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Swedenborg's Life
The life of Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772) was steeped simultaneously in the rational world of the physical sciences and in a deep Christian faith. He lived during the height of the Enlightenment, a period when intellectuals rejected dogmatic religious teachings in favor of science and reason, and his theology reflects a long struggle to understand the world of spirit through investigation of the physical world. Ultimately, that struggle was resolved when (as he described it) his spiritual senses were opened and he began to interact directly with the denizens of heaven, hell, and the world of spirits in between. Although his theological writings are based on experiences and visions that may seem unbelievable to a modern audience—as they did to many of Swedenborg's contemporaries—he writes with full awareness of how difficult his accounts may be to accept. In keeping with his early scholarly training, he presents his ideas in a logical order, drawing examples from everyday life as proof of the truth of his words, inviting readers to judge for themselves.
Early Years
Born Emanuel Swedberg in Stockholm, Sweden, on January 29, 1688, he was the second son of Jesper Swedberg, a pastor in Sweden's Lutheran state church. At the age of eleven Emanuel entered the University of Uppsala, where his father was a professor. Although Jesper left the university to become bishop of Skara a few years later, Emanuel remained at Uppsala, completing his studies in 1709. As was customary for wealthy young Swedish men of his time, he then journeyed abroad to expand on what he had learned. His first stop was England—a worldwide center of learning and a major maritime power—where he studied the observational techniques of royal astronomer John Flamsteed (1646–1719) and traveled in the same intellectual circles as luminaries like Sir Isaac Newton (1643–1727) and Edmund Halley (1656–1742). Emanuel also studied geology, botany, zoology, and the mechanical sciences under a number of scholars, inventors, and mechanics, later continuing those studies in Amsterdam and Paris.
When he returned to Sweden more than five years later, he worked as an assistant to Swedish inventor Christopher Polhem (1661–1751). As a result of the association, Emanuel was introduced to Sweden's King Charles XII (1682–1718), who was impressed with Emanuel's intellect and arranged for him to be given a position at the Board of Mines. The appointment was significant and prestigious because at that time the mines were a vital part of Sweden's economy. The position suited Emanuel, not only because of family connections to the mining industry, but because it gave him ample opportunities for scientific research. After Charles XII's death in 1718, his sister Ulrika Eleonora (1688–1741) ascended to the throne. In 1719, she ennobled the Swedberg family, changing their name to Swedenborg, the name by which Emanuel is known today.
Scientific Research
During this early period, most of Swedenborg's intellectual energy was funneled into scientific and technical work. In the years immediately following his return to Sweden, he published a scientific journal titled Daedalus Hyperboreus. Although the journal was intended to highlight Polhem's accomplishments, it also included a number of Swedenborg's own ideas and inventions, including plans for a flying machine. The journal was followed by books on chemistry and physics, as well as the first book in Swedish on algebra.
Swedenborg's first major publication was Opera Philosophica et Mineralia (Philosophical and Metallurgical Works), a three-volume set printed in 1734. Philosophical and Metallurgical Works was written in Latin and published abroad for circulation to an international audience. While the second and third volumes—one on iron and the other on copper and brass—attracted attention for their technical information on metallurgy, it was the first volume, titled Principia Rerum Naturalium (Basic Principles of Nature), that laid the philosophical groundwork for Swedenborg's later investigations into the nature of the soul.
Philosophical and Metallurgical Works was followed by a series of books on anatomy. The first of these, the two-volume Oeconomia Regni Animalis (Dynamics of the Soul's Domain), was published in 1740 and 1741. The first volume addresses the heart and blood; the second, the brain, nervous system, and the soul. Here again, Swedenborg was looking for a connection between the spiritual and physical worlds. Drawing on the works of contemporary scientists and philosophers, he describes a subtle spiritual fluid that permeates and sustains all living creatures, existing in a complicated interaction with the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid. The origin of life is a sustaining energy that pervades all of creation, and the source of that energy is God. Thus nature, in Swedenborg's view, derives life in all its forms from that creative energy and would be dead without divine influence.
Although Dynamics of the Soul's Domain sold well and received favorable reviews, Swedenborg himself wasn't satisfied, and almost immediately began work on a series of follow-up volumes that dealt with anatomy in more depth. He published three volumes in this series, titled Regnum Animale (The Soul's Domain), and wrote drafts of several more, but that work was interrupted by a time of spiritual crisis which would mark the beginning of his visionary period.
Spiritual Crisis
Beginning in 1743 and continuing throughout 1744, Swedenborg experienced intense dreams and visions at night, which he recorded in his personal diary. Many of them revolved around a sense of spiritual unworthiness, a feeling that he had to purify himself of sin. In one dream, a man appeared and asked him if he had a health certificate; Swedenborg interpreted this as Christ asking him if he were prepared to undertake a spiritual vocation. In another case several months later, he was thinking about his work and heard a voice say, "Hold your tongue or I will strike you!" This Swedenborg understood as a warning against immersing himself in worldly tasks on a Sunday.
The opening of his spiritual vision—by day, in a state of full wakefulness—began in April 1745, although the exact circumstances surrounding it remain mysterious and a matter of debate. From this point onward, he began to record experiences of being in contact with the spiritual world.
Swedenborg simultaneously started writing an exploration of the inner meaning of the Bible based on the new understanding he gained from his visions. In the beginning, it appears to have been difficult for him; he left the initial drafts of this exposition unpublished. In 1747, he refused a promotion that had been offered to him, instead petitioning the king to be released from his service on the Board of Mines so he could devote himself full time to theological writing.
Theological Writings
Swedenborg published his first theological work, Arcana Coelestia (Secrets of Heaven) in 1749; the eighth and final volume was published in 1756. He chose to publish the book in London, in part to avoid Sweden's strict anti-heresy laws, but also because he felt that London was the best intellectual atmosphere for an entirely new way of looking at Scripture.
Secrets of Heaven is a verse-by-verse discussion of the inner meaning of the Bible, beginning with Genesis and then moving through Exodus. Swedenborg writes that the Bible should not be taken literally—in fact, parts of it make no sense if taken at face value—but everything written there has an inner spiritual meaning he calls a "correspondence." Interspersed between the chapters of commentary are explanations of principles that would become key parts of Swedenborg's theology: the correspondence between the physical world and the spiritual world, the structure of heaven and hell and the lives of angels and devils, the interaction between the soul and body, and the interconnectedness of faith and charity.
