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Galaxy Online
How to secure your alpha key.
The GO Team has another exciting opportunity for our players. We are very happy to announce that we have given away a group of Activation Codes for the Galaxy Online , the upcoming free-to-play strategic online game (MMOG) designed by IGG. All players are welcome to claim a code now and activate the game on the activation page.
Get Your CD-Key at http://go.igg.com/event/activation/.
Key Instruction:
1. Go to http://go.igg.comand either login or register for a free new account
2. Use the CD-Key to activate your Galaxy Online account at http://www.igg.com/member/actigame.php
3. Each Key contains an additional 30 Mall Points as a gift for new players. Enjoy!
NOTE A: The alpha test does not begin for this game until Feb 23rd, 2009.
NOTE B: All characters created during the Alpha Test will be saved for future use.
What is Galaxy Online?
Galaxy Online, designed by IGG, is a strategic online game combining a powerful battle system and abundant battle expressive force. The game is set across the vast universe, and players from different forces can PK freely. Battles rage constantly and in this galactic sphere, the law of the jungle rules. Players must promote their strength ceaselessly to maintain their position, and only the bravest and wisest commander can be the King! Players may like the many thoughtful design elements in the game, such as smart client, convenient galaxy trustee system, individual and intelligent Plug-ins system, all of which let players experience wonderful feelings whilst playing the game!

subset: commoncrawl


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SunVox is a small, fast and powerful modular synthesizer with
a pattern-based sequencer (tracker).
As well as its own array of synthesizers, SunVox can record
real-time samples from sound card or other arbitrary input.
It can import tracks from MIDI, XM and MOD files and samples
from WAV, XI and AIFF files. It can export MIDI and WAV
formats and has full MIDI IN/OUT support.
SunVox supports ALSA, OSS and JACK.
Maintained by: fuzzix
Keywords: sunvox,tracker,sequencer,modular,synthesizer,synth,daw,music,alsa,jack,midi,mod,xm,wav
ChangeLog: sunvox
Download SlackBuild:
sunvox.tar.gz.asc (FAQ)
(the SlackBuild does not include the source)
|Individual Files:
| doinst.sh
| slack-desc
| sunvox.SlackBuild
| sunvox.desktop
| sunvox.info
| sunvox.png
© 2006-2023 SlackBuilds.org Project. All rights reserved.
Slackware® is a registered trademark of Patrick Volkerding
Linux® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds


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Great article, I love it. Also a lovely beach in the back ground.
They eat more. They laugh more. Big families are a blessing to those parents who are fortunate enough to have them, but the bill associated with taking them anywhere (especially on vacation) can be shocking. Before you resign yourself to a life of ho-hum campouts in the backyard, check out just a few of our tips from my recent My Life Scoop article that will help you save on big family travel.
Buy One, Get More
Vacationing can be an eclectic mix of restaurant visits, museum tours, and live events for many families, and with a per person admission (or meal) price to be reckoned with, it may be tempting to stay in the hotel and watch HBO instead of getting out there and seeing the world. While not offered to just those with large families, "buy one, get one" discounts are popular among those whose children are old enough to pay close to the adult price on anything from food to thrill rides. (My daughter, for example, pays just a few cents less than an adult price for everything, when establishments employ their $X times their age policy.)
Kids Meal Deals gives parents lots of listing for places that let you feed your brood for less – they even have a smartphone app! Sites like KidsEatFree.com are just starting out in areas like Orlando, but parents can purchase a card that lets the kids eat free at any time when in select establishments. For promotions on tourist's spots outside of the dining genre, Google the visitor's convention site for the area you will be staying. They usually have coupon books or email codes to help get the kids in for free.
Bonus tip: When getting a "free" anything, make sure you use it up on the kid that would cost the most at regular price. Many restaurants, for example, will just randomly pick a kid to comp, but smart parents know to ask for the kid that will get the biggest discount.
Read all of our tips at the My Life Scoop guide, and share your thoughts in the comments!
Disclaimer: The links and mentions on this site may be affiliate links. But they do not affect the actual opinions and recommendations of the authors.
Wise Bread is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.


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The deadly Australian bushfires appear to have been so deadly because they were unusual. The fires caught people before they new it was coming, and unlike many fires they were too strong to fight. What made these fires unusual? At first look it seems to be a combination of a lack of social memory, fuel accumulation, and climate change – that together reduced community resilience to fire.
From the New Scientist's Short sharp science blog Time for a new Australian bushfire policy?
Australia has a national fire-preparedness policy, perhaps uniquely, of encouraging people to either "stay and defend or leave early". But as the tragedy continues to unfurl there will be increasing pressure to reexamine a policy developed for conditions that existed half a century ago.
The rationale behind the policy is that if you have a fire plan in place – that is, you have a water source, a pump that is not dependent on the power supply, you have ember-proofed your house, and so on – it is safer to stay and let the front pass over, than to leave at the last moment. And historically, it is true that most houses lost in bush fires have burnt because of defendable ember-strikes rather than direct contact with the fire, and most deaths have been due last-minute evacuations.
But conditions have changed. Southern Australia's epic 12-year drought, higher temperatures due to climate change, and less "prescribed" burning to remove the plant life that acts as fuel, all combine to increase the risk of extreme fire. This year already, we've had several days in the mid-40s that have burnt leaves off trees, and squeezed the last drops of moisture out of already tinder-dry bush. One survivor described the ground underfoot prior to the fires going through as "like walking on cornflakes".
Under those conditions, a fire plan may simply not be enough, as Victoria's premier John Brumby told the Fairfax Radio Network today: "There is no question that there were people there who did everything right, put in place their fire plan and it wouldn't matter, their house was just incinerated." Brumby wants the policy rexamined.
People have changed too. Small towns like devastated Marysville – 90 minutes' drive northeast of Melbourne – as well as the ever-expanding fire-prone city fringes, are as likely to be home to retirees and "treechangers" (city people who move to the country for a life change) as they are to families with generations of bushfire experience.
One of the commonest reasons for people who intend to stay and defend their properties to change their mind and leave at the last moment is that with no direct experience of fire they are not prepared psychologically.
According to Robert Heath, a psychologist at the University of South Australia in Adelaide, they don't bank on the overwhelming heat, the lack of contact with the outside world, the darkness, or the noise: loud and like a huge blowtorch, apparently. Perhaps it's not surprising then, that many people who lost their lives are thought to have done so while fleeing in their cars.
For more details see:
- The Melbourne Age videos
- The Australian – "spot-on forecast – why was no one ready?"
- Leader's rethink survival strategies from Sydney Morning Herald.
- Australian Broadcasting Company's full coverage of the bushfires.
Thanks to Arijit Guha for pointers.


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Hey there! I'm back today for the final day of the June Papertrey Ink countdown. Everything you've seen peeks of will be available tomorrow!
And of course I bring you one more sample of my new design for this month. Splits: Way To Go...I've paired this geometric patterned label with a sentiment from a previously release Splits set... Splits: Just A Note.
I began this card with a pattern paper strip (from the Ombre Stripes collection) in Orange Zest, then stamped the geometric pattern just above it (using Splits: Way To Go stamp set), a tiny strip of Orange Zest cardstock to tie things together, and then topped it all off with a sentiment strip.
Well, there's a quick look at the Splits: Way To Go set. Just remember... all that you've seen today will be available for purchase through Papertrey Ink, beginning June 15th.
Now, be sure to visit the Papertrey Ink blog for more details on today's featured new product.
Thanks so much for stopping by!


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Feb. 4, 2014— -- After more than two decades of sobriety, Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was found inside his New York City apartment on Sunday, police said, with a needle stuck in his arm, dead from a possible heroin overdose.
Even with 23 years of abstinence under his belt, experts say that it's not all that surprising Hoffman fell off the wagon.
Related: Phillip Seymour Hoffman's Final 24 Hours
"We treat addiction like you can make it go away with a 28-day stint in rehab and that's the end of it, but that's not how it works," said Dr. Joseph Shrand, a Harvard professor and the medical director of CASTLE, a teen addiction treatment center in Brockton, Mass. "It requires lifelong vigilance to stay clean."
Research suggests that the chance of relapse does diminish over time but always remains a possibility.
One analysis funded by National Institutes on Drug Abuse found that between 25 percent and 50 percent of substance users resume drug or alcohol use within 2 years after finishing treatment. But two years is typically the maximum length recovering addicts participate in studies so people who hold out longer aren't captured in the data. In one of the few large, long-term studies that looked at addiction to opiates like heroin found that 25 percent of users relapsed after 15 years.
Relapses are so common, Shrand said, because drug dependency is a chronic condition not unlike diabetes or heart disease. So, while an addict can be in recovery, their addiction can only be managed, never fully cured.
And in a circumstance like Hoffman's, where he had been off of drugs for years, Shrand said it's easy for people to let their guard down.
Watch: Remembering the Work of Phillip Seymour Hoffman
"They get it in their mind that they can go back to using just once or just a little. Or maybe they think that they can use another substance other than their substance of choice and be fine, but they can't," he said. "It just takes one moment of weakness to lead them down a path of destruction."
Heroin is especially habit-forming because it overrides the brain's pleasure receptors, explained Dr. Jason Jerry, a professor of medicine with the Cleveland Clinic's Alcohol and Drug Recovery Center.
"Heroin crosses the blood-brain barrier and is transformed chemically into morphine, a substance that gives the user a rush of euphoria," he said.
With each use, the brain craves another rush -- and another and another. Over time, the brain is completely rewired so that getting high becomes an obsession and a compulsion, he said.
Ceasing heroin use doesn't reverse changes to the brain, Jerry said. Once the circuitry is altered, the change is permanent. A brain primed for heroin always itches for the drug. This not only predisposes a user for a setback, it could also explain why slip-ups like Hoffman's are so often fatal.
After using on a regular basis, the drug loses its potency, Jerry said. Eventually an addict needs a greater quantity of substance to get the same high.
"When you wake up the monster that has been lingering dormant in the brain for years, cravings for the drug are as strong ever, but tolerance is much lower," Jerry explained.
Addicts often lose sight of this and start with a dose that is close to the amount they took when they were actively using, he said.
"The brain may be ready for it, but the body can no longer handle it," he said.


