!
For any additional information or questions regarding membership, please contact at (908) 725-3117 for CORE North and (609) 392-3666 for CORE South.
– Staff


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Banner FAQ's
How do I get access to Banner?
Please read the instructions provided on each of the forms, which are located in the Forms Library. Further instructions on how to complete the appropriate forms and how to route them for approval are on the respective forms.
Is Banner available from home or off-campus?
No. Banner is only available from within the network. You may access Banner from off network through a VPN connection. VPN access is requested through the Information Security Office.
Is the Office of Information Resource Management responsible for approving Banner access?
No. We are just the custodian of the process. Banner access is requested through the appropriate class/information owners. Requesting supervisors should determine what level of access their employees need and then forward the request to the identified information owner for approval. Once all approvals have been required, the request should then be forwarded to the Office of Information Resource Management for processing.
May I attend training without an account?
No. Training is hands on and will require you to login. Individuals should have an existing account or new users should have a completed request submitted to the Office of Information Resource Management for processing at least 2 days prior to attending a training class.
I am a new Banner user, do I have to attend Banner training?
Yes. Due to the sensitive data housed in the Banner system, all new users must receive Banner training. The Office of Information Resource Management offers monthly trainings for new and existing users. In some instances, departments may request to train their own employees in lieu of the standard navigation training. In this case, departments should complete the Training Acknowledgement form that is available in the Forms Library.
How long do I get to keep my Banner account for?
An account will only exist as long as the user requires the access to perform their job duties. Accounts are terminated when users leave the university or transfer between departments. In the case of transfers, the new supervisor must determine if the employee requires Banner access and should submit a new request for an account. Accounts may also be deleted due to prolonged inactivity in excess of 150 consecutive days.
How do I get my password reset?
Your username and password are the same as your PVAMU network account. You can reset the account by going to https://mypassword.pvamu.edu/.
If you continue to have issues, please visit Information Technology Services in S R Collins room 126 with picture ID.
What are Banner classes?
Classes are a grouping of Banner pages that have been created by information owners. Classes are generally grouped based on job role or function and are assigned to users.
What are Banner pages?
These are pages within Banner that allows you to enter and look up information on individuals.
How do I get to see the names of these pages?
When you login to Banner, type in GUAUPRF (General User Preferences Maintenance) in the search field. You will then see the option to "Display Form Name" on the title bar as well as the menu. Check both boxes. Close that window and log out of the system. When you next login, you will then be able to see the names of the forms.
I see different abbreviations that are entered into the field areas but I don't know what they mean. How can I find out?
Look at the field that you see the abbreviation in and if you see an elipses (…), you can click on it and a window will pop-up and it will give a description of the abbreviations that are valid for that field.
What is a PIDM?
PIDM stands for Personal Identification Master. It is an internal identification number that Banner assigns to entities such as a person. This PIDM is unique to each person.


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ATLANTA � Adam Wainwright overcame five walks and drove in a run during a four-run fifth inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the weak-hitting Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Wednesday night.
ATLANTA � Adam Wainwright overcame five walks and drove in a run during a four-run fifth inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the weak-hitting Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Wednesday night.
The Cardinals won two of three in the series against the Braves, who have scored three runs or fewer in 11 of 15 games after scoring at least four runs in each of their first six games.
Wainwright (3-0), the Brunswick, Ga., native who began his career with the Braves, allowed seven hits and three runs � two earned � with five walks and two strikeouts in six innings. He gave up three runs in the first three innings, but the Braves couldn�t hold a 3-1 lead.
The Cardinals are off to their best start since 2006, when they also were 15-7.
St. Louis, which blew a 1-0 lead in the eighth inning in Tuesday night�s 2-1 loss to the Braves, protected the late lead in the final game of the series. With two outs and runners on first and second in the eighth, second baseman Skip Schumaker jumped to catch a soft liner by Omar Infante off closer Ryan Franklin.
Franklin recorded three outs for his seventh save. Javier Vazquez (2-2) gave up nine hits and five runs with one walk in eight innings. He struck out eight � his fourth straight start with at least eight strikeouts.
Atlanta led 3-1 before the Cardinals scored four runs in the fifth on six singles, including five up the middle. Wainwright, Albert Pujols, Chris Duncan and Rick Ankiel had RBI singles, the last three with two outs.
Infante had three hits, including a run-scoring single in the second. The Cardinals tied the game at 1-all on Schumaker�s RBI single in the third. St. Louis, who began the day tied with Washington for the major league lead with 20 errors, had another bobble which helped the Braves take the lead in the third.
Casey Kotchman doubled to left and initially stopped at third on Jeff Francoeur�s single to right. Cardinals right fielder Colby Rasmus couldn�t cleanly field the hit, and Kotchman scored on the error for a 2-1 lead as Francoeur advanced to second.


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Angie Judge, CEO, Dexibit
Keith Laba, Chief Information & Analytics Officer, Arizona Science Center
Interested in joining the Data and Insights SIG?
Fill out Google form here, someone will be in touch shortly.
Mission Statement
The Data and Insights Interest Group (DI SIG) enables MCN members to exchange research (results and methodology) and share questions regarding all manner of quantitative and qualitative evaluation of online museum content. Areas of particular interest are user feedback analysis, server log analysis, and user consultation and participation. The DI SIG endeavors to develop best practices and further the knowledge and expertise of participants as a result of pooling our experience.
The group communicates via the MCN-L listserv with "[DI SIG:]" in the subject line.
We use the #musedata hashtag.


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Get Task & Purpose in your inbox
AAV Fire Injures 15 Marines In Camp Pendleton Training Exercise
A morning exercise for a 1st Marine Division Amphibious Assault Vehicle crew turned frightening Tuesday morning when their craft burst into flames, sending them scrambling to escape it, Business Insider reported Sep. 13.
Fifteen Marines, all of Charlie Co., 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, were treated for burns, and three were taken to local hospitals for smoke inhalation, according to Business Insider.
The AAV crew had been participating in a combat readiness evaluation around 9:30 local time when the fire broke out, a Marine Corps spokesman told Military.com.
The cause of the blaze was not yet known, though similar incidents are not unheard of. In 2013, a corporal was killed and four of his crewmates were hurt in an AAV fire caused by igniting ordnance; that incident led the Marine Corps to discontinue use of the AAV's Mark 154 mine-clearance launching system.
An updated version of the launcher with additional safeguards was rolled out by the service last month.
FBI: Shooting at Naval Air Station Pensacola was 'an act of terrorism'
The FBI is treating the recent shooting at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, as a terrorist attack, several media outlets reported on Sunday.
"We work with the presumption that this was an act of terrorism," USA Today quoted FBI Agent Rachel Rojas as saying at a news conference.
Trump says Kim Jong Un risks losing 'everything' after North Korea claims major test
WASHINGTON/SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un risks losing "everything" if he resumes hostility and his country must denuclearize, after the North said it had carried out a "successful test of great significance."
"Kim Jong Un is too smart and has far too much to lose, everything actually, if he acts in a hostile way. He signed a strong Denuclearization Agreement with me in Singapore," Trump said on Twitter, referring to his first summit with Kim in Singapore in 2018.
"He does not want to void his special relationship with the President of the United States or interfere with the U.S. Presidential Election in November," he said.
Navy identifies three slain sailors who 'showed exceptional heroism' during the Pensacola shooting
The three sailors whose lives were cut short by a gunman at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, on Friday "showed exceptional heroism and bravery in the face of evil," said base commander Navy Capt. Tim Kinsella.
Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson, Airman Mohammed Sameh Haitham, and Airman Apprentice Cameron Scott Walters were killed in the shooting, the Navy has announced.