Although it seems that Swedenborg intended to go through the entire Bible in this type of verse-by-verse exegesis, he never did so. Instead, he returned to London in 1758 with five new titles to publish: Heaven and Hell, a description of the afterlife and the lives of its inhabitants; White Horse, which talks about the inner meaning of the Bible; Other Planets, which describes the beings that live on other planets, some within and some outside our solar system; Last Judgment; and New Jerusalem. These last two refer to a unique aspect of Swedenborg's theology. He writes that the Last Judgment is not a future event that will mark the end of our world, but a spiritual event where evil spirits who had managed to infiltrate heaven were cast down to hell, allowing human beings on earth and in heaven to receive spiritual truths more clearly. Further, he claims to have witnessed this event in 1757, a year that marked the beginning of a new spiritual age for humankind. In New Jerusalem, he lays out the general principles for the new church that was to follow the Last Judgment.
With the exception of Last Judgment, the content of the five volumes he published in 1758 was taken from Secrets of Heaven, sometimes with very little revision. Secrets of Heaven had been published anonymously, and its initial sales were very poor. Separating elements of this magnum opus into smaller volumes may have been an attempt to make the content more accessible.
Stories of Seership
Starting in 1759, however, a series of incidents demonstrating Swedenborg's interactions with the spirit world drew international attention. The first, in July 1759, happened while Swedenborg was attending a dinner party in the Swedish city of Göteborg. During the party, he suddenly became agitated and began describing a fire in Stockholm—more than 250 miles away—that was threatening his home. Two hours later, he reported that the fire had been extinguished three doors down from his house. It was not until two days later that messengers from Stockholm arrived in Göteborg and confirmed the details as Swedenborg had relayed them.
In 1760, the widow of the recently deceased French ambassador to Sweden was presented with a bill for a very expensive silver service her husband had bought. She was sure he had paid, but could not find the receipt. After asking Swedenborg for help, she had a dream in which her husband revealed the location of the receipt, a dream which turned out to be accurate.
In 1761, Swedenborg was presented at the court of Sweden's Queen Louisa Ulrika (1720–1782), and she asked him to relay a particular question to her deceased brother, Prince Augustus Wilhelm of Prussia (1722–1758). Swedenborg returned to court three weeks later and gave her the answer privately, upon which she was heard to exclaim that only her brother would have known what Swedenborg had just told her.
These three well-documented incidents, in conjunction with some others, made Swedenborg the subject of conversation not just in his own country, but in continental Europe as well. The attention prompted Swedenborg to acknowledge that he was the author of the books he had written, although it was not until Marriage Love in 1768 that the books were printed with his name.
Later Works
In the years that followed the incidents described above, Swedenborg would publish several more key theological works: Divine Love and Wisdom (1763), Divine Providence (1764), Revelation Unveiled (1766), and Marriage Love (1768). Divine Love and Wisdom and Divine Providence, although published separately, could be taken as two parts of the same theme: The first deals with the nature of God, who in his essence is both love and wisdom, and—echoing Swedenborg's earlier works on the origin of the material world—is the source of all life. Divine Providence tackles free will and the nature of evil and suffering, and describes the spiritual laws that govern the world.
Revelation Unveiled is a return to Swedenborg's early discourse on the inner meaning of the Bible, this time examining the book of Revelation in much the same verse-by-verse format as Secrets of Heaven. Revelation Unveiled was the first book in which Swedenborg included what he called memorabilia (memorable occurrences): descriptions of encounters with angels, devils, or spirits, usually illustrating a theological point he wanted to make. These memorable occurrences were generally added to the end of a chapter and often had no apparent connection to what he had written immediately before, although in two personal letters he advised people to read the memorable occurrences before moving on to the main text.
Contrary to its title, Marriage Love deals with love between the sexes in all its aspects, including sexual relations outside of marriage. Swedenborg considered married love to be the highest form of connection between a man and a woman. He writes that the masculine and feminine aspects of human beings are complementary. In heaven, where our true natures are fully revealed, a man and a woman who share real compatibility will instantly know each other when they meet, and eventually will become joined in spirit as if they were one person. That person is not necessarily an earthly spouse. People who are in unhappy marriages on earth, or who never marry, may still find true love once they move on to heaven—a teaching that may have had personal significance for Swedenborg, who was never married.
Charges of Heresy
All of Swedenborg's theological books were written in Latin and published outside of Sweden, most often in London or Amsterdam. This was doubtless a deliberate strategy to avoid running afoul of Sweden's strict censorship laws, which forbade publishing anything that contradicted the teachings of the Lutheran state church. Although Swedenborg was never the direct target of an investigation, two of his followers were charged with heresy in 1769 after publishing books and articles about Swedenborg's ideas in Swedish. During the course of the trial, Swedenborg's published theological works also came under question. When a royal ruling was finally rendered in 1770, it was decreed that Swedenborg's books contained errors of doctrine, but were not heretical. Swedenborg's books were banned, and the two followers were forced out of their teaching positions.
Partly in response to the initial news of these charges, Swedenborg began work on True Christianity (1771), a systematic discussion of his theological ideas as they relate to many aspects of Christian (and specifically Lutheran) belief. In the process, he laid out a road map for the new church that he believed was to come.
Swedenborg himself expresses no desire to be revered as a prophet or to be the founder of a new religious movement; when he talks about the "new church" or the "new Jerusalem," he is referring to a shift in the way that humanity as a whole experiences and practices religion. In various places throughout his theological books, Swedenborg describes five ages in humankind's spiritual history, from the most ancient church, when human beings were in their spiritual infancy and were most in tune with God, to the fourth age, Christianity, when people possessed true teachings in the form of the Word (the Bible), but those teachings had gradually been corrupted by human misinterpretation. In the coming fifth age, a completely new religion would emerge in which people would have a much clearer and more direct understanding of spiritual truth.
Final Days
True Christianity was the last book Swedenborg published. Although the main text was printed in Amsterdam, Swedenborg traveled to London to publish a supplement. That supplement was not printed during his lifetime. In December 1771, while still in London, Swedenborg suffered a stroke. Though he partially recovered, he seemed to sense that he was not long for this world. In February, in response to a letter suggesting a meeting in six months, he responded that it would be impossible, because he would die on the twenty-ninth of the next month. True to his word, Swedenborg passed away on March 29, 1772, at the age of eighty-four.
Further Resources
For a quick video introduction to Swedenborg and his major works, check out "Who Was Swedenborg?" on our organizational YouTube channel.
A Scientist Explores Spirit is a short introduction to Swedenborg's life by Swedenborgian scholars George Dole and Robert Kirven. It also includes an overview of some of his key theological concepts.
Emanuel Swedenborg: Visionary Savant in the Age of Reason by Ernst Benz is a classic early biography of Emanuel Swedenborg.
Emanuel Swedenborg: Essays for the New Century Edition on Swedenborg's Life, Work, and Impact, published in paperback as Scribe of Heaven, contains a number of short essays on Swedenborg, including a well-researched short biography.