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My goal as a wedding photographer is to capture the beautiful story of your wedding day. My "hands-off" approach allows you to enjoy the moment with friends, family, and loved ones without interruption. My focus is on capturing the bride, in all her beauty, on her special day. I strive to create interesting images that capture the moments that you will cherish.
I would love to learn your story! Please contact me if you like my vision for your wedding day photographs!


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The Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference is in Minneapolis this weekend, and I'll be there along with Uncivilized Books. Find us at Booth #839.
Also, I will be on a panel discussing Graphic Novels in translation. It's today (Thursday) at 10:30 AM, Room 205 A&B, Level 2. Here's the description.
R141. The Voyage of Graphic Literary Forms. (Mercedes Gilliom, Erica Mena, Tomasz Kaczynski, Brian Evenson, Diana Arterian) Four panelists who work at the intersection of graphic literature and translation discuss the challenges and benefits of transporting graphic literary forms from one language and culture to another. These writers, artists, and translators with backgrounds in comics creation, translation, editing, and publishing come together to share their experiences in reaching new audiences and markets for this expanding element in the creative writing landscape.
Stop by and say hello!


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Willa Friedman
Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Houston
Download CV
Willa Friedman is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Houston, studying issues in development economics and political economy. She was previously a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Center for Global Development. Her research deals with individual responses to institutions and policies and the impacts of these decisions. She is particularly interested in health, education, and participation in violence, with a regional focus on Sub-Saharan Africa.
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|Reformed Perspectives Magazine, Volume 10, Number 12, March 16 to March 22 2008
The History of Chiliasm
By William Masselink
This article is taken from Chapter III of Why Thousand Years? by William Masselink, published by Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1930, pp. 20-30."What is the origin of this strange doctrine?" you ask. The careful study of church history will furnish us with the conclusive answer. Premillennialism is a descent of ancient Judaism. There is a striking resemblance between the off-spring and the parent. The old Jewish conceptions of an external Messianic kingdom have found their perfect embodiment in the Chiliastic theory of the millennium. Premillennialism is a relic of Judaism. Dr. Hodge says of this, "It is a Jewish doctrine. The principles adopted by its advocates in the interpretation of prophecy are the same as have been adopted by the Jews in the time of Christ; and have led substantially to the same conclusions. The Jews expected that when the Messiah came He would establish a glorious earthly kingdom at Jerusalem; that those who had died in the faith should be raised from the dead to share the Messianic reign; that all nations and peoples on the face of the earth should be subject to them; and that any nation that would not serve them should be destroyed. All the riches and honors of the world were to be at their disposal. The event destroyed these expectations; and the principles of prophetic interpretation on which these expectations were founded were proved to be incorrect," Hodge Systematic Theology - Eschatology.
EXAMINATION OF OLD JEWISH WRITINGSThe Judaistic features of Chiliasm can be readily seen by an examination of the Apocalyptic writings of the Jews. The genesis of this doctrine may be found in these writings which are generally dated in the pre-Christian period. The Jews divided the future into two separate periods. The first era is considered to be of a temporal nature and is designated as the kingdom of the Messiah. The second era is of eternal duration and is called the kingdom of God. The transient Messianic kingdom prepares the way for the final setting up of the eternal kingdom of God. This is exactly the position of the Premillennialists of today. Christ's Messianic kingdom comes first and after that the kingdom of God. That the Chiliasts have incorporated a part of ancient Jewish eschatology in their scheme of the future is very evident. A general survey of the Jewish writings is all that is necessary to establish this fact. In the book of Enoch (chap. 91, 93) the entire course of the world is divided into ten weeks. At the close of the tenth period the eternal stage begins. In the third book of Sible the Messianic reign is first represented and after it has overcome its enemies, the kingdom of God begins. We find the same distinction in the Psalms of Solomon where the preliminary Messianic kingdom is described as something transitory. In Psalms 17 and 18, and in Psalm 3:12, we read of the resurrection to eternal life.
Coming down to the Christian period we meet this two-fold kingdom idea in the Slavic Enoch and in the Apocalypses of Ezra and Baruch. In these writings the duration of the Messianic period is fixed by a definite number of years. In 4 Ezra 7:28 the reign of Christ lasts four hundred years. After that time Christ with the rest of His earthly creatures, dies. Then the dead awake and the eternal judgment begins. So also in Baruch 40:3 the reign of Christ is represented as lasting till the world comes to an end.
In many of the Jewish writings, the presentation of these two stages has resulted in an orderless confusion. In the Similitudes of the book of Enoch and in the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs only one of the two aspects of the future hope is emphasized, whereas the other, while not denied, is nevertheless left in obscurity. For this reason scholars have thought that to bring order in the confusion the various elements were distributed over two successive periods. The Messianic was put first by the Jews as it was thought that the political hopes would first go into fulfillment and thereupon the new order of things should assume its eternal sway, cf. Pauline Eschatology, Vos.
Whether the Jews borrowed their materialistic conception in regard to the future kingdom from ancient Babylonian eschatology as is maintained by Dr. Bavinck, Hoekstra, and others, or whether Dr. Vos is correct in ascribing this Jewish view to their own carnal interpretation of Old Testament prophecy, is a question of minor importance for our present purpose. We believe with Dr. Vos that the charge of Babylonianism need not be laid against Chiliasm. It is not difficult for us to understand that Judaism with its external legalism and carnal expectation would come to such a materialistic conception of the Messianic reign. We do not believe that the Jews borrowed their views from heathen eschatology.
The later Jewish eschatology which was written during the time of the apostles and the early church is far more sensualistic than that which precedes. Baruch is especially typical of this sensualistic coloring. He speaks of the destruction of the enemies at Christ's coming. After the evil forces are subdued there will follow a period of prosperity and great joy. It is said that a vine will then have a thousand branches, every branch a thousand clusters and every cluster a thousand grapes, etc. We also read, "In those days reapers will not have to exert themselves, and those that build will not have to toil, for of themselves all work will have progress together with those who labor thereon."
The Jewish Talmud, which is of later origin, tells us that the promised Messiah will destroy the fourth world kingdom which is predicted by Daniel. Israel will be redeemed from the bondage and be gathered from the dispersion to their own land. The Messiah will raise the dead. Jerusalem and the temple will be rebuilt, law and ceremony restored and the kingdom of glory established. During this time the Gentiles shall live in servitude to Israel and the kings of the world will honor the Messiah with costly gifts and sacrifices.
JEWISH ORIGIN VERIFIED BY NEW TESTAMENTThis expectation of an earthly Messianic kingdom is also spoken of in the New Testament. The Jews were then suffering under the yoke of the Roman Empire as a conquered people. The loss of their independence and the high taxes that had to be paid to the Roman government at this time filled every true Israelite with sadness. They longed intensely for delivery from the yoke of Rome. In former years, the children of Jacob had suffered under the cruel bondage of the Egyptians. The oppression was hard and long but God came to their rescue and delivered them by supernatural power. In like manner, they expected a divine deliverance. The great Deliverer was promised in the Old Testament prophecies. With the coming of the Messiah, they looked forward to the emancipation from Caesar's Yoke. The Jews could no longer be described as truly spiritual minded. From idolatry, they had turned to legalism and externalism. After the Babylonian exile, their whole religious life had lost its spirituality. They considered an outward obedience to the law sufficient to bring them temporal and eternal reward. Instead of seeking God first in their lives, they lived for themselves. Their thoughts were self-centered instead of God-centered. The sense of sin and guilt before a just God was almost entirely forgotten. That the promised Messiah should bring about the great ransom for sin through His substitutionary sacrifice as Isaiah and the prophets had foretold, was no longer remembered. Their whole religious life had reached too low an ebb for such an exalted hope. They were only concerned about themselves in their present bondage. That the promised Messiah would usher in the eternal heavenly kingdom as their prophet Daniel had predicted, was far from their thoughts. They were absorbed with the things of this world and entertained no such spiritual expectation. They could only be satisfied with the prospect of a kingdom in which the Jews could rule over their enemies. They looked for a redeemer from the tyranny of a temporal monarch rather than a Redeemer from sin and Satan. With feverish longing they were looking for a speedy coming of their earthly Messiah. The anticipation of Christ's coming was a matter of general knowledge among all those who dwelt in Palestine. Even Herod had heard of it and at the time of Jesus' birth enquired eagerly from the high priest in regard to the place where Christ was to be born. The announcement of the newborn king had filled him with anxiety. He looked upon the Babe that was born as an earthly rival to his throne. The necessary information was soon received from the chief priests and the scribes, Matt. 2: 4 ff.
The apostle John informs us in the sixth chapter of his gospel that the Jews were ready to take Jesus and make Him king by force after the miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. Jesus, however, withdrew into the mountain. The people had seen the sign and became convinced that He was indeed the prophet that should come into the world. They were, however, only looking for an earthly kingdom. This carnal expectation becomes very evident at the close of the chapter when they murmured because He said He was the Bread of Life. The inspired writer tells us that this caused many of His disciples to go back and walk no more with Him. Jesus failed to satisfy their longing for an earthly king.
When at a later date the Pharisees asked Him concerning the time of the coming of the kingdom of God, the Lord replied, "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you." The Pharisees were thinking of an earthly Messianic kingdom which was to come with observation and power. Jesus corrects their mistake by telling them the true spiritual nature of the kingdom. This could not be perceived by the unregenerate mind because the whole nature of that kingdom was elevated far above their realm of thought.
Jesus instructed His disciples by parables in order that they might know the "mysteries of the kingdom of heaven." The contrast is sharply drawn between His true followers and the Scribes and Pharisees. The mysteries of the kingdom were hidden from the Pharisees and Scribes because of their carnal-mindedness. The great Dr. Warfield once said, "Had Jesus immediately disclosed Himself as the Messiah of that spiritual kingdom He would not have lived another three weeks. The hatred of His enemies increased in the same proportion as it became more and more evident that He was the promised Christ. The resurrection of Lazarus from the dead was the climax. His Messianic mission then became so evident that immediately steps were taken against Him. That He came to seek and to save the lost and to establish that spiritual kingdom, in which God would be all in all, went against the very grain of their reasoning. The disciples, however, were given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom through His parables. The superlative mystery of that kingdom was contained in its deep spirituality in contrast with the materialistic hopes of the Jews of that time.