The Pentagon's troop deployment denials means nothing when the White House screams 'fake news' all the time
The Pentagon has a credibility problem that is the result of the White House's scorched earth policy against any criticism. As a result, all statements from senior leaders are suspect.
We're beyond the point of defense officials being unable to say for certain whether a dog is a good boy or girl. Now we're at the point where the Pentagon has spent three days trying to knock down a Wall Street Journal story about possible deployments to the Middle East, and they've failed to persuade either the press or Congress.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that the United States was considering deploying up to 14,000 troops to the Middle East to thwart any potential Iranian attacks. The story made clear that President Trump could ultimately decide to send a smaller number of service members, but defense officials have become fixated on the number 14,000 as if it were the only option on the table.
Marine commandant says senior leaders have not explained to troops the risks of using TikTok
This article originally appeared on Business Insider.
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. – Gen. David Berger, the US Marine Corps commandant, suggested the concerns surrounding a service members' use of questionable Chinese-owned apps like TikTok should be directed against the military's leadership, rather than the individual troops.
Speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California, on Saturday morning, Berger said the younger generation of troops had a "clearer view" of the technology "than most people give them credit for."
"That said, I'd give us a 'C-minus' or a 'D' in educating the force on the threat of even technology," Berger said. "Because they view it as two pieces of gear, 'I don't see what the big deal is.'"


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For sheer bureaucratic folly, it would be hard to top the suspension last year of a devoted occupational therapist in the public school system who showed children in wheelchairs how to get places.
The therapist, Debra Fisher, created an art therapy program for disabled children. She helped one family move from a homeless shelter to an apartment that was wheelchair accessible, arranged swimming lessons for a boy who couldn't walk, and gave workshops for other educators on assisting children who have special needs. One of her prize students at the Manhattan School for Children on the Upper West Side, a boy born with cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair to travel, gave a talk at Tumblr about a blog that Ms. Fisher encouraged him to write. Now he has written a book that will be published by HarperCollins.
Ms. Fisher was hard-driving — she contacted me at least a dozen times about finding an apartment for the homeless family — and accomplished, as is apparent from a 2014 TedX lecture.
But last year, Ms. Fisher was suspended for 30 days without pay, charged with "theft of services" and conflict of interest.
What did the "theft" involve?
Supposedly sending fund-raising emails on school time to help the boy raise money for his book.
And the conflict of interest?
Ms. Fisher had a weekend job at the Children's Museum of the Arts, guiding its staff members on how children with limited use of their arms or legs could take part in museum art projects. As it happened, some families from her school were also involved with the museum, and an investigator with a disciplinary arm of New York City's Department of Education concluded that they must have put in the fix for Ms. Fisher to be hired there.
The investigator's report was jammed with mistakes, omitted context — for instance, you would never have known from the report that the school principal had directly approved the fund-raising and other worthy activities of Ms. Fisher — and twisted statements made by people at the museum to create an illusion of conflict in entirely innocent circumstances. In fact, parents had nothing to do with Ms. Fisher's hiring there. Still, a report that was untrue in every significant detail led to her suspension.
On Monday, the city's Department of Investigation said those findings were factually wrong and the result of unprofessional work, and recommended wholesale changes to the branch of the Education Department that allowed such shoddy work to be issued. The new report noted that the person who conducted the investigation had no meaningful supervision, and had even recommended that Ms. Fisher be fired. Most egregious, the student writing the book said the investigator pressed him not to be protective of Ms. Fisher and told him not to speak with his father about the interview.
"The findings of an investigation which recommends the termination of someone's employment should be subjected to an oversight and review process that includes more than checking for grammar and punctuation," said the new report, which was written by Regina A. Loughran, who works in the office of Richard J. Condon, a special commissioner with authority over the Education Department.
Yet the suspension of Ms. Fisher was not simply the work of one obsessive Javert, or one broken arm of the bureaucracy. "I took the mandate of Chancellor Carmen Fariña to heart — to put the needs of the children first," Ms. Fisher said on Monday. "Somewhere along the way, I was sure that people's better angels would prevail. But no one said this person is trying her best, and has no infractions."
From the principal on the front line, to Chancellor Fariña, to the United Federation of Teachers, every person in authority who had a chance to stop a reckless process either rubber-stamped false charges, or waved them on without vigorous objection.
What does the Education Department make of this new narrative?
It is overhauling the division and procedures that produced the flawed charges against Ms. Fisher, according to Devora Kaye, the department's spokeswoman.
What of Ms. Fisher, who was summarily ordered out of her school for 30 days — without a word of explanation to the students she worked with — and lost her pay and health insurance for that period?
"The suspension of Debra Fisher is under review," Ms. Kaye said.
As well it should be.
"This was a thoroughly botched investigation by a thoroughly dysfunctional system that resulted in a miscarriage of justice," said Joel Kurtzberg, a former teacher who is now a partner in the law firm Cahill Gordon & Reindel. He represented Ms. Fisher in a court case to overturn the suspension. "We're hoping the city will react appropriately."


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Council Bluffs named 'River City of the Year'
Iowa Rivers Revival, a group that advocates for rivers, has named Council Bluffs, Iowa, the "River City of the Year" to recognize the city's efforts to renew its connections to the Missouri River.
At a reception Friday morning, the group presented the award to Mayor Matt Walsh, Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Mark Eckman and Parks and Recreation and Public Property Director Larry Foster.
"Council Bluffs and its partners have made enormous progress in a very intentional mission -- making the riverfront the center of life and a great place for people to live, work and play," said Roz Lehman, director of Iowa Rivers Revival.
Iowa Rivers Revival highlighted several key river-related projects in and near Council Bluffs:
- Tom Hanafan River's Edge Park
- The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge and recreational trails
- The Playland Park Master Plan
"Council Bluffs is very quick to say its success is a result of local and regional collaboration, including strong cooperation with its neighbors in Omaha," said Lehman. "IRR continues to see the common thread of collaboration as a key to success in thriving river communities."


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Guess This Sitcom Star's Age!
- by Yael Blechman
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Tons of sitcoms have come and gone since the advent of television. They never fail to make us laugh and brighten our days. We always manage to love the relatable characters and find their traits in ourselves. From Black-ish to Full House to How I Met Your Mother to Friends, each sitcom is unique and teaches our emotions in a irrevocable way.
We identify with so much of our favorite sitcoms, finding a little bit of ourselves in the characters and their often exaggerated yet oddly relatable habits and situations. Monica Geller's apartment holds a special place in our hearts; Barney's catchphrases ring in our ears; Phil Dunphy's magic tricks leave us wondering how they were done. But what about the actors? Do we know John Stamos' nickname or Zooey Deschanel's mother's name? Probably not. This quiz will challenge our knowledge of the real life people who are paid to play the characters whom we feel we do know inside and out. But just because they play some of our favorite people doesn't mean we actually know anything about them.
Some of them play characters who are younger than them and some play older ones. Can you guess how old these stars are?
Sarah Hyland
Sarah Hyland plays the beloved Haley Dunphy from Modern Family. Not the brightest girl, she lives in her parents' basement and uses social media to make a living. The oldest daughter of Phil and Claire, she's portrayed as vain, ditzy, and slow. Her popularity in high school got to her head and she ignored her studies. Her love for drinking influenced her greatly as a teen and young adult, but she began to work on herself to become a better person after dating Andy.
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston has made many movies in her recent years, but she is known best for her timeless role in Friends as Rachel Green. Rachel grew up in a household that had money. She planned to get married to a man named Barry who was an orthodontist, but left him at the altar. After she fled, she found Monica and they reconnected as friends. She got herself a real job and made her own money for the first time in her life, helping her to evolve past the vapid daddy's girl she'd been growing up.