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My Anritsu
United States
5G Network I&M Testing with Anritsu
In 5G mobile networks, stable network operation and preventive maintenance are keys to achieving 5G innovations including low latency, high speeds/large capacity, and multiple simultaneous connections.
Anritsu high-quality solutions based on advanced technologies and experience in mobile wireless measurement support customers' needs in high-speed interfaces, optical/IP data communications, high-frequency signals, and Protocol/RF testing. In 5G development, Anritsu supports rollout of commercial 5G terminals by offering timely, high-quality, leading measurement solutions for initial UE development.
Anritsu supports future 5G mobile network innovations by offering stable and dependable measurement solutions for 5G mobile network I&M based on:
5G RAN: Ensuring KPIs from Metro Edge To End User
Implementing three key elements of 5G (low latency, high speed and large capacity, and multiple simultaneous connections) is expected to facilitate rollout of new applications in fields such as self-driving vehicles, remote control of heavy machinery, ultra-high-definition video streaming, telepresence at sports events, etc. However, actually implementing applications taking advantage of low latency, high speeds, large capacity, and multiple simultaneous connections not only requires a communications technology paradigm shift from 4G to 5G but also requires a simultaneous technical revolution for 5G mobile networks from 4G (LTE). Currently, 5G mobile network and proof-of-concept testing are in progress, but rollout of commercial 5G mobile network services requires provision of measurement solutions at 5G mobile network I&M for assuring stable operation and preventive maintenance of mobile fronthaul, Core, Metro, etc., network components.
5G mobile networks are innovating as follows against a background of 5G technology featuring low latency, high speeds, large capacity, and multiple simultaneous connections.
Making the above switch in radio communications technology from 4G to 5G results in huge innovations in mobile networks supporting 5G. In addition, as commercial 5G comes into practical use, as well as increases in numbers of small 5G base station installations and conversions to optical fiber, we can expect the following increased demand based on the above-described innovation.
Consequently, rollout of commercial 5G services will cause large changes in base-station and optical-network I&M. In other words, efficient reliable network measurement is needed more than ever.
The following measurements are key to successful 5G mobile network I&M.
This portable, all-in-one, expandable tester supports 10/100G, OTDR, and CPRI tests.
Adding the 100G Transport Module enables eCPRI/RoE, and precision latency and time synchronization measurements.
This portable, all-in-one, expandable tester supports 10/100G/400G, OTDR, and CPRI tests.
Adding the 100G Transport Module enables eCPRI/RoE, and precision latency and time synchronization measurements. Always-on Forward Error Correction (FEC) is a key technology for achieving 400G Ethernet speeds, supporting 5G traffic growth. With built-in FEC analysis functions, the MT1040A is the ideal tester for evaluating the communications quality of optical modules, such as QSFP-DD, and the performance of 400G devices.
This compact optical fiber tester has a built-in OTDR and optical power and loss measurement functions to increase the efficiency of optical cable I&M work between 5G base stations and data centers, etc.
The Field Master Pro MS2090A RF spectrum analyzer is the highest performing handheld test and measurement solution available to meet the challenges of 5G field testing while maintaining support for a full range of wireless technologies.
Introduction of transport, optical fiber, and RF measurements secures network reliability and helps preventive maintenance.
With functions supporting high-accuracy eCPRI/RoE and latency time measurements as well as precision PTP time synchronization evaluation, the Network Master Pro MT1000A is ideal for implementing high-speed and low-latency 5G mobile networks.
Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) compliant interface equipment has been used for 3G and LTE systems to convert the mobile fronthaul wireless signal to the optical signal. CPRI is commonly said to need to be about 16 times faster than the radio transmission speed to perform digital conversion of radio signals. Since 5G transmission speeds are about 100 times faster than LTE, a new eCPRI/RoE technology based on market mainstream Ethernet is being adopted. With 5G featuring high speeds and large capacity, maintaining mobile fronthaul communications quality requires communications and latency tests measuring either CPRI or RoE frame bit errors and latency with high accuracy.
Since maintaining minimum assured communication speeds is generally impossible using Ethernet, latency times of the entire network including the 5G mobile fronthaul must be managed strictly. To suppress latency times between the mobile fronthaul 5G antenna and Core/Metro network, it is important to minimize the latency of the network equipment as much as possible. Implementing the 5G low-latency feature requires using two testers to accurately measure one-way delay between two distant separate points.
Use of the 5G mmWave band requires many small base stations because the high radio-wave frequency only propagates over short distances. As a result, the Precision Time Protocol (PTP) is used to synchronize time between base stations. Time synchronization using PTP demands strict evaluation of the entire network to maintain time differences within the permissible range.
The ACCESS Master MT9085 series supports deployment of large-capacity 5G mobile networks with functions for measuring PON optical splitters now under consideration for mobile fronthaul applications; it can detect fiber events, such as optical fiber loss and reflections, in 5G mobile networks with high accuracy and also has functions for displaying easy-to-understand measurement results using an original Anritsu algorithm.
In addition, as well as keeping the popular rotary knob and hard keys from previous models, the MT9085 series adds a new touchscreen for even better operability.
5G mobile fronthaul networks require a lot of testing between the many base stations (RRH) and 5G base band unit (BBU). Using the PON method to connect the many RRH with one BBU using an optical fiber splitter is a key technique for efficient deployment of many 5G base stations. Sharing an optical fiber by using a PON helps cut costs in comparison to other methods. Any optical pulse tester (OTDR) used to measure optical fiber transmission losses as well as distances to and locations of fiber faults must have both high precision for analyzing a PON optical splitter with up to 128 branches as well as an easy-to-use Pass/Fail function for evaluating the optical splitter status.
Optical fiber I&M (Core, Metro, 5G mobile fronthaul, mobile backhaul) requires detection and measurement of fiber breaks at trunk-cable I&M, including the access drop cable. An optical pulse tester (OTDR) must have sufficient performance to detect events, such as loss and reflections, with high accuracy in fibers ranging from a few meters to fibers exceeding 200 km in length. Additionally, the OTDR must have functions for simple display of measurement results using an original detection algorithm.
As RF technologies continue to become more ingrained in our daily lives, the RF spectrum is becoming more crowded at all frequencies. The ability to view the RF spectrum and measure transmissions is critical in order to avoid interference and achieve guaranteed performance of the unique technologies used in 5G networks – mmWave frequencies, active antenna systems, beamforming, and dynamic physical layers. While existing LTE networks have test ports to validate RF characterization of the radio, with active antennas systems (AAS) test ports are most likely unavailable requiring testing to be conducted over the air (OTA).
With continuous frequency coverage from 9 kHz to 9/14/20/26.5/32/44/54 GHz, the Field Master Pro MS2090A is specifically designed to meet the challenges of 5G test while maintaining support for a full range of other wireless technologies in use today. Its unparalleled performance makes measurements like spectrum clearing, radio alignment, harmonic, distortion, and coverage mapping even more accurate than previously possible. For modulation measurements on digital systems, 100 MHz modulation bandwidth coupled with best-in-class phase noise performance maximizes measurement accuracy and 0.5 dB typical amplitude accuracy provides confidence when testing transmitter power and spurious. OTA measurements are supported by standing in front of the 5GNR and AAS, ideally in the far field, and using a wave guide horn or broadband antenna to make measurements on the beams formed. The Field Master Pro MS2090A is able to make a full range of RF measurements by decoding the synchronization signal blocks (SSB) and displaying values of RSRP, channel power, EVM, etc. of each beam.
With its development of a 2-Gbps pulse pattern generator and an error rate tester in 1975, Anritsu achieved the world's first gigabit-order transmission speed, forming the foundation for today's ultra-high-speed technologies. We started marketing dedicated measuring instruments for high-speed digital transmission circuits and equipment from the 1990s, and developed 10-Gbit/s SONET/SDH/PDH/ATM analyzers in 2000. They were adopted by the world's major equipment manufacturers and communications carriers, becoming hit product(s) for the ultra-high-speed digital communications era. Following this success, we released an Ethernet analyzer and 100-Gbps measuring instruments with world-beating technologies for the world's digital communications markets.
Commercial optical measurement products appeared in 1977 and Anritsu took the world lead by developing an optical pulse test OTDR in 1980. The 1984 boom in installation of optical fiber communications networks marked large-volume orders for the OTDR, and in 1995 Anritsu released the world's fastest rugged and compact OTDR for the handheld I&M market (commercialized as first ACCESS master in 2004). Then in 2009, Anritsu released the world's dedicated OTDR for undersea cables with an incredible 10-meter fault-detection resolution over ultra-long 12,000-km undersea optical cables. Subsequently, Anritsu optical measuring instruments still lead the world, based on our superior technologies and long experience in precision measurement.
5G mobile networks are not composed just of the mobile fronthaul—they include the mobile backhaul, and the Core and Metro optical networks, so stable and reliable operation of the entire network infrastructure depends on integrated optical-fiber measurements, eCPRI/RoE and precision latency measurements for assuring high speeds and low latency, and PTP time synchronization measurements.
With the proliferation of commercial cellular networks in the early 1980s, there was an increasing demand for portable, handheld test and measurement equipment. Existing benchtop scalar, vector network, and spectrum analyzers were cumbersome to carry (weighing 100s of pounds) and often required field technicians, engineers, and wireless network installers to bring A/C power in case there was none at the site. In 1995, Anritsu introduced the Site Master™ product line – the world's first handheld cable and antenna analyzer. This revolutionized test and measurement industry by providing a portable, handheld, battery-operated solution that provided the necessary measurements in a small form factor. In 1999, Anritsu continued revolutionizing the test and measurement industry with the introduction of the Spectrum Master™ product line – the world's first handheld spectrum analyzer. Once again, field technicians, engineers, and wireless network installers were able to replace existing benchtop spectrum analyzers solutions with a portable, battery-operated solution that provided the same quality measurements at a fraction of the size and weight. As cellular technologies progressed from GSM through wideband CDMA and on to LTE, Anritsu included comprehensive demodulation measurements in to these portable products thereby making these product even more comprehensive and further simplifying the job of the RF field engineers.
Faster Low-Latency 5G Mobile Networks (Differences between 4G and 5G networks, etc.)
OTDR - ACCESS Master with Touchscreen
5G - 5G, 4G and 3G Testing with Anritsu (5G Technology Page)
New Issues in Data Center (DC) Installation and Maintenance
5G RAN: Ensuring KPIs from Metro Edge To End User (White Paper)