The thought of an earthly kingdom was also predominant with Judas Iscariot. He followed Jesus with a purely selfish motive. Judas expected to reap great honor and temporal advantage from the Lord. When he sees that his earthly anticipation would never be attained he turns against his Master and betrays Him for thirty pieces of silver.
The expectation of an earthly kingdom is expressed strongly at the time of Jesus' crucifixion. The rulers together with the people that stood by reproached Him by saying, "If thou art the king of the Jews, save thyself." Their crude conception of Jesus' kingship could not be harmonized with His agonizing pain at Golgotha. This was so because they expected a different Messiah. His death on the cross was to them a convincing argument that Jesus was not the promised king of the Jews. They protested against the superscription of Pilate, "This is the King of the Jews," because they felt ashamed to acknowledge such a one as their king.
Even the disciples of Jesus were not entirely free from this mistaken earthly conception of His kingdom. The mother of the Sons of Zebedee came with the foolish request that one of her sons might sit at His right and another at His left hand when He came in His kingdom. Jesus rebuked her by saying, "Ye know not what ye ask." The disciples still clung to this hope after the resurrection of the Lord. Luke informs us in Acts that their last question to Him just before the ascension was, "Lord wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" Jesus again corrects their mistaken conception by reminding them of the true spiritual nature of this kingdom. It would be realized through the preaching of the gospel after the Holy Spirit had qualified them for that supreme task. They should be His witnesses both in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth. It was not for them to know the times and the seasons of the final consummation of that heavenly kingdom because the Father had set that in His own authority.
The Chiliastic hope of an earthly kingdom is an importation of the eschatology of the Jews. This, we believe, has been made plain by the foregoing references to the Apocalyptic writings of Judaism as well as from the current expectations among the Jews that prevailed during the ministry of Jesus on earth. Jesus' teaching in regard to the nature and development of His kingdom can only be understood in the light of this fact. This relic of Judaism was still in the subconscious mind of the followers of Jesus before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It touches our hearts with pain to think that this Judaistic expectation which was repeatedly corrected and even severely rebuked by our Master, should again thrive within the present day Christian church.
HISTORICAL SURVEY OF PREMILLENNIALISMThe Chiliastic conception immediately found acceptance in the Christian church. To give a detailed historic account of this doctrine would be going far beyond the bounds of this book, therefore in our discussion we shall limit ourselves to what we consider the most important historical developments of this doctrine.
THE EARLY CHURCHThe Apostolic history shows us that many of the old church fathers were leaning toward this view. So for example Corinthes, who is thought to have been a contemporary of the Apostle John, believed that Christ would have an earthly reign lasting a thousand years with His seat in Jerusalem. Papias in the middle of the second century holds the same view. Likewise, Justin Martyr (about 150 A.D.) says that the majority of the Christians at his time were looking forward to an earthly kingdom, but he adds that there were also good Christians who had other opinions. Irenaeus (latter part of 2nd century) believed that after the destruction of the Roman Empire, Christ would return and would literally bind Satan with a rope.
On the other hand, in many of the writings of the other church fathers, we find no traces of Chiliasm; e.g., no mention is made of it in the two letters of Clemens of Rome, written to the church at Corinth, at about 90 A.D. We also do not find it in the letters of Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch at about 100 A.D., nor in the letters written in the latter half of the second century by Polycarpus, Bishop of Smyrna, nor in the polemic writings of Athenagoras and Theophilas of Antioch.
FROM THE THIRD CENTURY TO THE REFORMATIONFrom the third century onward until the Reformation, Chiliasm made little progress in the Christian church. The decline can largely be ascribed to the extension of Christianity to the Gentile countries and also to the unbroken prosperity which the church then enjoyed. The Gnostic philosophy of this period and the Alexandrian school with its allegorical interpretations of the Scripture were also a great detriment to the progress of Chiliasm. By far the most important figure of this period was the great church father Augustine, whose far reaching influence also in this matter, extended even beyond the Reformation, as his views in this were in the main, accepted by the four great reformers of the sixteenth century. Augustine believed the Old Testament prophecy and Rev. 20 were to be interpreted spiritually; being symbolical of the eternal glory which the church would receive in the other world.
At the time of the crusades, it was again thought that the coming of Christ was at hand, in consequence of which many Christian worshippers returned to Palestine. Whenever war or persecution was present, Chiliasm again received a fresh impetus. In that way, it found acceptance by a number of sects in the middle ages, but it is true, that from the time of Augustine up to the Reformation, Chiliasm had little influence in the Christian church.
CHILIASM REJECTED BY THE GREAT REFORMERSChiliasm again revived during the dark period of the Reformation. This was largely due to the degradation of the Roman church at that time and also to the bloody persecutions which the church then endured. The doctrine, as we mentioned before, was rejected by both Luther and the other reformers with such absoluteness that it never appeared in any of their confessions, (Cf. Hoekstra's "Bijdrage tot de Kennis en de beoordeeling van het Chiliasme" pp 29). The Augsburg Confession explicitly states that they reject all those who spread the Jewish opinion, that prior to the resurrection of the dead the pious shall receive the administration of the world and then shall bring the ungodly under subjection, (Augsburg Confession, last Art.).
Hallazius reproduces the Reformed and Lutheran view on this subject when he says, "A millennial reign of Christ, characterized by a pre-eminent knowledge of the mysteries of God, by a holy life, and an earthly prosperity for those involved, is not to be expected by God's children in this world," (Cf. Hase, Hutterus redivivus, Lpz. 1868, pp. 279).
The view of the Reformed church on this subject finds expression in the Confession Helvitica, — "We reject the Jewish fancy that there shall be before the day of judgment a golden age in which the pious shall take over the control of the world after their enemies the ungodly have been subdued, because the Evangelists Matthew and Luke, as seen in Matt. 24-25 and in Luke 18, and also in the apostolic teachings as found in II Thess. 2, and in II Tim. 2, 4, give us quite a different representation," (Art. on Judgment, translated from Dutch). So also in the "Nederlandsche Geloofsbelijdenis" no mention is made of a glorious reign of peace and prosperity of Christ and the believers and of a double resurrection after the coming of Christ. The last article of this confession explicitly states that the resurrection and final judgment shall both take place at the time of Christ's coming.
LATER GROWTH OF CHILIASMChiliasm was also very prominent among the Lutherans of Germany during this time. It especially revived with the Pietists under the influence of the pious Johann Albrecht Bengel in 1750. Soon after this the cold breath of rationalism swept over the whole continent. This was again followed by the bloody campaigns of Napoleon. When all this was going on Chiliasm prospered greatly. Practically all of the theological thinking in Germany and Holland not directly under the influence of the great Reformation, was colored by it. This is especially true of the Vermittelungs-Theologie of Germany represented by Peter Lange, Ebrard, Rothe, Hofmann, Delitzsch, Kurtz, and others in the first part of the nineteenth century. They interpreted the prophecies of Ezekiel about the new temple in a materialistic way and expected the fulfillment at Christ's second coming. Israel shall then be converted and all Levitical ceremonies restored as a retrospective commemoration of Christ's atonement.
Some of the other theologians of this time must be called mild Chiliasts. So, for example, the Dutch theologian Van Oosterzee expected only one return of Christ. This is to be followed by His reign upon earth, during which time part of humanity will live in a state of glory. The general conversion of the Jews and many of the Gentiles will then be realized. After this there will be the general resurrection and judgment. He however thought that the number "thousand" in Revelation 20, "is not arithmetical but a symbolical number; and nothing may be promised or expected of that period which is an irreconcilable contradiction with the principles laid down by Jesus Himself in John 4:21. The predictions of the prophets also as to the national restoration of Israel, must not be regarded alone, but understood according to the rule of Melanchthon: the gospel is the interpretation of prophecy," cf. Christian Dogmatics of Van Oosterzee, Vol. 2, p. 799.
In our time, the Jewish movement called Zionism deserves special attention in this connection. Special effort is put forth to bring the Jews back to Palestine. It is but natural that this movement is sympathetically observed by many Christians of the present day who are looking forward to the restoration of Israel to the promised land and the speedy inauguration of the millennial kingdom which they suppose will follow. The recent World War has also had an effect in stimulating the belief in this doctrine.
This brief survey of history shows that Chiliasm flourished during times of adversity and hardships. This also accounts for its great progress during the great war.
|This article is provided as a ministry of Third Millennium Ministries (Thirdmill). If you have a question about this article, please email our Theological Editor.
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WASHINGTON -- Acting Medicare chief Marilyn Tavenner vowed to work with doctors to "reexamine the pace at which we implement ICD-10," the medical diagnosis coding update that organized medicine has been pushing Medicare to delay.
ICD-10 -- which quintuples the number of diagnosis codes -- is scheduled to become effective on Oct. 1, 2013, but doctors have protested the costs and complications of implementing the changes, especially with other health IT and Affordable Care Act requirements.
Tavenner, acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), spoke at the AMA's National Advocacy Conference here. She didn't say specifically that the ICD-10 start date would be pushed back, but said that CMS would create a working group with physicians to guide the implementation of the update.
She also told reporters that CMS would issue a notice of proposed rulemaking on the ICD-10 issue in a few days.
Tavenner's comments were met with scattered applause from the early-morning crowd.
ICD-10, the 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases, is the manual most commonly used for coding medical diagnoses on claims for Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurers.
ICD-10 codes differ from current ICD-9 codes in several respects, including a different number of digits, but the biggest difference is the number of codes -- 68,000 compared with 13,000.
Earlier this month, the AMA wrote to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), urging it to "immediately halt" plans to start ICD-10 next October.
Getting technology up to speed for the new codes is a major undertaking, AMA CEO James Madara, MD, said in a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. The timing "could not be worse" for the transition to ICD-10, Madara said, because many physicians are already spending lots of time and money implementing another federal mandate -- electronic health records -- into their practices.