John Stamos
John Stamos is known for his role in Full House as Jesse Katsopolis, the good-looking uncle to the Tanner kids. A bit of a layabout, he was the only one in the family not to have a high school diploma but went to night school, graduating as valedictorian. He started the show as a troublesome boy without responsibility, but changed his ways after meeting Rebecca and having two beautiful sons with her. He was always portrayed as a great uncle and father.
Yara Shahidi
A young activist, Yara Shahidi gained fame from her role as Zoey Johnson from Black-ish. She plays the perfect young adult since she is incredibly smart, has many friends, and a loving family. She feels a great sense of entitlement and privilege, focusing on material objects and social media fame. She doesn't wear her emotions on her sleeve, and instead pokes fun at her family rather than caring openly for them. Her relationship with her father has been great, and they act both as friends and as father and daughter.
Sofia Vergara
Known for her Colombian accent and fun personality, Sofia Vergara plays Modern Family character Gloria. Gloria was first judged by her husband, Jay's, family due to their age gap and physical differences. They worried that Gloria was nothing but a gold digger who married Jay for his money. After time time and adjustment, Gloria and her son, Manny, are slowly accepted into the family and become Dunphys. She is a superstitious woman who is known for her loud voice and expressive personality.
Neil Patrick Harris
Neil Patrick Harris is best known for playing Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother. Barney was a player, there's no getting around that. By using The Playbook, a book he wrote himself, he used moves to pick up and sleep with as many women as he could. He tried to settle down a few times, but only changed his ways when he married Robin. The two ended up divorcing, but he welcomed another special lady into his life shortly after: a daughter.
Ariel Winter
Modern Family has a character named Alex Dunphy who is played by Ariel Winter. The young actress plays the role of a girl who studies too much and does not have much of a social life. She makes fun of her siblings whose intelligence levels are far lower than her own and works hard in school to get good grades. Since she is aware of her superior intelligence, she speaks to others condescendingly. She even helps her mother and father parent herself and her siblings when they fall short.
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld played a character based on himself in his show, Seinfeld. The sitcom followed the activities of Seinfeld and his friends and all of the arguments and craziness that went on. A lot of the comedy was derived from Seinfeld acting as the voice of reason amidst a group of irrational friends. He speaks sarcastically and gets his audience laughing by using dry humour. He had many relationships throughout the show, but they all ended quickly. He was also obsessed with cleanliness and order.
Matthew Perry
Chandler Bing from Friends was portrayed by Matthew Perry as a sarcastic, emotionally stunted, loving, and joking friend. He started off as someone who could never maintain a long-term relationship due to his emotional instability and fear of commitment. By the end of the series, however, Chandler had married Monica and together they adopted twins. While his personality evolved from immature to stable, he never relinquished his amazing sense of humour. Matthew Perry created a character that we fell in love with.
Aubrey Plaza
Aubrey Plaza is an actress with a chronic sarcastic tone and deadpan delivery. She played April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation, a young woman who seemed as if she had no hope. Her mentor, Leslie Knope, worked hard to soften April up and prepare her for a future. April eventually gets married and has a son, even moving up in the ranks and becoming passionate about her career. The series ends showing the birth of her first child on Halloween and her pregnancy with a second child.
Jim Parsons
The Big Bang Theory is a show about four scientists and the girl across the hall. Slowly, the characters evolve and more girls enter the equation, but science is never out of the picture. Jim Parsons plays Sheldon Cooper, the smartest scientist of the bunch and he doesn't let anyone forget it. His aversion to touch combined with his need for constant order and the following of rules adds up to create an eccentric character that is completely unforgettable to his audience.
Ty Burrell
Ty Burrell plays the slightly slow, adorable, and funny Phil Dunphy from Modern Family. Phil amuses his audience with his love for magic, crazy antics, and relationship with his wife. His love for his children is immense, as he always manages to be there for them even when it means letting go. From watching his kids go off to college to role playing with his wife, we have smiled and laughed and even felt emotional when watching Ty Burrell's lovable Phil Dunphy.
Jessica Walter
Jessica Walter is known for many roles, including Malory Archer on the animated sitcom called Archer. Flashbacks in the show reveal that she was not a very loving mother to her son while he grew up, leading him to be the flawed man that he portrays. She is shown to enjoy drinking quite often, including during the day, and that she does not focus on the ethics behind her actions and spy organization. She's also fostered quite a reputation among many powerful men.
Chris Pratt
Chris Pratt has starred in many movies recently, including Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World. He is also known for his role in Parks and Recreation as Andy Dwyer, the sweet and naive man that married April Ludgate. He was not the brightest character who often had us laughing by saying silly things or getting himself into unnecessary predicaments. He tried to make a living by playing in a band, but also worked for Leslie and took a class at college, courtesy of Ron Swanson.
Nolan Gould
A genius, Nolan Gould is a member of Mensa and nothing like his character on Modern Family. Luke Dunphy is missing a couple IQ points, completely contrary to Nolan in real life. Avid Modern Family fans have watched Luke grow up from a slow, confused, bumbling kid into a young man who is still not the brightest, but at least managed to get into one college. He is the youngest of Phil and Claire's three children, and arguably the one with the greatest likelihood of living in his parents' basement long-term.
Matt LeBlanc
Matt LeBlanc is best known for his character, Joey Tribbiani, from Friends. Joey was simply slower than the rest of his friends, as it often took him a few moments later to grasp something than the rest. With his role on Days Of Our Lives as Doctor Drake Ramoray, Joey had us laughing until our stomachs hurt. Even though he was not very smart, we were able to relate to his sweet personality, love for pizza and sandwiches, and loyal character.
Rainn Wilson
You might remember Rainn Wilson as that funny guy from The Office. Yes, that's where he's from, when he played Dwight Shrute. Dwight was the assistant TO the Regional Manager who sold paper and was looked upon as a nerd. There were a myriad of television shows that he enjoyed, including Lost and The Amazing Race, but he loved Battlestar Galactica most of all. Dwight had training and experience in many fields, such as surveillance, knowledge, and seduction. He had us laughing with every line as we watched his office antics.
Seth MacFarlane
Seth MacFarlane is known for pushing boundaries a little farther than is socially acceptable. Many of his shows displays this magnificently. Most notable is Family Guy which has been cancelled but brought back mroe than once. In it, MacFarlane voices a few characters: Peter Griffin, the large and terrible father; Stewie Griffin, the talking and genius baby; Brian Griffin, the family dog and well-read intellect; and Glenn Quagmire, the womanizing neighbor. Together, they and the rest of the characters combine to create a hilarious atmosphere that keeps us laughing every episode.
Kaley Cuoco
Besides being known for her role on The Big Bang Theory as Penny, Kaley Cuoco is an avid tennis player and loves horseback riding. She seems bright and happy. On The Big Bang Theory, Penny is known for being the beautiful girl next door. She ends up dating Leonard on and off and becomes friends with the other girlfriends of the boys she lives across the hall from. She has a great sense of fashion, a good social life, and is ultimately the opposite of boys down the hall.
Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis has acted in many movies and TV shows, but has regularly starred in the animated sitcom, Family Guy and originally found fame (and met her future husaband) playing Jackie on That 70's Show. These days, she voices Meg Griffin, the overlooked and bullied daughter of Peter and Lois. Meg is quite a departure from her original role as a pretty, popular cheerleader, being opposite in just about every way other than being in high school. How old is Mila Kunis?