subset: commoncrawl


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Be the first to review this product
Essential Series is a unique creation. This collection of geometric three dimensional tiles capture our imagination while its modular pieces leave it up to you to decide their arrangement. Glossy finishes enhance the angular details meanwhile matte has never looked this impressive. Essential and ubiquitous beauty is paired with a flawless execution making this masterful series the perfect modern choice for any commercial or residential wall application. Available in 5"x5", 5"x10", and 10"x10". Sizes not available in all designs.


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Petfood Forum's successful donor campaign raised a total of US$2,000 on behalf of Canine Helpers Allow More Possibilities (CHAMP).
CHAMP Assistance Dogs Inc. is a nonprofit organization that helps increase the independence of people with disabilities by partnering them – free of charge – with specially trained service dogs. Many have benefited from this service, including the 2013 Petfood Forum opening keynote speaker and paralympian, Kerri Morgan .
As part of this new partnership, Petfood Forum asked its 2013 attendees and exhibitors to donate to CHAMP. The money raised will be used for training and certification of therapy dog teams, funding of the Ability Awareness Program for schools and civic groups and funding of another program that works with dogs from the rescue community.
Petfood Forum thanks the CHAMP program sponsor, Trouw Nutrition, and all donors. For more information about CHAMP, visit the website at www.champdogs.org .


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Welcome to St. Paul's United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation in State College, PA
St. Paul's United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation is located at 250 East College Avenue in the heart of downtown State College, bordering the main campus of the Pennsylvania State University. Since 1888, the congregation of St. Paul's has been committed to ministry at this strategic location with students and permanent residents alike. All are welcome to join the ministry of Jesus Christ through St. Paul's as we endeavor to be Christ's hands, feet, and heart in today's world.


text: Infinite Crisis was a sequel to DC's 1985 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths. It revisited characters and concepts from that earlier series, including the existence of the DC Multiverse, with alternative versions of such iconic characters as the Golden Age Earth-Two Superman. A major theme was the nature of heroism, contrasting the often dark and conflicted modern-day heroes with memories of "lighter" and ostensibly more noble and collegial heroes of American comic books' earlier days.


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Ironically, a destitute person in a wheelchair may get better health advice than his wealthy counterpart. Why?
Take my friend John. He has a progressive disability. Facing worsening paralysis, John has 'retired' to an upscale community. He gets healthcare from a prestigious clinic and sees some of the best medical specialists in the country.
The problem is that no one is showing John how to stay healthy. He has fallen several times. It took him two years to get a decent wheelchair. He has skin rashes and bladder problems. John has no exercise program. He has no program period. Understandably, as his disability worsens, John is getting depressed. What is the answer?
John could actually get better health advice from a good nurse practitioner at a county hospital. There is no cure, or even treatment, for his underlying condition. But John can get help in adjusting to life in a wheelchair, both practically and psychologically. Some basic tips on safety, diet and exercise would make an enormous difference.
As for me, after decades with a severe disability, I am good at taking care of myself. However and this is key I didn't learn self-care on my own.
No one does. That's the idea behind places like The Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities in San Mateo. Here, disabled people share their experiences. They get professional help when needed. When not needed, they help each other.
Forty years ago, Dr. Walsh at Britain's National Spinal Injuries Centre insisted on seeing me every six months. On each visit, he gave me a quick check up and asked two questions. How was my sex life? Was I working? After years of this, I had a question for him. Why did he want to know such irrelevant, nonmedical details?
He explained that for long-term disabled people, these issues were key to health. Meaningful work and human connection. These are key to John's health too. This amounts to practical know-how, the fruits of everyday experience. It costs very little, can have great impact on human health and often saves lots of money. It's not rocket science. It's also not part of John's health care. Why?


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Kimberly-Clark Corp, the maker of Kleenex tissues, said its board authorised a potential spin-off of its health care business, sending its shares up 6 per cent in extended trading.
The company said the move would enable it to focus on its consumer and K-C professional brands.
Kimberly-Clark said Robert Abernathy, currently group president - Europe, global nonwovens and continuous improvement and sustainability, will become chief executive of the new health care company if its spun off.
The company said it expects to make a final recommendation regarding in the next several months. If the spin-off is approved, the transaction would be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2014.
Morgan Stanley has been retained by the company in pursuit of the spin-off.
Kimberly-Clark's health care business sells surgical and infection prevention products for the operating room, as well as medical devices. It posted net sales of $1.6 billion in 2012.
The company's shares were trading at $116.60 after markets closed. They had closed at $109.71 on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday.
(Reporting By Maria Ajit Thomas in Bangalore; Editing by Joyjeet Das)


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|Kyle Busch's success at Bristol transfers well to Dover (Getty)
There are plenty of race fans who disagree with my feelings about who does the best job covering the sport. Some say Darrell Waltrip is too silly and that Fox's actual production of each race isn't as good as the others. However, the insights Mike Joy, Waltrip and Larry McReynolds bring to each race are unmatched by any commentating crew in the history of NASCAR.
To get us prepared for Dover, we have to consider the surface and distance of the track to help with dissecting every angle that has gone on this year and how it's relative to this weeks race. Dover has 24 degrees of banking on a 1-mile concrete oval. There is nothing like it on the circuit. We can use a little bit of Texas and Charlotte races this year because of similar banking, but the distance doesn't allow for the same type of speeds.
We can use the Bristol race as probably the best barometer because of similar banking and concrete, but Bristol is a half-mile and doesn't produce the speeds we'll see at Dover.
Then we have to look at the drivers themselves; who are the best concrete drivers?
Carl Edwards currently leads all drivers with a 7.3 average finish at Dover and also has a couple of Bristol wins, but he's a hard sell right now just because his team isn't performing at the same rate they did last season.
Kyle Busch has been known as 'King of the Concrete' for his excellence on the surface in all series. He's got two wins at Dover and has a 13.3 average finish in 14 starts. He's also performing at a high level right now with five top-5 finishes in the 12 races, including third-place Sunday at Charlotte.
Jimmie Johnson has six Dover wins, including three of the past six. He's had a 9.3 average finish over his career at Dover which places him right behind Edwards with consistency. Even though Johnson finished with a disappointing 11th-place finish at Charlotte, he's still part of one of the most dialed in teams in NASCAR right now. The momentum of the No. 48 team makes them the favorite this week.
Matt Kenseth won this race last season giving him two for his career at Dover. He also has been one of the more consistent drivers there over the last six years. In his last 12 Dover starts, Kenseth has nine top-5 finishes. Consistency and good current form make him a contender on the same level as Johnson and Busch.
Brad Keselowski hasn't done much over his career at Dover with a best of 13th last year, but he did win at Bristol's concrete track which makes him a viable candidate to win this week. He's coming off a great fifth-place run at Charlotte last week.
Martin Truex Jr's only career win came at Dover in 2007 and his strong third-place run at Bristol suggest he's got what it takes to take the checkers here again. He will break through with a win this season and what better place than a track that is only 129 miles from his home town of Mayetta, NJ.
"I always look forward to Dover no matter what the situation," Truex Jr said earlier this week. "Aside from on the track stuff, it's just fun to go up there. I've got a lot of friends and family that come to that race and that makes it extra special for me no matter what.
"I feel like Dover is probably the next track where we have a real shot to get back to victory lane. We did the tire test there a few months ago and had a really fast car there too. I always look forward to Dover but definitely more this year with the race cars we have and the team that we've got right now. I know we will be fast. It will be all about setting the car up for the long runs. We've got a great game plan going in. I think we can win the thing."
Enjoy the race, make some money and farewell to Fox until next year. Boogity-boogity-boogity!
Top-5 Finish Prediction:
1) #18 Kyle Busch (8/1)
2) #17 Matt Kenseth (10/1)
3) #48 Jimmie Johnson (6/1)
4) #2 Brad Keselowski (15/1)
5) #56 Martin Truex Jr. (30/1)