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Tuesday, November 8, 2016
An Election Day Nerve Calmer
I can't believe the amount of anxiety this election has caused me, and I know I'm not alone here, so I thought I would attempt calm our frayed nerves and lower a few blood pressure points by posting one giant heap of cute.
Here you go. I do hope it helps.
Thank you, adorable kittens. I think it helped.
44 comments:
That certainly helped. Whenever I go to visit a MD, I always spend my waiting time thinking about IBKC kitten pictures. Last time at the cardiologist, Blood Pressure was 110/72! Thank you IBKC!ReplyDelete
- MarianneNovember 8, 2016 at 7:38 AM
That definitely helped! Thank you!ReplyDelete
Yes. THANK YOU.ReplyDelete
I feel better already! But I might have to scroll through a few more times, just to be sure :)ReplyDelete
I've never wanted to huff a kitten so much in my entire life! And Wylla still holds reign as the cutest kitten ever! <3ReplyDelete
Perfect. I feel better already, stress level is down to pretty much nothing. Thank you.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 8, 2016 at 7:47 AM
Please add a video with some purring!ReplyDelete
I am a member of the IBKC party. Vote for floof!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 8, 2016 at 8:28 AM
Thank you, Laurie! This helped a lot!ReplyDelete
~Patti in D.C.
My blood pressure instantly dropped. Precious. Just precious. Thank you, IBKC!ReplyDelete
- Kenai's MomNovember 8, 2016 at 8:37 AM
Anything that starts with two Spooners spooning and includes Harlan Lovejoy chomping on his tail is going to lower my blood pressure today.ReplyDelete
That really helped a lot ! Nothing but a reminder of all that is soft , adorable and funny . Thank for the Dearborn's also . Hugs from an exhausted Norwegian anxiously following your presidential election .ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 8, 2016 at 8:48 AM
Thank you, Laurie-and-fam.ReplyDelete
Love, Darin
Hopefully not, but possibly the only thing that brought a smile to my face today! Thank you for sharting.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 8, 2016 at 9:17 AM
Warren!!!! And Hubie!! And all of them! Yes, it helps. Thanks.--from ArowynReplyDelete
My computer keeps force closing every time I try to view this post because it's too much cuteness for one webpage! :DReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 8, 2016 at 9:20 AM
Thank you Laurie! Thank you for all you do for the kittens you foster, for the pet community and for brightening your little corner of the internet. You made my day! Thank you!ReplyDelete
Kittehs *always* help! Thx Laurie! :)ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 8, 2016 at 9:51 AM
Best. Post. EVER!ReplyDeleteReplies
- AnonymousNovember 9, 2016 at 2:55 PM
Amen to that! That is exactly what I thought. Thank you for this kitties fantastical post!Delete
- AnonymousNovember 9, 2016 at 2:55 PM
thank youDelete
- AnonymousNovember 8, 2016 at 9:59 AM
Every last one is the cutest kitten I've ever seen. This was exactly what I needed today!ReplyDelete
Thank you! I'll be in a newsroom all day covering the election, and the kittehs will make things much easier. I'll share the link with my coworkers. :)ReplyDelete
Yep, this helps! Lots of kitten toe beans, skinny kitten legs, fat kitten bellies, Perla! and Baby Wylla makes for a more hopeful day. Did you vote yet?ReplyDelete
Many thanks for the giant dose of sweetness and light. I'm already looking forward to a return trip or two.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 8, 2016 at 10:54 AM
Thank you Laurie! I forgot how may pictures I love. All the orange tabbies and oh Hubie. You made my day.ReplyDelete
That picture of Linus gets me every time!ReplyDelete
Yep. Right now, I'm the kitten hanging from the drapes. But, like the post with Kisses originally said, "The End is Near!" Thank heavens.ReplyDelete
I won't see my own kitty until about 8 EST, so this post was much needed and appreciated.
Cute always helps, and I sure did need that!ReplyDelete
- foffmomNovember 8, 2016 at 12:35 PM
Perfect post! (And Perla!!) I think after this election we can all be united in relief that is it OVER. Be gone, political robocalls! No more political emails, multiple a day!!!! I have three kitties on the couch with me, 2 purring and one asleep. We will get through this!ReplyDelete
Just what I needed today, thank you!ReplyDelete
Also, would you please come decorate my house? I just love your style. You could slip a few kittens in your pockets and bring them along, too.
I'm with Bean!ReplyDelete
Thank you, Laurie! You're the best! And good luck with the big project tomorrow! I know it will be spectacular. I look forward to seeing photos!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 8, 2016 at 4:53 PM
I agree on the important kitty issue. I juat spent 15 minutes in my apartnent parking lot petting handsome orange neighborhood cat and telling him I wished he were running for office instead.ReplyDelete
Just what I needed, how did you know? Wee Wylla of course is the cutest ever !! I just want to bury my nose in kitten fluff and forget the day.ReplyDelete
- freckledmeNovember 8, 2016 at 6:13 PM
I posted on FB two days ago that I'd be "in the cat part of the internet" until Wednesday, so, THANK YOU!!!!ReplyDelete
- freckledmeNovember 8, 2016 at 6:14 PM
I posted on FB two days ago that I'd be "in the cat part of the internet" until Wednesday, so, THANK YOU!!!!ReplyDelete
Whenever you show the photo of Kisses I always wonder what happened to him? I imagine him adopted and happily lazing around.ReplyDelete
I vote for the Bean/Wylla ticket!ReplyDelete
Just what I needed, how did you know? Wee Wylla of course is the cutest ever !! I just want to bury my nose in kitten fluff and forget the day.ReplyDelete
for more info www.doghealth01.com
Thank you, kittens!ReplyDelete
thanks, i needed that!ReplyDelete