Zooey Deschanel
The star of New Girl, Zooey Deschanel plays a girl with a vibrant personality who is trying to get back on her feet after breaking up with her cheating boyfriend. Jess Day moves in with three boys and the comedy that the creators of New Girl have created from it is astronomical. Her career has been oriented around education and she chooses to attempt to follow that career path even after being fired from her job. She also has a complicated romantic story with one of her roommates.
Josh Radnor
Josh Radnor is the star of How I Met Your Mother, searching for a wife from day one. The show is a long, complicated, detailed story that Ted Mosby is telling his children so that they can know the story of how their parents met. He is a sweet man who we relate to every time he loses hope in finding happiness or clings to his faith that there is a woman out there for him somewhere. Ted also tries his best but messes up at times, leading to a comedic tale that we get to enjoy.
Eric Stonestreet
Eric Stonestreet plays the hilarious character Cam on Modern Family. Cam is a southern man who refuses to give up certain parts of his past. He is also quite flamboyant and emotional, inducing tears of laughter from his audience, and loves to pick fights with his husband, Mitchell. The couple go head to head in almost every episode, especially when it concerns raising their sarcastic and genius daughter. Cam keeps the audience laughing with his varying loud shirts and dramatics.
Courteney Cox
Courteney Cox has appeared in several shows and movies but is best known for playing Monica Geller in Friends. Monica is a neat freak who takes Rachel in during the first episode. She is kind but ultimately assumes the role of boss. Monica makes sure that her home is always spotless and panics if a mess arises. She is also a good friend to her gang, a loving girlfriend to Chandler, even teaching him how to be in a relationship and marrying him.
Steve Carell
Steve Carell is a hilarious actor known for his many cameos and roles, including playing Michael Scott in The Office. Michael Scott was a regular on the show beginning with the pilot until season 7 when he became a guest star instead. Michael was from a broken home and was not shy to share it with the camera. He behaved quite inappropriately at work since he could never seem to leave his personal life at home. He also tried very hard to befriend his coworkers at every chance he got.
Alyson Hannigan
Known for her role on Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Alyson Hannigan got her role on How I Met Your Mother as an already esteemed actress. She played Lily Aldrin, the sweet kindgarten teacher who was estranged from her father. She was in a relationship with Marshall Eriksen for the majority of the show with only a short lived breakup in the middle. Although she played a genuinely kind person in pursuit of goodness, she did have her moments of thievery and death glares too.
Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler may be known for Saturday Night Live, her friendship with Tina Fey, and so many movies, but she stays close in our hearts for her role in Parks and Recreation. Amy Poehler played Leslie Knope, the woman with huge aspirations and a hard work ethic. She worked so hard to have a park built behind her newfound best friend, Ann's, house. Her shenanigans were closely followed while Parks and Rec aired and she has still not been forgotten by old fans or new ones.
Nick Offerman
Nick Offerman's Ron Swanson is one of the most popular characters to ever be created on a sitcom. On Parks and Recreation, Ron was a man who lives in the past. He had an aversion to technology since he could not understand it, a love for meat and the outdoors, and lots of hidden gold. Ron also tried to mentor Leslie and April, but gave up on Leslie and had lots of hope for April. His speech delivery was always deadpan and he had a concealed love for all of his coworkers.
Julie Bowen
Julie Bowen plays Claire Dunphy in the sitcom, Modern Family. Claire is an uptight mother of three who is married to the easy going Phil. A wild young woman, Claire used to party a lot and rebel against her parents. She became pregnant with Haley before marrying Phil, but got married quickly and together they had two more kids. She changes from being a housewife to taking over her father's closet company and transitions into a working woman who is proud of her accomplishments.
Cobie Smulders
Famous for playing Robin Scherbatsky on How I Met Your Mother, Smulders had us laughing for all nine seasons. She played the only Canadian in the group of friends and used to be a Canadian pop star before moving to New York and becoming a news anchor. In the beginning of the show she owned five dogs, a goal that many viewers have. She dated Ted for awhile and then Barney. She then married and divorced Barney, ending up with Ted in the series finale.
Kat Dennings
Kat Dennings plays the hilarious role of Max Black on the sitcom, 2 Broke Girls. Max shares an apartment with her best friend, Caroline, and together they work as waitresses at Williamsburg Diner. She is known for her sarcasm, wit, street smarts, exuberant personality, and her mess of a family. She has a slightly unhappy streak, but she works hard to hide it with sarcasm and humour. She makes a goal to own a cupcake business with Caroline, and the show revolves around the two of them.
Johnny Galecki
Johnny Galecki plays Leonard Hofstadter in the Big Bang Theory. Leonard had extreme mommy issues since his mother is a distant woman who is more like his stark roommate Sheldon then her own son. He has expressed his frustration with Sheldon about their various roommate problems numerous times, including the Roommate Agreement that unsurprisingly favors Sheldon. The two squabble often, since Leonard has very little patience for irrationality. He develops a crush on Penny early on, and the two end up dating.
Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Kudrow played Phoebe Buffay on the famous and timeless sitcom, Friends. Her character was quirky, superstitious, and lots of fun. She had a twin sister who she fought with, an adoptive mother who committed suicide, a birth mother, an estranged father, a grandmother that died early in the series, and a half-brother. She had a difficult childhood and was even briefly homeless, having to sometimes live in a box. Phoebe worked as a masseuse to earn a living and married Mike Hannigan. She also carried triplets for her half-brother, whom she loved very much.
Jason Segel
The actor behind Marshall Eriksen on How I Met Your Mother, Jason Segel never failed to make his audience laugh. The sitcom centred around Ted's friendship with the crew and since Marshall had been friends with Ted since college, he was always in the thick of the comedy. He was essentially a giant teddy bear who was ready to be rough if need be. He and Lily had a great romance based on trust and a foundation of friendship. Marshall was a good friend and fun to watch.
David Schwimmer
The nerdy palaeontologist named Ross Geller on Friends was played by none other than David Schwimmer. Ross was Monica's brother, a lover of dinosaurs, in love with Rachel Green since adolescence, and the smartest one in the group. He parented two children: the first was with his wife Carol who turned out to be a lesbian, and the second was with Rachel accidentally. He was his parents' favourite child but tried to get them to love Monica more after enjoying the favoritism at first.


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To brew up some good feeling, Starbucks commissioned artist Shogo Ota to design a new limited edition green cup for the US.
From coffee farmers to friends sharing a hug, the design features more than 100 people, who were all drawn in one, long, continuous stroke – representing how coffee can bring the whole community together.
"The green cup and the design represent the connections Starbucks has as a community with its partners (employees) and customers. During a divisive time in our country, Starbucks wanted to create a symbol of unity as a reminder of our shared values, and the need to be good to each other," said Howard Schultz, Chairman and CEO.
Watch the YouTube video here.
Via. Starbucks


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Lee Obizaan Staples is from Aazhoomog, Minnesota. Obizaan is one of the Spiritual Advisors on the Mille Lacs reservation and extends his help to all the surrounding communities. This series of films explains the ceremonies Anishinaabe go though during a lifetime as they were passed down to him. Other communities may vary in teachings, this is the way Obizaan was taught and wants to share them so he does not take these teachings the grave.
Native American Rituals and Ceremonies
Mandan offering the buffalo skull
Ghost Dance – A Promise of Fulfillment
More Dances
Kachinas of the Puebloans
Mythology and Legends
Native American Medicine
Native American Religion
Rituals & Ceremonies:
Death Ceremonies
Green Corn Festivals
Healing Rituals
Lacrosse – Routed in Tribal Tradition
Native American Medicine
Peyote Worship
Vision Quests
Astronomy and Mythology In Native American Culture
Ceremony and rituals have long played a vital and essential role in Native American culture. Often referred to as "religion," most Native Americans did not consider their spirituality, ceremonies, and rituals as "religion," in the way that Christians do. Rather, their beliefs and practices form a integral and seamless part of their very being. Like other aboriginal peoples around the world, their beliefs were heavily influenced by their methods of acquiring food, – from hunting to agriculture. They also embraced ceremonies and rituals that provided power to conquer the difficulties of life, as wells as events and milestones, such as puberty, marriage, and death. Over the years, practices and ceremonies changed with tribes' needs.