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Oasis Reissuing First Three Albums to Celebrate 20 Years of Hating Each Other
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of their debut album, 'Definitely Maybe,' Britpop legends Oasis are diving into the reissue game with deluxe editions of their first three albums.
The band's Chasing the Sun reissue series will kick off on May 20th with the re-release of its classic first album from 1994. It will be available in a variety of packages, including a Special Edition three-disc set, a vinyl LP that will attach a digital-download bundle of all the bonus content found on the CD and a Deluxe Box that contains the vinyl, the deluxe CD, an exclusive 7-inch record and assorted goodies like a 56-page hardback coffee-table book, a print, tote bag, postcards and more.
A single disc version of the album will also be available if you're only interested in the music without all the additional frills.
But if you're an Oasis fan, you may want to start saving your cash now. The extended sets include a wealth of great bonus material, including demos, live recordings and outtakes -- 44 tracks in all.
Also on tap: The group's original eight-song cassette demo from 1993 will be available separately. Only eight copies of the tape were made in its original form. Plus, a 12-inch 'Supersonic' single will be available as part of Record Store Day on April 19. You can find a whole bunch of info about all these records and more on Oasis' official website.
Even though the band split up in 2009 after a particularly brash exchange between brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, rumors have been circulating about some sort of reunion to tie in with the 20th anniversary. When a message appeared on the group's Facebook page hinting at a major announcement recently, fans thought for sure it was reunion time. Turns out it's just news about the reissues.
That shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. As recently as November of last year, Noel insisted there would be no reunion, telling the Mirror, "There is no band. So, no, I won't be getting involved anyway. If there is a reunion, I won't be in it."


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Missionaries, Evangelists and the Final Phase - The Prophets
March 28, 2011
From the beginning of the eighteenth century to about the time of the Civil War in America and across the globe, the great missionary movement was underway under the power of the Holy Spirit.
Among them were William Carey, Hudson Taylor, Robert Moffat, Lottie Moon, David Livingstone, C.T. Studd, Adoniram Judson and Nathan Saint. Many whose names are not as well known were also sent out across the world and to some degree are still being commissioned to go out today.
Many missionaries gave up everything to do their work including their lives. Powerful stories of sacrifice and perseverance came from this noble group of selfless servants that serve to inspire others until this day.
Examples like that of Adoniram Judson who spent nearly a decade in the jungles of Burma (Myanmar) just to translate the gospel into the native language. He lost several wives to jungle fever (malaria) and didn't see his first convert for eight years after his work began. Others like Nathan Saint paid the ultimate price but even after their lives were snuffed out by those they tried to reach, their work went on until each place where their colleagues carried on in their purpose, eventually met with great success.
The main thrust of the missionary movement phased into the great evangelistic movement of the modern era as the world shrunk due to worldwide transportation and communications improved. The promise of Christ included both a picture of worldwide evangelism and a promise that at the end, another phase would begin, a last phase in God's plan for the ages. Jesus said, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Mt 24: 14)
Names like Oral Roberts, Rex Humbard and Billy Graham along with others became household words during the mid and late nineteenth century and untold millions around the world answered the call to salvation by casting themselves on the cross of Christ.
But the softer and more beseeching part of God's message to the world has obviously phased into the harder and more serious call of prophecy. The line is drawn as the end approaches. It is both in the last book of the Bible and in the last days of time that the message of "take it or leave it" comes to the fore. Christ said it this way, "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." (Rev 3: 15, 16)
At some point very close to the return of the Lord the message deepens because time is virtually running down so fast that most people alive will already be positioned on one side of the line or the other. Speaking of those last few days of time Christ said, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." (Rev 22: 11)
Concomitant to the "end times" God brings back a piece of the old for a short season. The necessity of bringing prophets back in is predicated on another promise God has made concerning any and every phase of his unfolding plan for mankind. "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3: 7)
That God sends prophets prior to the return of the Lord into the history of man is clearly a manifestation of his enduring love. No one has to be lost and anyone who has ears to hear may come into his fold. In fact the theme of openness to all is carried throughout the biblical message right up to the very last chapter of the last book in the Bible. "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Rev 22: 17)
The age old question of who is a false prophet versus who is a true prophet continues but another question gets less attention. The question of why people listen to or seek out a prophet in the first place may be far more important. Quite simply no one wants to fail, whether on an individual or collective basis most sane people don't want to be found on a path to their own demise. But who knows the future for sure?
In a society based on freedom of choice like America the question of the future finds most people only seeking out the prognostications that bolster the choices they have already made. While the birds of a feather are flocking together they don't go to the other flock's leaders to get advice and confirmation about their choices for the future. Hollywood will not be asking the conservative Christian preachers for advice. Legislators will not be digging into eschatological doctrine to guide them in fiscal matters. College students will not be perusing through the major or minor biblical prophets in sociology, political science or philosophy 101 classes.
What they will do is what they have always done which is to seek out the voices that confirm what they already have perceived to be the right course of action; even if it is a path to their own destruction. No one said it more eloquently than the Apostle Paul. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears" (2Tim 4: 3)
Predicting the fall of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac is not on the level of biblical prophecy. In fact anyone with a passing grade at economics 101 could have made that prediction. Forecasting the rise in the value of precious metals takes no genius but only an understanding of stock market and bond fluctuations, since the price fluctuations between metals and the markets has always been connected. Is this prophecy?
This is prophecy: no amount of financial finagling or purchases of bulk gold and silver will assure our future solvency. Our future as individuals and as a nation is based on our connection to the living God and nothing else. Break that connection and the entire house comes down, fiscal well being and all.
Literally anyone with enough experience and ability to see clearly can make market predictions, but knowing the direction that an entire nation or the world itself is taking requires revelation. Some things are obvious because they are covered in biblical prophecy. Other matters require only simple observation such as noticing that while our head of homeland security scoffs at the idea of a coming "New World Order," we have a Commander in Chief who wouldn't lift a finger to save lives in Libya until the "International Community" made a final decision to set up a no fly zone over that nation. America's sovereignty is already becoming the victim of a major policy shift that our Homeland Chief says is a putative that does not exist.
Someone is always trying to get me to tell them if Barack Obama could be the false prophet or the antichrist. At other times they pick some member of Congress or the entire body in both houses to pin our troubles on. Rarely does anyone ask if it could be the general population that is in a slide. Here is where the worn out cliché about not seeing the forest for the trees gets a new lease.
Writer Monty Pelerin quoted an excerpt from a Reuter's news release found in a Czech newspaper in a great article entitled "The Problem is brainlock, not gridlock," American Thinker, March 12, 2010. The quote may be the best way to answer most people.
"The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the presidency. It will be easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails us. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince."
In my latest year by year recap of prophecy for America, in an article entitled "Prophecy 2011 – Is America Dancing with Devils," I said "2011 will be the year of the catastrophe, the earthquake and the rising of many enemies some we have never known as enemies before. Some extreme weather will blast our cities and one will be left nearly in ruins." Only a few months after predicting this, the earthquakes in Christchurch and Japan shook the world. Yet, it is not over, there is more to come. No one can cash in on such a prediction, no products can be offered for sale as a result of these calamities; so what is the point?
Real prophecies don't wait for men to confirm them and care little for who denies their veracity. They are signposts that if taken for what they are worth will serve to call us forward to a better path or back to a former path that was in sync with the will of Almighty God. False prophecies and innocuous prophecy will always be popular prophecy. The real stuff is not for the squeamish or the faint of heart. But even if all it does is to incite a bit of fear, even that can be counted for good if it saves a great nation from crashing into the result of its own misapplied self-confidence.
Gold and silver are not what holds us up but it is the very will of the living God and no more. It cannot be overemphasized that to the degree we distance ourselves from God we will distance ourselves from the best of our own future. "Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." (2Chron 20: 20b)
Michael Bresciani is the publisher of American Prophet.org since 2005. The website features the articles and reports of Rev Bresciani along with some of America's best writers and journalists, news and reviews that have earned the site the title of "The Website for Insight." Millions have read his timely reports and articles in online journals and print publications across the nation and the globe. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!
Visit Rev. Michael Bresciani's website at www.americanprophet.org
See more from Rev. Michael Bresciani at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Actress Neena Gupta has been roped in for Anubhav Sinha's "Mulk", which also stars veteran actor Rishi Kapoor.
Neena will essay the role of Rishi Kapoor's wife in the film and has begun her training for the role already. This is the first time she and Rishi will be teaming up, said a statement.
"I met Anubhav at a time when I was desperately seeking quality work. It was a really thoughtful gesture on his part to reach out to me at a time when I was undergoing this inner turmoil. 'Mulk' is a phenomenal film and I'm quite excited to be a part of this experimental film," Neena said.
In August, Neena took to social media to request work, posting a picture on Instagram with the caption: "I live in Mumbai and working, am a good actor looking for good parts to play."
Sinha says he has always been a fan of Neena's work.
"She fits the requirement of the role perfectly. After I saw her Instagram post, I didn't hesitate at all to pick the phone and call her because there are some people in the industry who are timeless and she is one of them," he said.
Sinha, who is both director and producer of "Mulk" added: "I couldn't, for the longest time, find anyone who could match the description of the role, maybe she was destined to be a part of it. When I was dabbling in television in my earlier days I distinctly remember how she delivered some path-breaking performances in 'Saans' and 'Buniyaad', a time when Indian television was actually progressive and intelligently entertaining. She is a forerunner of her times and her involvement will enhance the multi dimensional script even further."
A social thriller based on true life events, "Mulk" will go on floors in October. It will also feature Taapsee Pannu, Prateik Babbar and Rajat Kapur. The film will be shot in Varanasi and Lucknow and is scheduled to release early next year. The film is produced by Benaras Media Works.
Screenplay writer-producer Mushtaq Shiekh will be the associate producer of "Mulk". The plot of the film revolves around the story of a joint family who hails from a small town in India, who are out to reclaim their honour after being embroiled in a controversy.