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- In Focus
The Battle for Africa's Oldest National Park
The mystery surrounding a wounded conservationist, and the fight for war-torn Virunga
The waters of Lake Edward have finally grown calm as Josué Kambasu revs his pirogue's outboard motor, steering the craft past the local pod of hippos before heading toward the fishing boats returning with their previous night's catch.
Kambasu, the head of a local fishermen's cooperative, has invited me on an early morning tour of the lake—located within Virunga National Park in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Plagued by decades of overfishing, he tells me, Edward's stocks of tilapia, bagrid catfish, and the eel-like protopteur have begun to recover. To prove it, he's hoping to show me pêche de Merode—local slang for a bumper catch and a testament to the park's chief warden, Emmanuel de Merode, whose strong enforcement of fishing regulations has helped drive the industry's revival.
Despite de Merode's popularity on the lake, it's a sensitive time to be discussing his record.
Two weeks earlier, on April 15, the 44-year-old Belgian had been ambushed while driving to Virunga's Rumangabo headquarters, shot by unknown gunmen. Although he was widely admired for upholding the law in a region long defined by lawlessness, his work also had given him many enemies: poachers, illegal charcoal harvesters, and members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a rebel militia founded by the ethnic Hutu perpetrators of Rwanda's 1994 genocide who have long hunted the park's animals for bush meat, cut down its trees, and built bases in its vast remote areas. Along the way, they have often clashed with park rangers and raped and looted local populations.
In addition, de Merode had been a leading critic of oil exploration inside the park, currently being carried out by London-based Soco International.
Under a contract signed with the DRC government in 2010, Soco has access to a block of land that includes 1,500 square miles of the park—roughly 50 percent—including much of Virunga's southern and central sectors and the two-thirds of Lake Edward that falls within the DRC's borders.
On May 1, as de Merode was recovering from the shooting in Nairobi, Kenya, and preparing for his eventual return to the park three weeks later, Soco contractors began recording seismic data from the lake floor. In the coming weeks, data they collect will be used to determine whether there are underground formations that might hold extractable oil.
It's a prospect, Kambasu tells me, that worries many in his home village of Vitshumbi, located at the southern end of Lake Edward. Almost entirely dependent on fishing, Vitshumbi's 20,000 residents fear a future of invasive rigs, polluted waters, and disrupted fish-spawning zones. But they also worry about potential violence, which has plagued the area for 20 years as multiple militia groups (some backed by neighboring countries) have fought the Congolese military and each other. Now the villagers see potential threats from powerful political actors vying for a piece of possible oil contracts; by armed groups targeting oil infrastructure for profit; and by local youths who, like many across the region, can't find work and often join militias out of desperation.
For now, though, there's little Vitshumbi's fishermen can do but cast their nets and hope.
The Belgian Prince
Appointed by the DRC government in August 2008, Emmanuel de Merode was an unusual choice to manage Africa's oldest national park, which is overseen by the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN), a government agency.
Born into a family of Belgian noble lineage and officially designated a prince, he first arrived in Congo in 1993 to conduct research for a Ph.D. in anthropology. Eventually he began working closely with Virunga's rangers through the Nairobi-based NGO WildlifeDirect, established in 2004 by his father-in-law, Richard Leakey, the Kenyan paleoanthropologist. De Merode slowly molded a reputation as a friend of Congo's people and its wildlife.
Virunga, which was founded in 1925 by Belgium's King Albert I, is a naturalist's utopia: Slightly smaller than Yellowstone, it's a land of unparalleled biodiversity, home to half of all the species on the African continent. Because of the park's wide variations in altitude and rainfall and its location along the seismically active Albertine Rift, its habitats include lava plains, tropical forests, marshes, savannas, glaciers, mountain snowfields, and two active volcanoes—including one, Nyiragongo, with what is arguably the world's most spectacular open-air lava lake.
Virunga's fauna, which includes elephants, lions, hippos, chimpanzees, and okapi—striped forest-dwelling mammals most closely related to giraffes—is just as varied. The park's most prized inhabitants, though, are 200 of the world's 880 remaining mountain gorillas, which inhabit the lower slopes of several extinct volcanoes that rise from the southeastern edge of the park and cut across the borders of Rwanda and Uganda.
Despite Virunga's natural wealth, the park de Merode inherited was a mess.
Already in decline from decades of mismanagement by previous wardens, Virunga had served for the past 14 years as a theater for what some scholars have termed Africa's World War—a multilayered conflict that, at its height, involved nine African national armies and dozens of rebel outfits, and spawned a regional humanitarian crisis that left an estimated five million dead.
Since July 1994, when more than a million Rwandan Hutu refugees—including scores who had participated in the genocide—fled across the DRC border as the Rwandan Patriotic Front captured power in Kigali, the park had been under serious strain. With the passing of time, this would only accelerate, as myriad armed groups turned to poaching, illegal fishing, and other extractive activities to fund their operations. Sometimes, as the years went on, they continued to fight because they knew no other livelihood.
By 2007 Virunga's crisis had reached a breaking point. That September, forces loyal to a Congolese Tutsi warlord, Laurent Nkunda, had captured the Mikeno Sector of the park, home of the Virunga mountain gorillas, and had refused to let any rangers inside the area.
That year, ten gorillas had been killed. As it turned out, at least seven of the rare animals were not killed by rebels or poachers, but rather by members of an illegal charcoal racket linked to the park's chief warden at the time, Honoré Mashagiro. In August 2008, with Mashagiro in jail and facing trial and the government-run ICCN reeling amid internal power struggles, Kinshasa turned to a foreigner, de Merode, to take back control of the park.
By all accounts, he attacked the assignment with gusto. First on de Merode's to-do list was to approach the rebel leader, Nkunda, and negotiate a return of his rangers to Mikeno—a feat that, despite the burning of park headquarters, he managed to accomplish by November.
Next he turned to securing the rest of the park, improving patrols of its forests, cracking down on charcoal harvesters and poachers, impounding unlicensed fishing boats, and soliciting foreign donors to boost his administration's meager budget.
De Merode also worked to improve conditions among the park's 300 rangers, whose jobs have been called the most dangerous in all of conservation. Since the start of the Congo conflict, 140 have been killed in the line of duty, yet before de Merode arrived, their salaries—which often went unpaid by the government—barely covered the basic necessities of life.
"The conditions before were very, very bad," Augustin Rwimo, a 28-year ICCN veteran, tells me when I ask how his profession has changed under de Merode's management. "But now we eat three meals a day. And everyone who is working is able to send his children to school. Most of our rangers have even built their own houses."
After boosting the morale of his staff, de Merode then turned to local people—four million of whom, he estimates, live within a day's walk of the park. Knowing that their support is crucial for Virunga's revival to be successful, he balanced his crackdown—arrests and confiscations—with new roads, schools, health clinics, and water sources. He also implemented a program to support the manufacturing of eco-friendly cooking briquettes, intended to reduce reliance on expensive and destructive charcoal.
The projects are part of an initiative known as the Virunga Alliance, an ICCN-led consortium of government, civil society, and private-sector actors working to support local residents through four pillars: promoting investment in sustainable fisheries, developing green energy, establishing agro-industries, including palm oil, soap, and papaya enzyme processing, and—as the security situation allows—working to promote tourism.
For the moment, the alliance's flagship project is a 12.6-megawatt hydroelectric plant, funded by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, under construction near the town of Rutshuru, where less than 5 percent of households are connected to the grid. Although it was delayed by yet another rebellion—the Rwanda-backed M23, which occupied swaths of the park from April 2012 until last November—the project, which follows a smaller pilot in the north of the park, is due to be on line in 2016.
"Once we have power, we believe we can create sustainable industries," says Ir Safari Samuel, an engineer overseeing the project. "Today, for many of our youth, the main occupation is war. We want to change that."
It is clear that such investments have gained de Merode the respect of many locals—from fishermen, to farmers, to children who shout his name as I pass, unaware, perhaps, that the mzungu (Swahili slang for "white person") they know best is recovering from his shooting in Nairobi.
Even so, there are some who are not happy.
In the village of Kibumba, not far from the shooting site, Cristophe Bahati, 18, tells me of neighbors who were angered last year when no one from the area was selected in a drive to recruit new rangers. In Kibirizi, several hours farther north, villagers recount an episode from last October, when they say ICCN rangers ordered the destruction of several agricultural plots, leaving local farmers on the verge of ruin. Although they admit that the fields were inside park boundaries, they say authorities gave little warning before arriving to uproot their crops and that soldiers working alongside the ICCN had threatened them when they tried to resist.
One man, Kambale Katsuva, tells me he was previously harvesting 50 sacks of potatoes a year, worth $50 each—a decent living in eastern Congo—but now is jobless. After seeking approval from the local chief, he takes me on a motorbike to show me his former field, now overrun with weeds.
"I've been farming this land for years," he tells me. "And ICCN knew about it. I don't understand why they had to surprise us like this."
The most contentious issue of all, though, is the search for Virunga's oil.
Despite Soco's contract with de Merode's employer, the Congolese government, de Merode has been a leading opponent of all oil-related activity in the park, arguing that exploration and possible future extraction not only pose grave environmental risks but also are illegal under Congolese law.
The extent to which de Merode and ICCN have been involved in legal challenges to oil exploration remains in dispute. Prior to his shooting, according to multiple local activists who track issues related to the park, de Merode visited the Office of the Prosecutor General in Goma, North Kivu's provincial capital, to discuss a legal inquiry into the Block 5 contract. However, the prosecutor general Dieudonné Kongolo Ilunga, has said that no such meeting took place.
De Merode has not commented publicly on whether or not he met with the prosecutor about Block 5, and neither he nor ICCN legal adviser Mathieu Cingoro responded to repeated requests for comment.
Whatever the case, around 5 p.m. on April 15, de Merode was fired on by three gunmen. An hour later, he lay on an operating table in a Goma hospital, alive but deeply shaken.
A Geological Scandal
That the outside world is drawn to the natural wealth of Congo is far from a new phenomenon. Beginning in 1885, Belgium's King Leopold II embarked on a vicious campaign of forced labor and terror to extract a personal fortune from Congo's natural riches. Its rubber, ivory, diamonds, copper, and mahogany helped build industrial Belgium.
During the 32-year rule of Mobutu Sese Seko, the nation's industrial mining infrastructure withered to the point of collapse and then was largely sold off to foreign entities after 2001, when current president Joseph Kabila took office. More recently, actors linked to Rwanda and Uganda have also exploited the artisanal gold, tin, and coltan.
Overshadowed by its mineral wealth, Congo's known hydrocarbon potential has historically attracted little interest from both would-be investors and the DRC government.
Aside from limited oil production along its tiny Atlantic coast—which began in the 1960s—the country saw little hydrocarbon activity until the early 2000s, when a British firm, Heritage Oil, signed a deal with Kinshasa to explore a vast concession in the Albertine Rift, which included parts of Virunga. Although the exploration did not take place, prospecting across the Ugandan border proved successful. There, in 2006, the Anglo-Irish firm Tullow Oil made a 1.1-billion-barrel discovery in the vicinity of Lake Albert, the first commercially viable oil in East Africa. Interest in the region jumped immediately.
Soco, formed in 1991 and valued at $1.4 billion on the London Stock Exchange, is similar to Tullow, Heritage, and the many other small companies at the forefront of a new wave of oil and gas exploration in sub-Saharan Africa. Unable to compete with the industry's major players, the company focuses its search for hydrocarbons on what Roger Cagle, Soco's deputy CEO, calls "places that are not overcrowded or overpriced"—a euphemism for the less desirable and often more difficult areas of operation. It's a model, he tells me by phone from his London office, that comes with considerable risk.
"In this business, the odds are generally not in your favor," he speaks in a Western drawl, the relic of a childhood in small-town Oklahoma. "But if you're successful, the payoff can be big."
As Cagle explains, Soco's engagement in the DRC actually began in Bas-Congo, the Atlantic-bordering province in the country's distant west—where it drilled two exploratory wells in 2010 that were ultimately unsuccessful. That year, Kabila ratified a 2006 license granting a consortium of Soco and the British firm Ophir rights to Block 5, one of five government-drawn concessions in the Albertine Rift and one of three that include slices of Virunga.
Today one of these blocks remains unallocated, while the French giant Total, which heads a consortium with rights to the third, has pledged it will not explore within the park's boundaries. Yet Soco, which bought out Ophir's stake in 2012, has forged ahead, returning to Lake Edward this year after evacuating its camp during the height of the M23 rebellion.
The seismic study that began last month, Cagle says, entails the releasing of compressed air at intervals along the lake bed—a process that previously was conducted on the one-third of Lake Edward that sits in Ugandan waters. The data collected over roughly six weeks will identify whether subterranean structures exist from which oil could potentially be extracted—after which point Soco, together with the Congolese government, will assess the future viability of the project.
"The seismic study won't even tell us if there's oil," says Cagle, noting that such a discovery would require drilling—most likely on land—at a possible later phase in the contract. "It will simply give us a profile of the subsurface geology and whether there could be the potential for oil, if it is even there, to have been trapped."
The Grassroots Fight
For a leading figure in the battle against Virunga oil, environmental activist Bantu Lukambo has his office in an odd location: a gas station. I meet him in Goma, a hardscrabble town that sprawls along Lake Kivu's northern shores and, despite being briefly overrun by the M23 in 2012, is one of the safer population centers in the region.