Taos Indian with peace pipe
The arrival of European settlers marked a major change in Native American culture. Some of the first Europeans that the Indians would meet were often missionaries who looked upon Native American Spirituality practices as worthless superstition inspired by the Christian devil. These early missionaries then determined to convert the Native Americans to Christianity.
As more and more Europeans flooded North America, US and Canadian governments instituted policies to force Natives onto reservations and to encourage them to become assimilated into the majority culture.
This also changed their spiritual traditions and when, in 1882, the U.S. Federal Government began to work towards banning Native American Religious Rights, which impacted their ceremonies. At that time, U.S. Interior Secretary Henry M. Teller, ordered an end to all "heathenish dances and ceremonies" on reservations due to their "great hindrance to civilization." This was further supported the following year by Hiram Price, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, when his 1883 report stated:
"…there is no good reason why an Indian should be permitted to indulge in practices which are alike repugnant to common decency and morality; and the preservation of good order on the reservations demands that some active measures should be taken to discourage and, if possible, put a stop to the demoralizing influence of heathenish rites."
These attempts to suppress the traditions of Native Americans eventually led to the Massacre at Wounded Knee on December 29, 1890, when the government attempted to stop the practice of the "Ghost Dance," a far reaching movement that prophesied a peaceful end to white American expansion and preached goals of clean living, an honest life, and cross-cultural cooperation by Native Americans.
When the Seventh U.S. Calvary, was sent into the Lakota Sioux's Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations to stop the dance and arrest the participants, approximately 150 Native American men, women, and children were killed.
Though some traditions were lost along the way, many others survived despite the ban, and various tribescontinue to follow many spiritual traditions. Some Native Americans have been devout Christians for generations, and their practices today combine their traditional customs with Christian elements. Other tribes, particularly in the Southwest, have retained their aboriginal traditions, mostly intact.
Rituals & Ceremonies:
Tribute to the Dead
Death Ceremonies – Native Americans celebrated death, knowing that it was an end to life on Earth, but, believing it to be the start of life in the Spirit World. Most tribes also believed, that the journey might be long, so after life rituals were performed to ensure that the spirits would not continued to roam the earth. Various tribes honored the dead in several ways, by giving them food, herbs, and gifts to ensure a safe journey to the after life.
The Hopi Indians believe that the soul moves along a Sky path westwards and that those who have lived a righteous life will travel with ease. However, those who haven't will encounter suffering on their journey.
To ensure a safe journey, they wash their dead with natural yucca suds and dress them in traditional clothes.
Prayer feathers are often tied around the forehead of the deceased, and they are buried with favorite possessions and feathered prayer sticks. Traditional foods and special herbs are served and placed at the grave side.
The Navajo perceived that living to an old age was a sign of a life well lived, thus ensuring that the soul would be born again. Alternatively, they felt that if a tribe member died of sudden illness, suicide or violence, a "Chindi, or destructive ghost could cause trouble for the family of the deceased. After life rituals could last for several days with careful thought given to foods and herbs chosen for the celebration, a reflection on how the deceased lived their life. Common herbs used by the Navajo included Broom Snake Weed, Soap Weed, and Utah Juniper.
Many tribes who had been converted to Catholicism, also celebrated All Souls' Day, each November 1st, which celebrates the dead. Many believe, that on that day, the spirits return to visit family and friends. In preparation various tribes would prepare food and decorate their homes with ears of corn as blessings for the dead.
Green Corn Dance
Green Corn Festivals – Also called the Green Corn Ceremonies, this both a celebration and religious ceremony, primarily practiced by the peoples of the Eastern Woodlands and the Southeastern tribes including the Creek, Cherokee, Seminole, Yuchi, Iroquois, and others. The ceremony typically coincides in the late summer and is tied to the ripening of the corn crops. Marked with dancing, feasting, fasting and religious observations, the ceremony usually lasts for three days. Activities varied from tribe to tribe, but the common thread is that the corn was not to be eaten until the Great Spirit has been given his proper thanks. During the event, tribal members give thanks for the corn, rain, sun, and a good harvest. Some tribes even believe that they were made from corn by the Great Spirits.
The Green Corn Festival is also a religious renewal, with various religious ceremonies. During this time, some tribes hold council meetings where many of the previous year's minor problems or crimes are forgiven. Others also signify the event as the time of year when youth come of age and babies are given their names. Several tribes incorporate ball games and tournaments in the event. Cleansing and purifying activities often occur, including cleaning out homes, burning waste, and drinking emetics to purify the body. At the end of each day of the festival, feasts are held to celebrate the good harvest. Green Corn festivals are still practiced today by many different native peoples of the Southeastern Woodland Culture.
Incense over a medicine bundle, by Edward S. Curtis, 1908
Healing Rituals
– Symbolic healing rituals and ceremonies were often held to bring participants into harmony with themselves, their tribe, and their environment. Ceremonies were used to help groups of people return to harmony; but, large ceremonies were generally not used for individual healing. Varying widely from tribe to tribe, some tribes, such as the Sioux and Navajo used a medicine wheel, a sacred hoop, and would sing and dance in ceremonies that might last for days.
Historic Indian traditions also used many plants and herbs as remedies or in spiritual celebrations, creating a connection with spirits and the after life. Some of these plants and herbs used in spiritual rituals included Sage, Bear Berry, Red Cedar, Sweet Grass, Tobacco, and many others.
The healing process in Native American Medicine is much different than how most of us see it today. Native American healing includes beliefs and practices that combine religion, spirituality, herbal medicine, and rituals, that are used for both medical and emotional conditions. From the Native American perspective, medicine is more about healing the person than curing a disease. Traditional healers worked to make the individual "whole," believing that most illnesses stem from spiritual problems.
Native American Rituals and CeremoniesIn addition to herbal remedies, purifying and cleansing the body is also important and many tribes used sweat lodges for this purpose. In these darkened and heated enclosures, a sick individual might be given an herbal remedy, smoke or rub themselves with sacred plants, and a healer might use healing practices to drive away angry spirits and invoke the healing powers of others.
Sometimes healing rituals might involve whole communities, where participants would sing, dance, paint their bodies, sometimes use mind-altering substances to persuade the spirits to heal the sick person.
Peyote Worship – Some southwest tribes have historically practiced Peyote ceremonies which were connected with eating or drinking of tea made of peyote buttons, the dried fruit of a small cactus, officially called Anhalonium or Laphophora. Native to the lower Rio Grande River and Mexico, the name "mescal" was wrongly applied to this fruit by many white observers. The ceremonies were held for specific reasons including healing, baptism, funerals, and other special occasions. Though many have the impression that peyote was smoked, this was not the case, as the peyote button will not burn. Instead, the buttons, either fresh or dried, were eaten or ground into a powder and drank in a tea.
Cheyenne Peyote Leader by Edward S. Curtis
Rites for these ceremonies would generally begin in the evening and continue until the following dawn and were restricted by some tribes only to men. Like other Indian ceremonies, a fire and incense were also used to to cleanse the mind and body. The ceremony also utilized bird feathers, which represented bird power, preferably those from predator birds, which were strong and thought to protect the worshipper.