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It's time! It's time! The Silhouette giveaway is here! My new BFF and I have been having such a fantastic time making new things and organizing the house together! I am SO happy that one of you will be able to foster a new relationship with your Silhouette soon!
Between Silhouette's people and my girls at How Does She who got us connected, I don't know who to thank more. Let's just be thankful for all of them, shall we?
The Silhouette site has pages full of ideas for you just in case you're still not sure how you would use it.
They also offer a blog where you can find inspiration and a weekly FREE download!
In addition, they have a Flickr account where people can share the projects they've completed. Oh how I wish I would have created this card. Isn't it adorable?
I have a feeling that you're wondering what the details of this whole shabang are, right? Well, here's what you get…
The winner will get $325 worth including the following items:
Silhouette Craft Cutter
Software for Windows XP/Vista
Power cable and USB Cable
Two cutting mats
Two cutting blades
$10 gift card to the online store
Instructional CD and manual
**This giveaway is only open to those in the states**
Now onto how you can win.
- Leave a comment!
- Go over to Silhouette's site and check things out. Then, come over here and leave a comment to tell me how you'd use it.
- Blog about it with a link back to this post, then come back and leave a comment with the link.
- Mention it on Twitter or Facebook (with a link to this post) and leave a comment letting me know.
With 4 ways to win, it's almost a no-brainer! How could you not enter?
The winner will be announced Friday, July 2nd.
Lastly, don't forget that you can also purchase your own Silhouette with one of these great deals! Just enter sweet as your discount code!
1) AWESOME PROMO (running through July 1st)
If you buy the Silhouette between now and July 1st you will get the following:
$50 off the Silhouette Craft Cutter
2 rolls of vinyl (Valued at $15.98)
1 roll of transfer tape (Valued at $7.99)
Scraper (Valued at $6.99)
Home Décor CD (Valued at $50)
$10 Gift Card to the Silhouette Download Store
Cutting Blade
2 Cutting Mats
All for $249.99
A Savings of $130.96
Just think of how much you'll save on gift giving and home decor this year!
2) GOOD PROMO (running from July 2nd through July 7th)
Buy a machine and receive the following:
$50 off (receive for $249.99)
2 rolls of Heat transfer ($29.89 value)
$10 Gift Card to the Silhouette Download Store
Cutting Blade
2 Cutting Mats
All for $249.99
A savings of $89.98


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The Small Business Administration has established the Loan Guarantees Program wherein they aim to be able to provide guaranteed loans to small business establishments which are not capable of acquiring financing from a private credit marketplace but greatly manifests the ability to repay funds in a timely manner.
This post is aligned with a network of sites interested with the intersection of small business, the philanthropic sector and government in creating healthy and sustainable communities.
Find additional information and resources on small business grants and loans, home buyer programs and impact investment programs from around the world.


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Research by the University of Warwick and University College London has found that levels of inflammatory markers vary significantly with sleep duration in women, but not men.
The study, published today (Weds) in the American journal SLEEP, found levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a marker related to coronary heart disease, were significantly lower in women who reported sleeping eight hours as compared with 7hours.
A second marker, High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), is predictive of future cardiovascular morbidity. Levels of hs-CRP were significantly higher in women who reported sleeping five hours or less.
Lead author of the study, Associate Professor of Biochemical Medicine at Warwick Medical School Michelle Miller said short-term sleep deprivation studies have shown that inflammatory markers are elevated in sleep-deprived individuals, suggesting that inflammatory mechanisms may play a role in the cardiovascular risk associated with sleep deprivation.
She said: "Our study may provide some insight into a potential mechanism for the observation in previous studies which indicates an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease in individuals who have less than five hours sleep per night and increased risk of non-cardiovascular death in long sleepers."
This is the first large-scale study to describe the associations between measures of inflammation and sleep duration in both men and women.
The study involved more than 4,600 white participants from the University College London-based Whitehall II cohort study; 73% were men. Participants between the ages of 35 and 55 years were recruited between 1985 and 1988 from 20 London-based civil service departments. Data for this study is from the phase 3 follow-up (1991-1993). Sleep duration was determined by subjective questionnaires, and general health was assessed during a screening examination.
Dr Miller added: "These findings add to the growing body of evidence which suggests that there is a non-linear relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and duration of sleep. Furthermore, they support the idea that short sleep is associated with an increase in cardiovascular risk and that the association between sleep duration and cardiovascular risk factors is markedly different in men and women.
Other related articles"Further prospective studies are required to ascertain causality but the results also are consistent with the idea that sleeping seven or eight hours per night appears to be optimal for health."
Source: Warwick University