Entering Lukambo's compound, I step past old tires, a rusted vintage fuel pump, and piles of hardened lava rocks—the building material of choice in a town that lies ten miles from an active volcano. Dressed in a purple T-shirt, carrying a cane, and limping on a clunky prosthetic leg, Lukambo invites me into his cluttered office. Speaking in French, he offers me instant coffee, served in a plastic mug, and begins to tell me how he, like Emmanuel de Merode, is working to save Virunga.
At 40, Lukambo has been fighting for Congo's wildlife for most of his adult life—a profession that has made him many enemies. The son of a local chief, he was born and raised among the fishermen of Vitshumbi, relocating to Goma in 1996, the same year the Rwanda-backed rebellion had swept through the region. Alarmed by the spike in poaching and illegal fishing as the rebels lurked inside Virunga's forests, Lukambo founded an NGO called Innovation for the Development and the Protection of the Environment (IDEP), and began partnering with ICCN and other local and international organizations working to protect the region's wildlife.
Today, Lukambo has an operational budget of $300,000, employs 22 mobile staff, and has a reputation for daring feats of activism. Since establishing IDEP, Lukambo says he's been arrested six times and been forced to flee the country twice: once after rescuing a baby gorilla that had been captured by poachers and sold to a network of animal traffickers, and again after implicating leaders of a rebel militia in the slaughter of ten hippopotamuses. His most recent brush with the law occurred in early 2012, when he organized a demonstration in Vitshumbi to protest Soco's planned exploration for oil. This, he tells me, is now the park's greatest threat.
Lukambo is not alone in this assessment.
Since Kabila ratified Soco's rights to Block 5, the firm has received a barrage of criticism from local and international conservationists, human rights groups, and even the British government. UNESCO, which listed Virunga as a World Heritage site in 1979, has said that oil exploration in Virunga violates the DRC's commitments to the World Heritage Convention and called for the cancellation of all oil permits inside the park. Over the past two months, de Merode's shooting, the start of seismic testing, and the release of a new feature-length documentary, Virunga, which includes undercover footage that purports to expose several acts of attempted bribery by individuals said to be Soco supporters and security operatives, have brought the issue back into the spotlight. Soco, which has since released a statement that insists the company "condemns all forms of corruption" and accuses the filmmakers of misrepresenting its "track record to date of responsible operating," has nonetheless been caught off guard by the outcry.
"We knew there would be opposition," Cagle tells me. "There always is. But the timbre and clamor of the people who are against this boggles my mind."
For Soco's critics, though, reasons for alarm are plenty. First there are concerns over the project's legality, under both the DRC's World Heritage Convention commitments and Congolese national law. Most critically, the DRC's law on the conservation of nature, adopted in 1969, prohibits several activities, including "disturbing or harming wildlife in any way" and "excavating, drilling, sampling, or all other work that would alter terrain or vegetation" within the country's protected areas.
As both Soco and the DRC government have stressed, however, the law contains exemptions for "scientific research activities," which under some interpretations could legally justify the current phase of exploration. In our conversation Cagle insists the current seismic survey is not against the law, and he emphasizes that Soco's only legally binding contract is its commitment to provide seismic data to the government.
Critics, like the Goma-based attorney Isaac Mumbere, disagree, arguing the loophole does not apply to any studies, however "scientific," that also have a stated commercial purpose. According to Mumbere, who also serves as a project manager at Goma's Center for Research on Environment, Democracy, and Human Rights (CREDDHO), the existing Soco contract violates not only the law of 1969 but also laws related to fishing, agriculture, and the preservation of the country's forests.
"Our position is clear that oil exploration in Virunga is against the law," he says. "We believe the contract signed by Kabila and Soco has no legal basis."
In addition to the legal debate, there are the potential risks to Virunga's vulnerable habitats—both inside the park and among the human populations at its fringes. More than two decades of studies from around the world suggest that maritime seismic surveys like the one under way on Lake Edward pose only minor risks to the health of fish, other aquatic fauna, and overall maritime environments. However, the prospect of future exploratory drilling and/or oil extraction present a host of environmental concerns—from the presence of invasive oil infrastructure to the risk of spills, leaks, and—in a conflict-prone region—disasters caused by sabotage.
After the granting of Soco's concession, Lukambo tells me, he and other activists took a study trip to Muanda, the country's only active oil-producing zone, along the DRC's distant Atlantic coast. There, he says, the locals he met were the "poorest" he has seen in Congo, noting he'd witnessed considerable environmental damage.
His findings are consistent with a 2013 investigation by CCFD-Terre Solidaire, a French NGO, which reports that more than three decades of onshore oil extraction have left Muanda's water, air, and agricultural land polluted, depleted local fish stocks, led to gas flares from poor waste treatment, and created few employment opportunities for locals. According to the report, these consequences have been exacerbated by a "context of delinquency" linked to deeply ingrained corruption and Congo's weak central state (as of 2013, the DRC trailed only Somalia in the global Fragile States Index, compiled by the Washington-based think tank Fund for Peace).
In Congo's east, still rife with insecurity, analysts warn the risks of oil activities are even more acute. According to a 2012 report by the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank, oil, if confirmed, would "exacerbate" the region's "deep-rooted conflict dynamics," which have long been inextricably linked to its resource abundance. In addition, the report warns of potentially destabilizing struggles for access and influence among elites throughout the exploration and production process.
According to Lukambo, this jockeying over the Block 5 contract has already begun in earnest, even if it could be years before oil in Virunga is discovered—if it's ever discovered at all.
"This question of oil, it's controlled by a small group," he tells me. "It's like a mafia. Their work is to eat this money at the expense of the population."
Lukambo continues, naming several public officials he says are widely believed to have personal financial interests in the Soco contract—even though the company may not know it—and therefore have incentives to thwart those fighting to keep Soco out of the park.
"You know," he adds, sensing what I'm about to ask him. "The place where Emmanuel was shot is one of the most secure areas around the park. There are four different army camps nearby. It's not a place where there are rebels."
Roadside Gunmen
There is little that distinguishes the shooting site from the many other forested stretches of Rutshuru Road—the largely unpaved artery that begins at Goma's outskirts and runs north through the length of the park and eventually to the town of Bunia, on the western side of Lake Albert.
Once consisting of smooth tarmac, the road, like much of Congo's aging infrastructure, gradually has been reclaimed by the elements, rendering travel by anything but four-wheel drive difficult, especially during the rainy season. Luckily, the skies are clear on the afternoon I set off from Goma with a driver and interpreter, following the route that de Merode had taken two weeks before. Skirting the base of Nyiragongo, we continue to the village of Kibumba, where teenage boys hawk beef and goat brochettes, and children play atop a rusting anti-aircraft weapon, abandoned by the defeated M23 rebellion.
A few miles up ahead, we come across a group of soldiers and stop to talk with them. I'm met by the platoon commander, who tells me he's been assigned to secure the shooting site. He invites me to have a look around. Reeking of alcohol, he slurs his words as he speaks, and I'm thankful that he's armed only with a walkie-talkie, in contrast to his four Kalashnikov-wielding subordinates. Though gruff, he's nonetheless happy to chat, telling me he didn't witness the shooting himself (his unit, he says, was dispatched here afterward), but like most, he is well versed in the details. Perhaps owing to his drunkenness, he launches into an impassioned reenactment, crouching behind a moss-covered outgrowth, which, he says, the shooters had used for cover. Unable to see de Merode's vehicle as it approached, he tells me, the would-be assassins must have had informants on the route, who kept them abreast of his whereabouts by mobile phone. Then, as the warden's Land Rover came into view, the shots rang out.
"Bam! Bam! Bam!" the commander shouts, mimicking the gun's firing. "He ended up on the ground over there," he says, pointing to a turn just down the road. "That's when we heard the news over the radio."
Who shot Emmanuel de Merode? During a week of traveling in and around the park, I find that everyone I ask seems to have a different answer. Some refuse to speculate, others pin the blame on the government, Soco, poachers, or FDLR rebels. Some ICCN rangers compare the episode with the Crucifixion of Jesus, casting the incident as a case of good versus evil. The commander tells me he thinks it was people with stakes in illegal charcoal. Before we drive off, he pulls my interpreter aside.
"Make sure this white man doesn't go back to America and tell everyone we did it," he demands. "Remember, we only came here afterward."
As is often the case in Congo, the full details of the incident may never be known. Like the country's most famous assassination plots—the murder of independence hero Patrice Lumumba, the killing of former president Laurent Kabila, Joseph Kabila's father—there will be competing theories, counterclaims, and conspiracies.
Still, some explanations are more plausible than others. As Mumbere points out, although de Merode had a long list of enemies, most of those potential threats—poachers, charcoal harvesters, rebels—had been around for years.
"He even spent a year [with the park] under the control of the M23 rebellion," Mumbere says. "The question we ask is, Why now?"
The answer to that question, both Mumbere and Lukambo believe, lies in de Merode's opposition to oil exploration in Virunga and—whatever the status of his alleged legal inquiry—his crusade against the Block 5 contract.
Mumbere and Lukambo each told me independently that they believe someone with much to lose from a suspension of the Soco contract, and much to gain if oil is discovered in Block 5, had ordered the attempted assassination.
"De Merode is someone who tried to apply the law," Lukambo says. "That was his problem."
To try to boost his theory that oil played a key role in de Merode's shooting, Lukambo shows me anonymous text messages from his cell phone, including one dated April 18, three days after de Merode was attacked.
"You see, we are determined to wipe you out if you continue to keep us from this oil," he translates the message, written in Swahili.
Another message, in French, arrived two days later. Lukambo is "playing with fire," it warns, threatening to "burn" his second leg—referencing his prosthetic. "Just because we failed to kill your director," the text says, "doesn't mean we'll fail with you."
I ask him if he's frightened.
"Oui...," he says in French, drawing out the word for emphasis. "But others are receiving the same threats too. And this is my life's work. I'm prepared to die if I have to."
The Fight Continues
Given the drama surrounding Soco, the shooting of de Merode, and the struggles of Lukambo and other activists, it's easy to forget that Virunga, by the standards of the past two decades, is actually undergoing an impressive revival.
As I travel around the park and its surrounding villages, six months after the M23's defeat, I'm struck by a sense of optimism among park rangers, Vitshumbi fishermen—even on days that pêche de Merode eludes them—and civilians who believe that a sustained peace in the region may finally be possible.
Tourists appear to be catching on, albeit slowly. Suspended during the M23 rebellion, visits to Virunga's mountain gorillas resumed in January. ICCN rangers say that treks to the summit of Nyiragongo—complete with a night at the edge of its fiery lava lake—will reopen soon. Cyprien Kinimba, manager of the luxury Mikeno Lodge, constructed in 2010 at the park's Rumangabo headquarters, says the hotel is now drawing 160 guests per month, half of them foreigners. And though Virunga is still plagued by a lack of security (during my visit FDLR rebels launched an attack on a supply truck in the park), Kinimba believes the lodge could one day become one of the most sought after retreats in Africa.
"This is not an ordinary hotel," he tells me. "We have mountain gorillas, chimpanzees... We've been given the gift of nature."
To Virunga's stewards, it's this revival, in part, that renders the search for oil so threatening. The more Virunga begins to prosper, the more it has to lose from future drilling, extraction, or—even if Soco decides to back out—the mere belief by powerful actors that somewhere underneath the park there may be oil.
Even Cagle, the Soco executive, tells me he appreciates Virunga's natural value—one reason, he says, that Soco is committed to improving the lives of the people in the communities around the park. In an alternative to de Merode's vision, he believes that oil can create jobs, which will provide alternatives to poaching, charcoal production, and other destructive activities, ultimately contributing to the protection of Virunga's wildlife. He speaks of apprenticeships and training that he says will ensure that locals benefit from the industry; of parallel charitable efforts to boost the region's quality of life. Already, he tells me, Soco has spent close to a million dollars on projects improving drinking water, supporting mobile medical clinics, and modernizing telecommunications on Lake Edward—particularly in the village of Nyakakoma, where Soco maintains a camp and where residents now have access to satellite television.
"The thing they are most juiced up about is watching the World Cup," he says.
On the ground throughout North Kivu, though, I don't find many people who are buying it. Why, after all, would locals trust a vision hatched in a faraway London boardroom, delivered by a man who, despite several trips to Kinshasa and to the province of Bas-Congo, has never even visited the communities around the park he's pledging to help?
Why should they listen to Roger Cagle when Emmanuel de Merode—a man who's spent the past 21 years working on behalf of Congo's nature and its people—has already launched a plan that's beginning to work?
One evening in Kiwanja, a town along the main road to Lake Edward, just outside the boundaries of the park, I pose this question to Irene Rugamba, 17, a high school student working as a waitress at her family's restaurant.
As she serves us a dinner of Lake Edward tilapia—grilled with onions and cassava leaves, and accompanied by fried potatoes and extra pili pili sauce—she delivers an assessment of Soco that most residents of the area would agree with.
A future of oil, she fears, will destroy Lake Edward's fish and pollute the local land and water, putting the existence of her farming community at risk.
When I counter, suggesting that oil might bring jobs and—if Cagle's words are genuine—better roads, schools, and hospitals, she pauses.
"You know," she begins slowly, speaking in English, "we are suffering for a long time because of war. But we are independent.
"To take a person who is independent and make him be dependent is not simple. Us young people, we say to Soco: No."
Jon Rosen is a freelance journalist based in Kigali, Rwanda. He reported from Goma and several locations in and around Virunga National Park. Jack Kahorha and Nelson Munganga contributed reporting from Goma.