The ceremonies were guided by healers, also known as road men, as they were thought to guide a person's journey through life. Most often small drums and rattles were also utilized. The experience is almost identical to taking lysergic acid dyethylamide, better known as LSD.
Called the "sacred medicine," peyote ceremonies are still practiced today by various tribes who believe that it counters the craving for alcohol, heals and teaches righteousness, and is useful in combating spiritual, physical, and other social ills. Concerned about the drug's psychoactive effects, between the 1880's and 1930's, U.S. authorities attempted to ban Native American religious rituals involving peyote, including the Ghost Dance. Today, the Native American Church is one among several religious organizations to use peyote as part of its religious practice.
Pow-Wows – A relatively modern word, the term derives from the Narragansett word "powwaw," which means "spiritual leader." Before the term "pow-wow" became popular, other words were used to describe these gatherings, such as celebration, doing, fair, feast, festival, and more. The closest English translation is "meeting." Today, it exemplifies all of these events and a modern pow-wow can be any kind of event that both Native American and non-Native American people meet to dance, sing, socialize, and honor American Indian culture. These events might be specific to a certain tribe or inter-tribal.
Native American PowWow
Planning for a pow-wow generally begins months in advance of the event by a group of people usually referred to as a pow-wow committee and may be sponsored by a tribal organization, tribe, or any other organization that wishes to promote Native American culture. These events almost always feature dance events, some of which are competitive and can last from hours to several days.
The Gathering of Nations is one of the largest Pow-wows in the United States. It is held annually the fourth weekend in April, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Over 500 tribes from around the United States and Canada participate. This event is competitive with 32 dance categories, as well as other competitions for singers and drumming, and a pageant for Miss Indian World. The event also features a Traders Market where Native Americans display their arts and crafts.
Vision Quests – Numerous Native American practiced the rite of Vision Quests, which was often taken by older children before puberty to "find themselves" and their life's direction. How the rite was taken, its length and intensity, and at what age varied greatly from tribe to tribe. In most cases the vision quest was a "supernatural" experience in which the individual seeks to interact with a guardian spirit, usually an animal, to obtain advice or protection.
Much preparation was often taken before the vision quest was undertaken in order to determine the sincerity and commitment of the person. Sometimes the quest required the individual to go alone into the wilderness for several days, in order to become attuned to the spirit world.
Other tribes required the individual to take a long walk, or were confined to a small room. Often the individual was required to fast prior to the quest, and was not allowed to sleep. During this period of sensory deprivation, the individual was to search for a a guardian spirit's presence or a sign that would be given to them. Once the presence or sign was "seen," and the individual had realized his/her direction in life, they would return to the tribe to pursue their life's journey.
© Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated June, 2017.


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March 3, 2017: Message to the seer Lily of the Holy Face of Jesus (Giglio del Santo Volto)
Mother of God: If you knew, how you shine after having properly approached the Sacrament of Confession
When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to him, he spoke in a parable.
(Luke 8:4)
You loved justice and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions
(Hebrews 1:9)
The LORD roars from Zion, and from Jerusalem raises his voice; The heavens and the earth quake, but the LORD is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the men of Israel
(Joel 4:16)
Dear children, we are in the time of God's Grace.
Take advantage of this time to get closer to the true life of the good Christian, meditating the Scriptures and immersing yourself in the Mystery of the Death and the Resurrection of Jesus.
Each step will allow you to help Him on His way charged with the Cross.
He waits for anyone who is ready and longing to make His heavy burden lighter, even if only slightly.
That weight that today, may increase or decrease depending on both your participation and love for Jesus.
He is waiting for you not only to share the sorrow and the suffering but also to rejoice as Victor over death.
It is the finish line for you to aim, My beloved children. The push that allows a safer walk even on the most winding road, since you know that the reward from God will be generous.
I ask you coherence and rectitude, good example and spirit of endurance.
Patience is never to faint in those who say that they love my Son, since it is the fundamental virtue not to give in to anger, with which you will be often tempted on your path of evangelization.
Contradiction never to be in you or you will not be able to teach with the example of the one who is in Christ and who lives in God's Commandments.
You have the task to follow the teachings of the Holy Gospel and to put them into practice.
Be a living Word.
Word of God that acts and is not limited to what is simple reading and minimal understanding.
Ask for the discernment to go deeply into the Truth of the Holy Bible and by understanding It, to apply It in your daily life.
The Holy Archangels are also appointed to this purpose; to help you become bearers of the Truth and supporters of It.
My dear children, the time has already begun where many God's Ministers will no longer be a strong and truthful spiritual support of the faithful.
You will have to educate one another about the spiritual and practical aids of which to make use of in the coming time.
Many of you complain about the stubbornness and the misunderstandings arising during your dialogue with the priests in charge of their parishes, and you find increasingly difficult to open up during the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
What was well weighed up it is no longer recognized as such.
Feelings of mistrust are being born, many times even of derision towards those who approach the Sacrament with contrition and whose sins are considered like lightweight matter, even if they violate the Commandments of the Lord.
I support you as your Mother, because I myself received mockery, experienced distress, the feeling of abandonment but My faith in God's plan gave Me the strength to go on without giving in and without feeling oppressed, because God was present.
As He is in the Confessional and where He listens to every word, sees in every corner of your heart and He is longing to bestow the Graces inherent to His forgiveness.
My children, while My Son is truly present hidden behind the person of the Priest Confessor, equally real is the Grace of Absolution and of Forgiveness from the Lord.
If you knew, how you shine after having properly approached this [spiritual] Bath!
After washing your clothes, you are so beautiful to our eyes!
Although it is true that opportunities to sin happen more at this time of the liturgical year, you will have a greater strength descending from Heaven to help you persist in your penance and prayer.
In attending the Eucharistic Adoration or the Stations of the Cross (Via Crucis) during the Fridays of Lent in churches, you can make use of the granted Indulgences.
You have many opportunities to continue the journey.
It is an encouragement not to feel down even if you feel like abandoned and alone, because you are not.
God is with you even when you do not feel His presence.
These are trials to be accepted, necessary to yourselves and to strengthen your faith.
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit may bless you.
Be the Most Holy Trinity praised and thanked now and forever. "
They have known about me from the start, if they are willing to testify, that I have lived my life as a Pharisee, the strictest party of our religion.