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By Danny Schechter
New York, New York: The TV Networks are hard at work in this last week of the year recapping their best footage to remind us where we've been. Researchers are combing the archives to find the best images for their annual greatest hits "package" which usually ends with a photo-montage driven by music of the politicians, entertainers and personalities who died in 2012.
As we watch, we ooh and ah and remember calamities that struck us like that well-named "Franken (for that movie monster Frankenstein) Storm" Sandy and the shooting of the children at Sandy Hook in Connecticut. They will replay the 2012 presidential elections that bring us to the stalemate we are stuck in, what's been labeled the "fiscal cliff."
Oh, you know what else they will show—the year of I-Phone 5 and I-Pad 3, the Olympics, and Gangham Style. We will hear about Kate Middleton 's rise and Whitney Houston's demise and the ups and downs of the Chinese- American basketball player Jeremy Lin.
When it comes to the world, there will be a reference to the war on Iran that wasn't, and the war that is ripping Syria apart. We may hear about China's new leader, the mess in Mexico and Hugo Chavez's electoral victory and battle with cancer. The deaths in Gaza will be omitted.
There is unlikely to be any mention of the stories chosen by the Miami Herald's Andreas Oppenheimer who reminds us of a July 16 news report from Kuala Lumpur that negotiations for the completion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which could become the world's biggest and most ambitious deal of its kind, could be concluded by October 2013." What are its implications? Who stands to benefit? Who will lose? That's not even in the news yet.
Or, "The Nov. 25 vote in Catalonia, Spain, in which about 70 percent of the people voted for parties that support a referendum for independence of the rich northern Spain region, triggering a chain reaction of secessionist moves in the 27-country European Union. Many fear that if Catalonia secedes from Spain, Corcica and the Basque region may seek independence from France,
Scotland may split from Britain and Flanders and Wallonia from Belgium, among others. Economic turmoil could be followed by political chaos in Europe."
All of this was so awful that many us almost looked forward to those Mayan prophecies of the world ending.
Those of us who hoped the Obama reelection might usher in a little more justice and equality remain disappointed. Those of us who longed for a change we could believe in then took to the streets to try to create it, only to confront the power of the police state—the NYPD, FBI et. al. Only now, with the disclosure of new documents, do we have a hint of how we were spied upon and lied to.
All of our "news" deals with specific stories and events—not trends and less visible forces that drive our economy and political system. We hear about issues, not interests. The newscasts lack context, background, analysis and interpretation. They are there to dumb us down, not smarten us up.
What the big banks do and don't do are treated in terms only of discrete deals, not their role as channels of the influence of the one percent. It's not news when regulators don't regulate or when industries "capture" the officials meant to restrain them.
Guns in America are in the news, but not our vast armament industry that sells weapons including new drone systems, worldwide. Our country is always pictured domestically as "the homeland," a phrase used first in Germany in the 1930's and in South Africa decades later. We see ourselves a nation while much of the world sees us as an empire.
As for the economy, all the talk of tax and trade policies soar over most people's heads as the business publication Wealth Daily reports in warning that major pay cuts are coming:
"Now that the very basic taxation and revenue proposals are converging in the fiscal cliff talks, politicians are fielding some entitlement program revisions….
The changes are seemingly minute. On paper, we're just going to have an even exchange between obscure equations that are basically similar.
But that's the whole point: If the general public can't understand it, they don't pay attention to it. If they don't pay attention to it, they won't punish politicians for it."
The odds are that that the Libor conspiracy that manipulated trillions will be overlooked. Too hard to explain in ten seconds!
Increasingly, the most important underlying issues are found in the movies, in fiction, not "faction," and certainly not on TV News.
In theaters now, we have a choice between two views of the impact of slavery in America: Spielberg's Lincoln and Tarrantino's Django Unchained. One focuses on corrupting the Congress to outlaw slavery and the other on the brutality of slavery on the slaves. The former traces a top- down reform as a mater of Constitutional theory, the latter, shows a bottom- up armed revolt against ugly racism.
The movie version of the musical, Les Miserables, tells the story of the failed French Revolution in song, its barricades, not its values. Argo, meanwhile, briefly cites the reasons for the Iranian revolution but then celebrates the role of the CIA in rescuing Americans from it while reinforcing American hostility.
The film Zero Dark Thirty shows how the CIA tortures far more graphically than TV News ever did, but, then, it turns a pretty CIA analyst obsessed, not with capturing bin Laden but killing him, into a hero.
The movie doesn't have the guts to condemn state supported death squads and torture explicitly, and may even got the story wrong because what they call "enhanced interrogation" was not the critical element in finding him according to the CIA itself, US Senators and many experts. One interesting casting choice was to have the actor who played Tony Soprano, the mafia boss, on TV, to portray Pentagon chief Leon Panetta.
This holiday season is not a very cheery time in America what with a political stalemate in Washington, parents mourning the deaths of young children slaughtered in their classrooms, storms savaging the Mid West and East, and the certainty of a less than rosy future awaiting us in the next year where the only option seems to be more austerity at home, more foreign intervention in wars abroad, and talk of a new global recession.
If there is a "zeitgeist, it's not one of optimism. This is an angry and deeply polarized country in a world that seems to be imploding.
Happy News Year.
News Dissector Danny Schechter blogs at News Dissector.net. His latest books are "Occupy: Dissecting Occuoy Wall Street and Blogothon. (Cosimo Books) He hosts a show on ProgressiveRadioNetwork.com (PRN.fm) Comments to email@example.com


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What is Tithing and Tithe?
It is a tenth of your income. It's in the Bible, Leviticus 27:30, TLB. "A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, is the Lord's, and is holy."
What is tithe used for? In the Old Testament, the tithe was used to support the priests. It's in the Bible, Numbers 18:20-21, NKJV. "Then the LORD said to Aaron: "You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel. "Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting.
Does God need our tithe? No. It's in the Bible, Psalm 50:10-12, NKJV. "For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness."
Why should I tithe? Tithing is a way of teaching us that God must be our first priority. It's in the Bible, Deuteronomy 14:22-23, TLB. "You must tithe all of your crops every year. Bring this tithe to eat before the Lord your God at the place he shall choose as his sanctuary; this applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn of your flocks and herds. The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives."
When should I tithe? We are to return the tithe to God first—before we start spending money on other things. It's in the Bible, Proverbs 3:9, TLB. "Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income."
Christ endorsed tithing. It's in the Bible, Matthew 23:23, NKJV. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
Tithing in the Bible
How does Paul say the gospel ministry is to be supported? It's in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 9:13-14, TLB. "Don't you realize that God told those working in his temple to take for their own needs some of the food brought there as gifts to him? And those who work at the altar of God get a share of the food that is brought by those offering it to the Lord. In the same way the Lord has given orders that those who preach the Gospel should be supported by those who accept it."
Returning the tithe to God helps us remember that He is the owner of everything. It's in the Bible, Psalm 24:1, NKJV. "The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein."
God is the source of all our wealth. It's in the Bible, Deuteronomy 8:18, NKJV. "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
God says we rob Him if we don't give tithe and offerings. It's in the Bible, Malachi 3:8, NKJV. Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ' In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.
Do I tithe when in debt? We should pay what we owe to God first, and God will help us take care of our debts. It's in the Bible, Psalm 50:14-15, NKJV. "Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me."
What if I can't afford to pay tithe? God promises to richly bless us if we are faithful in tithes and offerings. It's in the Bible, Malachi 3:10, NKJV. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, " If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.
God owns all the money in the world. It's in the Bible, Haggai 2:8, NKJV. "'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the LORD of hosts."
God asks us to give voluntary offerings for His work—in addition to the tithe. It's in the Bible, Psalm 96:8, NKJV. "Give to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts.
We should give to God's work willingly. It's in the Bible, 2 Corinthians 9:7, NKJV. "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.."
What if I think the church is corrupted, am I still required to tithe and give offerings? The temple practices were corrupt in Christ's day, but Jesus still recognized the offerings as for God. It's in the Bible, Luke 21:3-4, NKJV. " So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had."
You can't out-give God. It's in the Bible, Luke 6:38, NKJV. "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
We should give in proportion to the blessing God has given us. It's in the Bible, Deuteronomy 16:17, NKJV. "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.
GFP members are able to set up an online account where they can interact with members, give online, and shop at the palace store. Members can give their tithes and offerings online. If you are already a member, just login into your account to give.
Giving made easy! You can give with your debit, credit card, PayPal account or square online. We accept all major credit cards. Thank you for your generosity!