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Xerox® CentreWare Web gives you the power to intelligently manage print devices from a single powerful interface. Manage installations, configuration settings, run reporting and even perform periodic maintenance tasks – and it's free!
IT administrators face an ever-increasing challenge of managing fleets of multi-vendor output devices and a host of related tasks: device installation, updates, supplies monitoring, and reporting on overall infrastructure, to name a few. They need a comprehensive, easy-to-use tool that does all of this and more.
Xerox CentreWare Web provides the following key benefits:
See which CentreWare Web features are supported on different Xerox products.
CentreWare Web Feature Support Info/Matrix (PDF)
Xerox award-winning copiers, printers, and multifunction printers include flexible platforms that accommodate a wide variety of software solutions. Software functionality may vary by product model. Contact your local sales representative for detailed compatibility information.


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On this page there's 10 highlights (premium only) outlining what Macy's are doing right and wrong. (Tip: use the arrows above or on your keyboard to navigate all 870 search results page examples.)
The screenshot was taken on March 14, 2017 and depicts Macy's Search Results Page. In total, we've reviewed 77 of Macy's page designs. To see them all, visit the full Macy's UX case study.


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Professional Corporations & Professional LLCs are business structures that are ideal for certain specialties.
The Professional Corporation (PC) and Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) are the formations of choice for many business owners who work in accounting, law, medicine, architecture, engineering and related fields. These business entities can help licensed professionals protect their personal assets against lawsuits brought against their practices.
State laws vary, but PCs and PLLCs usually share these characteristics:
- Owners are generally required to be licensed in the same profession.
- Proof of licensing is often required for state approval.
- Industry-specific regulations may apply to your company name.
- States may require entity-specific endings for your company name ("PC" for a Professional Corporation and "PLLC" for a Professional Limited Liability Company, for example).
It's important to note that by forming a Professional Corporation or Professional Limited Liability Company, owners are not free from personal liability for malpractice or other suits brought against them. However, these formation types do protect owners from the malpractice of other owners within the company. Be aware, too, that not all states recognize the PLLC entity.
In addition, PCs and PLLCs are taxed differently. PCs are generally taxed like a C-Corporation, with the PC paying taxes at the corporate rate, which can lead to double taxation. PLLCs, on the other hand, are taxed like LLCs, which generally have pass-through taxation of the members. You may wish to consult with a tax advisor before forming either a PC or PLLC to determine the best tax treatment for your company.
Forming these companies may also require additional steps on the part of the owners. Along with approval from the Secretary of State, professional entities often must seek approval of their formation documents from the state professional licensing body.
incorporate.com can help.
incorporate.com can help doctors, lawyers, architects, accountants, engineers, and other licensed professionals form Professional Corporations and Professional Limited Liability Companies.
Provide us with some basic information about your profession and your business objectives and we will work with you to complete, file and seek approval for a Professional Company or Professional Limited Liability Company formation.
Learn more
Get more details about the PC and PLLC business structures in our Frequently Asked Questions section.
Call us at 855-236-4043 to get started.
Professional Corporation & LLC FAQs
- What are Professional Corporations (PCs) and Professional Limited Liability Companies (PLLCs)?
- What is the appropriate name ending for a PC or PLLC?
- How is a PC or PLLC taxed?
- Do I need an attorney to form a PC or PLLC?
- Are there any restrictions on who can own a PC or PLLC?
- Where should I form my business?
- Is a PC or PLLC required to have a registered agent?
What are Professional Corporations (PCs) and Professional Limited Liability Companies (PLLCs)?
If you have a license to practice law, accounting, medicine, architecture or another professional service, you may qualify to form a Professional Corporation (PC) or Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC). These business structures can help licensed professionals protect their personal assets from lawsuits brought against their practice.Back to Top
What is the appropriate name ending for a PC or PLLC?
You may need to follow industry-specific regulations for naming your company. Many states require certain endings to your business name, for example, "PC" for a Professional Corporation or "PLLC" for a Professional Limited Liability Company.Back to Top
How is a PC or PLLC taxed?
PCs are generally taxed like a c corporation, with the PC paying taxes at the corporate rate, which can lead to double taxation. PLLCs, on the other hand, are taxed like LLCs, which generally have pass-through taxation of the members. You may wish to consult with a tax advisor before forming either a PC or PLLC to determine the best tax treatment for your company.Back to Top
Do I need an attorney to form a PC or PLLC?
No. You can prepare and file necessary paperwork yourself, or you can use incorporate.com to incorporate your business. If you are unsure whether incorporating will benefit your business, please call us at 800-818-6082. Our Business Specialists are happy to provide the information you need to make the right decision.Back to Top
Are there any restrictions on who can own a PC or PLLC?
In most states, only individuals licensed to practice in the profession for which the PC or PLLC is being formed may be shareholders or members of the PC or PLLC.Back to Top
Where should I form my business?
Most companies form the PC or PLLC in the state in which they will primarily operate. Advantages of forming a PC or PLLC in your home state include:
- Fewer complications, if you only plan to operate the business in your home state
- No need pay franchise taxes or file annual reports in more than one state
- Lower cost
Many companies conduct business throughout the United States and abroad. A PC or PLLC with business locations in multiple states may incorporate in a single state, then register (also referred to as qualify) to do business in other states. This means that the PC or PLLC must formally register, file annual reports and pay annual fees in every state in which they provide services. Note, however, that some states require a PC or PLLC to obtain a certificate or other authority from applicable state licensing agencies.Back to Top
Is a PC or PLLC required to have a registered agent?
Yes. PC or PLLCs must designate someone to receive official state correspondence and legal notices, called service of process. Most states refer to this delegate as a "Registered Agent." Some states also use the terms "statutory agent" or "resident agent." Some states will not allow a business to serve as its own Registered Agent. Other states allow a company to designate an owner or director as its Registered Agent. However, that agent must:
- Remain available during normal business hours
- Maintain a physical address located in the state where the business is registered, and any states where the company is doing business
- List their name and address in public records
Because of these requirements, most businesses choose to name a third-party Registered Agent, like incorporate.com.
Failure to respond to a legal notice can result in a default judgment against your company. This means that a court can order your business to pay significant penalties without hearing your side of the argument.Back to Top