(Acts 26:5)
Having later learned that even citizens of Lamnia wanted to use the same system with the Jews who dwelt with them,
(2maccabees 12)
Yet they do not remind themselves that I remember all their wickedness. Even now their crimes surround them, present to my sight
(Hosea 7:2)
Source: Lily of the Holy Face of Jesus (Official page)


text: Lake Michigan's Hot Summer Salmon & Trout Action October 04, 2010 Now's the time of year when it all comes together on our Great Lake for cohos, kings, steelhead and more. Here's where you should fish right now! By Mike SchoonveldOne of my favorite summer songs is the one with the line "fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high." There's not much cotton around Indiana, perhaps Hoosier crooners should substitute the words corn or soybeans, but at least on Lake Michigan, you can almost bet the fish are jumpin' come August. The best bet for "jumpers" is the famed Skamania steelhead. Famous steelhead? Sure! And one of the things they are famous for is their jumping ability. Sting a Skamania with sharp treble hook swinging behind a big red spoon and just watch it jump. That's a Skamania steelhead's initial instinct once it feels the steel. Head for the top and keep on going. Sometimes it seems the deeper a steelhead starts at, the higher it goes airborne. Once the steely splashes down, the game plan is up to the individual fish. Some will jump again immediately and perhaps repeat the performance with several more encores. Most will head directly away from the pull it's feeling and burn off several dozen yards of line. Regardless of what the fish does, there's little the fisherman can do but hang on and enjoy the antics. Once the initial rounds are over, the work of winding the fish closer to the boat can begin, but don't be surprised if the steelhead gets a second wind before the job is done, and you can be sure it's going to pursue some last- second tactic to elude the landing net even when the fight seems nearly over. Most steelhead that get hooked and lost are gone just a few seconds after the initial hookup. Perhaps they weren't hooked well to begin with. Perhaps the initial leap of 6 feet or more out of the water or the ensuing belly-flop it takes when it smacks down on the surface causes a barb to pop free. Too often it's the fatal test of the fishing equipment that causes fish and fishermen to part ways. Pulled-open snap swivels, bent-straight hooks, snapped lines or poor knots are all excuses offered by those who momentarily connect with one of Indiana's summer-run fish. Chinook salmon become more active in August, offshore early and nearshore later in the month. Photo by Dick SwanIf you are still hooked solidly by the time the work begins, don't fire up the smoker too soon. The middle part of the battle is crucial, but the final phase is as critical as the first few seconds. Those first antics occur with plenty of line out and away from obstructions in which to tangle. When the fight winds down to the last 15 or 20 feet, the rod is invariably bent over to its maximum, the line is stretched tight as a banjo string and the angler is full of adrenaline. A mad dash, a quick final leap or my least favorite trick, a fish that suddenly decides to head for the shade under the boat, often results in as many "quick releases" as occurs at first bite. That's all part of the fun and challenge, however, of these famed steelheads, but is it their only claim to fame? It's enough, in my book, but it's not all. The other claim to fame for this breed of fish is how and why they are even available to provide summer fun. Mother Nature started it all when she meddled with fish biology and fish behavior to invent steelhead trout thousands of years ago. There were salmon that swam in the sea and grew to enormous proportions with the virtually unlimited forage available. There were also rainbow trout that inhabited mountainous streams with crystal-clear water. The rainbows eked out their sustenance primarily by consuming insects, which happened along during the part of the year when bugs were out. It's as though Mother Nature pondered, "What would happen if I caused a rainbow trout to head out to sea?" The result was the steelhead. Part salmon, growing big, strong and fast from life in the ocean; part rainbow, connected genetically to the mountain streams and required to maintain that connection when the urge to spawn manifests primal instincts. If eons ago Mother Nature's dithering with fish biology to create steelhead wasn't enough, fisheries biologists tweaked that invention to produce a new kind of steelhead in just the last few decades. Natural steelhead start their spawning runs in October and then continue to come into the spawning streams throughout the winter. Fish scientists, through selective breeding, have produced strains of steelhead loosely called "summer-run" because their spawning urge triggers months sooner than their winter-run cohorts. These selective breeding experiments were conducted mostly in the Pacific Northwest where steelheads are native. Normal, winter-run steelies had already proven successful in the Great Lakes, and when Indiana biologists heard of the new summer-run strains being developed, they arranged to get some eggs to continue the summer-run experiment here in the Midwest. Previously, Indiana's part of Lake Michigan often seemed a desert from May to September in so far as game fish trolling for salmon or trout was concerned. Salmon fishing was good in the spring when the surface water temperatures were favorable near shore and again in the fall when the stocked fish came back to the nearshore areas on their spawning runs. The hope was - and that hope has been fulfilled - the summer-run steelhead would fill the void and provide some big-lake action for Hoosier fishermen at a time of the year that seemed to have few other options. Nowadays, Skamanias are a solid part of every Lake Michigan angler's season of fun. The fish start showing in shallows in the middle of June, and July is always a solid month for summer-run action. And in most years, August, especially the first few weeks of the month, can be just as good.Anglers wanting to experience this fish-are-jumpin' action should target either Michigan City or Portage. The steelhead are stocked in Trail Creek in LaPorte County and the Little Calumet River in Porter County; it's to these streams the spawning-minded fish are predestined to return. There is hardly a day when some steelhead aren't taken off the mouths of each of these streams. The best days occur during extended periods of hot weather. The fish are reluctant to enter the streams when the water temperature exceeds 74 degrees. So when they arrive from the vast reaches of the lake where they've been foraging for the previous several years, they stack up when the streams are running hot, as is often the case in August. The worst days occur after a significant rain event; in August, usually a severe thunderstorm or several of them will roll through on any given day. An inch or more of rain can come down in a very short time from these summer storms and all that water quickly finds its way into the streams. This flushing action can drop the stream temperature from the high 70s into the high 60s in a few hours, and as soon as the Skamanias detect the increased flow of cool water, they scoot on up the watershed. Regardless of whether the steelhead are stacked like cordwood just offshore of these streams or if only a few of them are in the vicinity, experience has shown a few lures and colors to be preferred over most others on most days. The color scheme is simple. Think bright orange or red in the hue most often called "hunter orange." There aren't any minnows or bugs wearing these colors around Lake Michigan, but don't tell the steelhead it's not a color fit to eat. They love it and will strike a bright fluorescent spoon or plug with abandon while snubbing artificials with more natural looking finishes. Both spoons and plugs will take Skamanias on a regular basis, but think large and larger as a rule. Magnum trolling spoons in the 4-inch length is about as small as most experts go. Local favorites are called Big Red spoons, red because of their bright, hunter-orange finish both front and back, and big because the blade on most of these lures is over 6 inches long. Plug pullers are divided between those who prefer the J-plug-type lures and their many clones and the jointed stick bait aficionados. In both cases, the larger sizes get the nod. Though the reason Skamanias were brought to Indiana initially was to fill the summer lull between spring and fall fishing, in recent years, it's been discovered that lull may not be as significant as it was once thought to be. While it's true the number of fish right along the shoreline dwindle to near zero in the summer months, all those fish that were present in the spring don't just turn to dust and blow away on the first hot winds of summer. Those fish move somewhere to find cooler water and to stay in the proximity of the forage fish on which they gorge all summer. All that is needed is to find that area, be able to get to it economically and safely, and then be able to locate it again on a continuing and reliable basis. That was almost impossible in the initial decades of Lake Michigan salmon history (which basically dates only to the 1970s). Now it's distinctly possible and firmly proven. Most boat manufacturers offer a line of trailerable "big-water" boats. These high-sided 18- to 21-foot models usually sport ultra-reliable outboard or inboard motors (compared to the motors being made just a few years ago) and are easily capable of working 10 to 20 miles out in the lake. Modern electronics play a key as well. These days, a VHF radio, which keeps boaters in touch with the latest NOAA weather reports, the U.S. Coast Guard and other fishermen, costs less than a pair of tickets to a Colts' game. Add a GPS receiver and when you find the "numbers" - the latitude and longitude - of where the fish are located, or if you simply check a few Internet sites with fishing reports that include numbers, punch a few buttons and head for the action zone. In the offshore areas where salmon spend the summer, you'll need equipment designed to get your lures deep under the surface. Downriggers are the "go-to" presentation and many anglers stop right there. They hang two or more downriggers on the transom of their boat and only set that many rods. Most anglers will add a couple more offerings by employing at least a pair of diving planers, which