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A bed for Nell
The next stage was more surprising and the time at which she confirmed that not only was she was a dog, but a direct and discernible descendent of the wolf.
There was rabid clawing at the pillow; a successful attempt to remove the pillow from the bed; enthusiastic and rigorous testing of all the seams of the tweed border to the bed beneath the pillow; chewing, pulling and gnawing of all fabrics; frantic scrabbling at the base of the bed to check if it was possible to tunnel through to the floorboards beneath; and finally playing a hiding game beneath the pillow to see if my worried and confused face was still there when she emerged. The entire process took over two hours of solid and frenzied activity (I didn't watch for the whole of that time, but my husband assured me that the activity was unceasing). However, the bed is still in one piece and has passed all her structural engineering tests for durability and my nerves remain un-frayed because, despite my being slightly startled by just how comprehensive her testing was, I had made it with the attitude that once it was finished it was her bed to treat how she wished. There are so many things in the house that we try to control her behaviour around (books, sofas, cupboards, skirting boards, people's ankles) that I knew it wouldn't be fair to add her own bed to this list.
And now that the testing is over, mainly, she just happily lies on it in a normal - not human or cat, but a sweetly doggish - way and seems to be a calmer presence for being cocooned in Liberty prints as she rests. Although there are differing opinions on this matter, as my husband suggests it's more likely to be the result of having a larger bed to recline on.
Making a bed that I knew may last as little as a week or as long as a year made me think a lot about why we make things and quite how often creating something may be more about the process than the intended purpose. So many of us spend months working on something and then are happy to give it away almost the moment it's finished, even if we may never see it again. Often, this is because, as well as the enjoyment derived in the process of making it, we're left with the feeling that we have given a tangible piece of 'care' to someone. Other times, whatever I'm thinking about while I'm sewing, in the backdrop is always the recipient - in this case afterwards I wondered whether I'd subconsciously chosen to make something for Nell that would take days to complete so that I could try and slowly untangle my feelings about having this new little creature in our home. And then there are the times when the need to sew is just so overwhelming that I'm not sure whether anything other than pure obsession or a desire to work with particular fabric prints comes into it. What makes you sew? Does any of this ring true for you? I know when I first began sewing I would enjoy the process of making things so much that I would frequently make things in fabrics that looked out of place in their surroundings and that really served no purpose. I quickly changed my tack on this as having a drawer of finished, but ultimately unloved, pieces felt wasteful. William Morris' take of not giving house space to anything that isn't either useful or that I believe to be beautiful is a maxim which I tend to try and sew by.
While this was a rather self-indulgent project, it wasn't a hideously costly way of Nell having a new bed - my stash of Liberty fabrics has mostly been built up buying from places where it's not priced so very differently from a regular quilting cotton (Shaukats and Fabrics Galore price their Tana lawn at around £12 per metre in store) and making this from scraps made only a very small dent in that stash. The tweed and stuffing came to far less than a nice shop-bought bed from the pet shop. The only real expense and extravagance was my time.
Last week my husband and I went up to London for a meeting and before we dashed home he insisted that we pay a visit to the chocolate room in Liberty (this is something of a ritual for him and he does it every time he goes to a meeting in London, irrespective of whether I'm with him). After he'd made his selection I was permitted ten minutes up in the sewing department. We happened to spot some exquisitely beautiful dog beds up there. We stood staring at them in a way that put us in danger of wearing holes in their divine Harris tweed sides and used up at least 2 of my ten minutes. However, at £295, making Nell's dog bed from my beloved Liberty stash seems positively thrifty (although, I do think that these beds are so incredibly beautiful that if you have a life where you can afford to pay £295 for a dog's bed, then it would be worth every penny). I bought nothing from the sewing department as I'm too indecisive to purchase anything in eight minutes, however, my husband did buy me a Liberty print handkerchief (I'm allergic to tissues so I love these), which was my prize for accumulating the most points over the previous week in our tense and fast-paced household game of 'Who Can Spot that Nell Needs to be Taken Out to the Loo First'.
Finally, did you know that Google Reader is closing down? This is the reader that I've always used so I'm sad to see it go. However, after a bit of research I'm now using Bloglovin' as my new reader, which, although it takes a little getting used to, is actually far better (even though I don't warm to the name). If you'd like to follow my blog on Bloglovin' you can click on the link below:
And just in case you're not familiar with what a blog reader is, it's a central place where you can keep track of all the blogs you like to read. You simply follow them on the reader (in this case Bloglovin') and it will then update you as soon as there's a new post on one of your favourite blogs.
Florence x


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When 2010 was barely one week old, state CIO Teri Takai published ITPL-10-01, which serves to "formally establish the use of Open Source Software (OSS) in California state government as an acceptable practice."
David Wheeler beat me to the punch with his blog posting, but he noticed the same thing I did: the first sentence of this policy statement is that "The OCIO permits the use of OSS". Moreover, it does not use some mealy-mouthed or watered down definition of open source software, but it cites the ten points of the Open Source Definition. Very nice!
Taking a step back and looking at the larger picture, the mighty State of California, which would be a top 10 world economy if it were a sovereign nation, is confronting unprecedented costs and challenges brought about by the global economic crisis. In hindsight it has become obvious that the practice of handing out credit without regard for ability to repay has been devastating to more than just the brokers who sold mortgages to unqualified buyers and the buyers who may have falsified their mortgage applications, and it has affected more than just the banks who originated those mortgages, more than just the banks who repackaged and resold those loans, more than just the banks that bundled and securitized those loans, and more than just the insurance companies who insured the banks who both bought and sold those securitized loans. It has devastated not only the local, State, and Federal government, but it has affected virtually every direct trading partner of the US and virtually everybody who holds any assets denominated by or convertible to US dollars. Similarly, 20/20 hindsight has taught us that unquestioned acceptance of proprietary software and proprietary standards have led to equally devastating consequences, which affect not only those who initially locked themselves into a given operating system, office suite, web browser, web server, or application infrastructure, to the tune of $1T USD per year, but an expanding web of cascading consequences, costing perhaps $6T USD per year. The time for such waste is now over.
California's New Year's resolution is a clear-eyed way to approach the new economic reality that it is no longer OK to abandon so much money to so few people in return for so much grief and so little joy.
To paraphrase Gandhi, whatever California can begin to save by moving to open source software may, at first, seem insignificant, but it is very important that they do it. Now is the time.


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