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"This isn't just another frozen product — this is a frozen product that happens to be extremely good."
Meet Microsoft's New Surface Laptops
Remember Push Pops? Well, Sushi Poppers use the same basic concept:
Each Sushi Popper includes eight pieces of precut sushi and a bit of wasabi wrapped inside an airtight tube. After opening the top of the tube, diners can add soy sauce from a small stick affixed to the packaging, and grab their first piece of fish. They reach the next piece by pushing up on the bottom of the tube.
Sushi Poppers can be ordered online for about $5 per tube. [Sushi Popper via AOL News]


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Classic Marques Speed Challenge Invite
Following our recent membership to the MSA, S2KUK have been approached by the Classic Marques Speed Challenge organiser to see if there is any interest from members to take up sprinting or hillclimbing with them. It is an ideal introduction to competing and racing your S2000!
Classic Marques Speed Challenge is a series of 26 sprints and hillclimbs specifically for sports car drivers. The championship was set up initially for classic British sports cars but these days such a high proportion of sports cars are made by International companies that this year Classic Marques opens its doors to cars made by Honda amongst many other international makes. The Honda S2000 especially is a subtle and iconic sports car which performs well on the roads, but it has an inner strength and willing high revving engine which makes it perfect for motorsport too.
Below you will find a few questions and answers
Link to an introduction to sprinting and hill climbing (PDF document)
What does Classic Marques look like?
Please see the gallery page here: http://www.classic-marques-speed-challenge.com/#!untitled/component_9350
Why is the Classic Marques Speed Championship fair?
Each car is given a handicap factor based on power, weight and tyres fixed until the car spec changes. The weight of the driver is also included in the handicap algorithm. The algorithm enables cars of different powers and weights to compete fairly against each other.
Who can enter Classic Marques Speed Challenge?
MSA Speed License (Min Nat B) carrying drivers of sports cars made by Alfa Romeo, Allard, Aston Martin (Pre 2000), Austin Healey, Ferrari, Gilbern, Ginetta, Honda, Jaguar, Lotus, Marcos, Mazda, MG, Morgan, Porsche, Reliant, Renault, Sunbeam, Toyota, Triumph and TVR.
Which Clubs are invited?
Entrants must be members of one of the following MSA affiliated UK car clubs: AC Owners Club, Alfa Romeo Owners Club, Allard Owners Club, Aston Martin Owners Club, Austin Healey Club, BARC, Bentley Drivers Club, HSA, Jaguar Enthusiasts Club, SELOC, MG Car Club, Morgan Sports Car Club, Midland Auto Club, Reliant Sabre & Scimitar Owners Club, Renault Alpine Owners Club, Sunbeam Alpine and Tiger Owners Clubs, Stag Owners Club, Club Triumph, TR Register, Triumph Sports Six Club, TVRCC and UKS2000 Owners Club.
What does it cost to join?
It costs just £25 to enter Classic Marques Speed Challenge which enables access to 26 championship rounds are at the best sprint and hillclimb venues in the country (best 8 scores count towards championship score). The series regs have been published for 2014 and can be found here: www.classic-marques-speed-challenge.com
More Information - Series Organiser
Steve Cox, email@example.com – 07710 393601


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Hall Ranch, Photo Gallery, Boulder - Denver - Golden - Fort Collins - Lyons, Colorado
Hall Ranch
Boulder - Denver - Golden - Fort Collins - Lyons
Hall Ranch is celebrated for its colorful mesas, spacious meadows and rich wildlife. Though only 5 designated trails pass through its 3205 acres, their length and diversity offer numerous routing options and travel experiences.
|Related Trails:
|Bitterbrush Trail to Nelson Loop
Nighthawk Trail
More than 20 different families have homesteaded in the Hall Ranch area
The west side of Hall Ranch is dominated by igneous rock, compared to sandstone on the east side
Mule deer have larger feet than white tail deer, an adaptation to rockier terrain that also facilitates digging for water
Deer, elk, mountain lion, bear, bighorn sheep, turkey, coyote and rattlesnakes are all found at Hall Ranch
Red foxes are solitary hunters that feed on rodents, rabbits, birds and other small game
Approximately 100 avian species have been recorded in North Foothills Open Space lands
Beehive cactus are among the first plants to flower each year at Hall Ranch
Mule deer antlers typically shed in February and begin re-growing almost immediately
Longs Peak (14,259') is the 15th tallest mountain in CO; Mt Meeker (13,911') is the 15th tallest 13er in CO
Richard Clark first homesteaded this area in 1890, and later sold to the Nelson family in 1922
The Bitterbrush Trail and Nelson Loop form a popular 9.4 mile bike route
Lyons Formation sandstone has been extensively quarried for local buiding material
Prairie dog pups have a fairly high survival rate due to the protection of organized colonies
The pinkish-red Lyons Formation sandstone found at Hall Ranch began as sand dunes 260M years ago
The Fountain Formation was buried by windblown particles that compressed into a hard quartz sandstone known as the Lyons Formation
Hall Ranch ranges from 5,440' - 6,820' across grasslands, shrublands, forests and canyons
Bighorn sheep are sometimes seen in the SW corner of the ranch on their winter migration
Hallyn and June Hall began ranching on this land in the mid 1940s
Mt Meeker and Longs Peak stand prominently over the west end of Hall Ranch
Prairie dog burrows can reach 6' deep and 20' long; these insulated tunnels mitigate extreme heat and cold


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So after work I did some retail therapy at Craft Arena,(no affiliation) as I had been told that my Hemingworth threads I had ordered, were in. Just arrived this week though, were the Lumiere paints, so I just had to have the lovely indigo colour.
I also got a free pen and a Search Press catalogue for our Embroiderer's Guild- thank you Denise.
When I got home, I found these lovely flowers from Nickie- thank you Nickie.
And I also had in the post, this lovely calorie free doughnut from Gina-thank you Gina. Because I had gone to Craft Arena yesterday on the spur of the moment, I had to go back today to take the new Schoolhouse Arts programme in. Guess what, a delivery of wonderful bits from Oliver Twists had arrived. I know I can dye fabric and threads but after stroking them, they just kept calling me, so I had to indulge.
I should have been doing my school reports but, instead I did some more work on Kokopelli II. I was hoping to finish him today, but not quite there. I have given this one a beaded headdress and the collar is embossed, coloured with alcohol inks and stitched with beads. I think it will be quite a late night before I get to bed, I still have to work on my storm battered trees and get them finished by Wednesday, ready for the Embroiderer's Guild exhibition on Friday.


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Any medical student applying for residency programs dreads the idea of failing the USMLE exam, believing there's no way to overcome this failure and be considered for interviews. However, it isn't really the end of the world, and there's a lot you can still do for USMLE success.
Let's decode some common myths about the USMLE, and look at some strategies for residency applications with multiple attempts.
Common USMLE Myths vs. the Truth
Here are a couple of myths about USMLE exams:
- USMLE Attempts – There's a wide-ranging myth that you will not get interviews from residency programs in the U.S. with multiple USMLE attempts. Many residency candidates believe this means the end of their medical career, before it even starts!
The fact is, many residency programs don't care about failed attempts at the USMLE exams. Some may treat this as a fault, but even they might make an exception if you're willing to put in extra effort on the rest of your application.
- Old/International Graduates – Another common myth is that older medical graduates, especially International Medical Graduates or IMGs, cannot score well in the USMLE exams or get residency in any U.S. residency programs.
This is not entirely true, since there is no age limit for taking the exam. However, Old IMGs who graduated medical school outside of the U.S. more than 5 years back will not be considered for most residency programs in the country.
Applying for Residency with Multiple Attempts
Here are some strategies for applying with multiple USMLE attempts:
- Work Hard on Other Steps – Failing at one stage of an exam often means working harder at future stages to show your commitment. If you failed USMLE Step 1, for instance, the USMLE Step 2 CK/CS offers you the chance to show your abilities. Scoring very well at this stage could help you get residency.
- Check State Restrictions – In some states, you are only allowed a limited number of attempts at the USMLE exams. Make sure that you're not applying for programs in states where your money and time will be wasted due to multiple attempts, and check this list carefully for compatible states.
- Check Program Restrictions – Along with checking whether there any attempt limits apply in each state, also check whether the residency program in question imposes its own limit for qualification. There are many programs that interview candidates with multiple attempts, so look for these instead.
- Tell Programs Your Story – If you've had a USMLE failure before passing, use this as an opportunity to show residency programs how you handle setbacks. Sharing the story in your Personal Statement proves that you can take responsibility for your mistakes and learn from them, which is important to programs.
- Build a Strong Application – Make sure that your Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) application, CV and Personal Statement are strong, well-written and error-free. They also need to be specific to the specialty you've chosen, with recent Letters of Recommendation from your clinical experience in the U.S.
- Take the Step 3 Exam – Consider taking the USMLE Step 3 exam if you have multiple attempts that raise questions or concerns with residency programs. Make sure that you're completely prepared for the test, though. Multiple attempts combined with a Step 3 failure will be worse than multiple USMLE attempts alone.
Whether you're an international student or a U.S. medical graduate, don't let yourself become discouraged by a USMLE failure. Put in the effort and study harder to get a better score next time!
Additional References:
Author Bio:
Originally from Philadelphia, Eric Brown is a resident of New York, where he works as a standardized patient (SP) and advises NYCSPREP with their Clinical Skills Course. With many years of experience and industry insight into all things SP-related, he helps students ace their CS exams by simulating patients they will work with. He also remains up to date with expectations, trends, and developments in CS exams, to help NYCSPREP keep their course current. In his free time, Eric likes unwinding by watching baseball and can be found at the game when the Phillies (his home team) are playing. If you have any questions about standardized CS exams or courses at NYCSPREP, email Eric at [email protected] or visit www.nycsprep.com.