pull down and away from the boat using water pressure on the diver disk. Add a lead-core line and perhaps a weighted wire line and you'll be covering all the bases needed for success. The exact areas that attract and hold fish vary each year. Locations stored in GPS units from last year don't mean much the next year. It also seems each season is a bit different in so far as the species makeup of schooling fish within reach of Indiana's ports, though cohos are often the predominant fish in the cooler. But don't think of the cohos like those that are caught in the spring. By August, those little fish that might have averaged 2 pounds have grown up. Figure 6 pounds for the little fellows now, and 10-pounders are likely, too.Some of the best years for offshore action for cohos do have one thing in common. Indiana used to stock in the neighborhood of 150,000 cohos each year. Occasionally, due to hatchery surpluses, special experiments or other reasons, the southern end of Lake Michigan would get a bonus stocking of cohos. In hindsight, it always seemed the years when those extra fish matured coincided with the summers the offshore action was the hottest. Indiana fish biologists switched their years-old stocking plan a couple of years ago and bumped the target number of cohos from Indiana hatcheries up 50 percent to 225,000 annually. This will be the summer the cohos from that increased stocking are full grown, so if history holds true, this summer could be spectacular. It's not just cohos that are found in those offshore areas. Any of the other five major species are likely to be caught as well; and in truth, it's a rare day when a mixed catch isn't a part of the game. Brown trout, once thought to be only a nearshore staple, seem to be adapting more to offshore haunts, each year. Perhaps it's the influx of the Seeforellen strain stocked in Michigan and Wisconsin. This strain seems to forage offshore regularly and is the fastest growing strain of browns in the lake. Lake trout aren't the "bread and butter" of the offshore fishery they once were. Probably because of zebra mussel colonies now adapting to deep, soft-bottom areas, lakers don't belly down in the mud in what used to be called the Pig Pen. This is an area where huge lakers used to be as abundant as yellow bass at Lake Monroe. Lakers now come suspended and don't seem to be concentrated in any one area. Steelhead are almost always a part of any deep-water outing. If a few steelhead appear nearer shore almost every day of the summer, where are they just before they come ashore? Sure, they are offshore and chowing down on the same schools of alewives the salmon and lakers are shadowing. Saving the best for last, how about the "kings" of the lake, the chinook salmon? Use the names king salmon and chinook salmon interchangeably. August is a busy time for chinook - busy meaning they are finishing their chore of eating and growing big and just beginning their chore of reproducing. When a king is busy, that means it's active. When you show an active chinook an enticing lure, it's likely to strike it. When that happens, hang on! Chinook are the largest species in the lake, and pound for pound, the strongest as well. Drag-shearing runs, mad dashes and tug of wars where neither side gains or loses much ground are normal when a king is hooked. For the first three weeks of August, the kings will be found offshore and feeding actively. By August, most kings will be bright silver with a cast of purple and pink iridescence on their flanks. By Aug. 10, you'll notice a smoky haze to the silver as though it's a bit tarnished. This is a sign the hormonal changes are shutting down the three-year feeding binge and getting the fish ready for its return to where it was stocked. By the end of the month, the fish darken and the silver turns to an olive color. You won't find many of these dark kings offshore, however. This is the color to expect when the kings home in on their natal stream and spend a week or two preparing to spawn.In Indiana, kings are stocked in nearly equal numbers in Lake, Porter and LaPorte county waters. By the end of August, the king run is started and it's no longer necessary to plan long boat rides to the offshore areas; or since spawning kings are most active in the low-light periods, anglers will load their boats as the stars are disappearing, fish the dawn's early light until shortly after sunrise, then switch tactics and head offshore to finish up on fish that aren't so light sensitive. It's August and the living is easy. Fish are jumpin' and it's high time to head for Lake Michigan to get in on the action waiting for you there. Discover even more in our monthly magazine,and have it delivered to your door!Subscribe to Indiana Game & Fish Get Your Fish On. Plan your next fishing and boating adventure here.


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Gene Marshall / Trent Osborn. Comes from non-smoking, non-pet, climate-controlled home.What you see in the pic. Jacket, shirt, tie, trousers, socks. Is what you'll get. The item "VHTF Gene Marshall Trent As Major E. Laine NRFB" is in sale since Friday, October 19, 2018.
This item is in the category "Dolls & Bears\Dolls\By Brand, Company, Character\Ashton Drake\Gene". The seller is "jos0121" and is located in Seoul, Seoul.
This item can be shipped worldwide.


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15 years ago I was reading books about organizational culture by Edgar H. Schein. At that time I was a studying Leadership and Management at the university and did not yet understand
The power of organizational culture.
Now I am starting to understand it. Culture is more powerful than Strategy. As Schein says in The Corporate Culture Survival Guide
The organization clings to whatever made it a success. The very culture that created the success makes it difficult for members of the organization to perceive changes in the environment that require new responses. Culture becomes a constraint on strategy.
Culture is always more powerful than Strategy. If you want to change one, you need to change both. Outlining new strategy on paper is management, but implementing it requires a lot of change leadership to influence the culture related to existing strategy. Often a new organizational structure is helpful, if not required, to implement a new strategy.
I found some related videos from Stanford site. It's a great resource as videos are cut to 3-5 minute searchable topics, with individual descriptions.
Silicon Valley Bank CEO Ken Wilcox:
Culture Trumps Strategy
Building great corporate culture is more than just metaphors; it's what motivates a winning team.
Click twice to see on Stanford site
Debra Dunn, former vice president of strategy and corporate operations at Hewlett Packard
Randy Komisar, partner at venture capital company Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers:
Leadership and Change Management
Both speakers believe that leadership skills and the ability to handle change comfortably are the key characteristics that have been useful in their respective careers.
Click twice to see on Stanford site
Has your organization had a new strategy or structure implemented lately?
Have these had an effect on the corporate culture?
Was this all planned by clever leaders?
How confortable you are with change?
How confortable the rest of the organization is with change?
What is your role as a leader to influence the underlying culture?


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Ever had a teriyaki burrito? They're delicious! But I'll come back to the tastiness of mixed cultural cuisines later.
First, let's talk about National Service — and why we need it. If there's one thing apparent from recent events, it's that the U.S. is not simply "divided." We're fractured along numerous fault lines. You can name them yourself. And then you can agree with me (see how that works!) that the best way to "heal" these breaks is for them never to have occurred in the first place.
Looking back on my experience attending a college with a broad representation of students from around the U.S. and abroad, it's hard not to take for granted that I met, befriended and remain friends (after nearly 40 years) with a pretty diverse bunch. But why should a young American only get the experience I got if s/he can get into (and afford) a highly competitive college? Shouldn't all of our young people — from all class backgrounds — benefit from a meaningful, constructive and heterogeneous experience that transforms them into better citizens and better people? And moving forward from that experience, shouldn't investment bankers know dock workers personally? Shouldn't college professors know people who shoot their own dinner personally? You get my drift.
National Service (in broad strokes):
Think about it as an updated version of AmeriCorps VISTA meets the old CCC.
- Two years of mandatory civilian or military service. And no, you can't buy your way out of it. You must have completed your service (or something equivalent for those with physical disabilities) to be able to register to vote.
- You get paid at the same rate as a military enlistee, and can work your way up in rank and pay to the level typical of enlistees within two years.
- Upon completion of your service, in addition to being automatically registered to vote, you become eligible for education and/or small business startup grants (not loans) to apply as you see fit. Want to go to college? Want to open a beauty salon? Want to develop an app? If you're from a background where you don't need the college money, put it into a retirement fund. But you can only spend/use the grant on education, business startup or retirement savings.
- The rest you can figure out. Energetic and innovative young people work on important projects in the national interest: infrastructure revitalization (not just construction, but data analytics, etc.); elder care; youth mentoring and so on…plus the usual military stuff if you go that way.
If we do it right, we might end up with a lot more teriyaki burritos — however you wish to define that concept. Heck, it's already happening. And it's a good thing.
New York Times:
For Interracial Couples, Growing Acceptance, With Some Exceptions
"In 2013, 12 percent of all new marriages were interracial, the Pew Research Center reported. According to a 2015 Pew report on intermarriage, 37 percent of Americans agreed that having more people marrying different races was a good thing for society, up from 24 percent only four years earlier; 9 percent thought it was a bad thing."