text:
I did a VLOG-like video on this earlier; you can watch it below, but I'm not very satisfied with how it came out, so I thought I'd collect my thoughts on this subject better and put them in writing, for those of you that can't be arsed to deal with my incoherent ramblings on-camera.
Playing older games is a predictable experience; some games, however revolutionary in their time, just don't hold up, so you play a bit of them for your gamer cred and then you move on. Other games are instant, timeless classics that, despite some shortcomings, you'd easily play forever. In rarer cases, the game may not have aged well at all, but while playing you have a revelation; you see that diamond in the rough that everyone saw and you start appreciating its value.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) is one such game for me. I had tried playing it several times before, but I always got distracted by something more interesting and dropped it. After The Last Jedi, I got into a Star Wars binge that has been going on for over two months and part of that binge was playing through Star Wars games I hadn't finished before.
If I had talked or written about KOTOR a month ago, my words on it would've been very different and not very positive. Vanilla KOTOR just hasn't aged very well; the story is very straight-forward with little substance, the characters are likeable but ultimately formulaic and the gameplay is the standard cRPG, only with botched UI and controls, because of the game's cross-platform distribution between the PC and the original XBOX.
The primary problem I was facing was that I couldn't understand my own, player-made character. Spoilers follow, if you care, but the significant plot twist of KOTOR is that the player character is a brainwashed Darth Revan, the Sith master that started the Jedi Civil War and was betrayed by Darth Malak, his apprentice. This information becomes known to the player about half-way through the main quest. Of course, this game being over 15 years old, this factoid was something I was aware of for years before I ever tried the game out.
Darth Revan, in both KOTOR games and especially the first one, is a constant presence in the story. He permeates every facet of that first game and though some of it exists as foreshadowing and backstory for what's to come, his status in the story gives the character a life of his own. He becomes a very specific person, a very specific legend within the KOTOR universe. It's a solid writing approach and a good plot twist, but I believe Bioware wrote themselves into a corner with Revan.
Whenever I play this type of custom-PC cRPG, my first character reflects my personality and choices and thus usually ends up as a "good guy", so to speak. Now, the morality system of KOTOR lacks subtlety, to say the least. Think Mass Effect's Paragon/Renegade system, only even more black and white. The "light side" options border on the saintly and the "dark side" options cross over to cartoony devilish. Because of this, I kept feeling a constant disconnect from my character. My customized character was this all-around-good Jedi, but this same character was supposed to have been the same guy that fell to the Dark Side, started a war and slaughtered thousands. I couldn't see how my character could've been Darth Revan.
Even with the mind-wipe plot device, the dissonance wouldn't go away. KOTOR is a standard redemption story (or revenge story, if you play Dark Side) and the way Revan is presented, there is very little chance of connecting with him on an emotional level. Therefore, the redemption lacks organic motive, it lacks the pathos that makes this type of story work. How could I buy into wanting to be redeemed, when my entire experience with my character has been that of a paragon of morality?
This problem extended beyond the player character. Without this understanding, there was no immersion; without the immersion, the companions felt flat, the world empty and the details of the KOTOR univese merely dressing without substance. Going through the game was largely a chore that reflected badly on the gameplay as well, because I simply was not invested in anything that was happening.
What changed everything was the sequel, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, The Sith Lords. What KOTOR II did and prompted me to instantly restart the original game right after finishing it was that it re-framed Revan as a character, as well as his story. The sequel is far less rigid in its view of morality. Good and evil are very relative terms, especially when it comes to the religious branches of the Jedi and the Sith. Because of this, Revan's character gets some much-needed context that was missing entirely from his own game. Revan wasn't evil, necessarily; he fell to the Dark Side, but he didn't become simply a Vader or a Palpatine. He started a war, but allowed the Republic to maintain its infrastructure. He didn't want conquest, he sought to prepare the galaxy for the looming threat he saw in the horizon (which, reportedly, would've been the original Sith race if the series had continued, not unlike the Mass Effect Reapers).
Once I got all that, I knew how I was supposed to play KOTOR and actually enjoy it. Instead of trying to RP my own character, I started playing Revan; a pre-made, canonical Star Wars character. There was still a bit of role-playing of course, but primarily in the small choices, like in some local events. Instead of playing KOTOR like Baldur's Gate, I started viewing it like Mass Effect and Revan was like Shepard; pre-defined, the star of the story, with a set past and future and only how he walked his path path was mine to choose.
So, in my second playthrough, I modded the game heavily. I added as many visual mods as I could to add variety and to clean up the aged, console look of the game. I gave Revan his canonical face and off I went, starting the game again. I had a blast with it, because this time I knew who Revan was and what motivated him. I recused myself from adopting the binary morality system, to the extend that it was possible. Darth Revan wasn't evil, so the big Dark Side options were off the table. At the same time, Revan was a ruthless general preparing the galaxy for war through battle, so overly Light Side options were out the window as well. If a situation called for Revan's intervention, I'd pick the light side option, but I wouldn't go out of my way to be the good guy. I wouldn't let Revan fall to being a cartoon villain, but I wouldn't let him be a model Jedi either. As such, where in my first playthrough I had peaked my character to the Light Side before the half-way point, my Revan in play No. 2 was almost always balanced in the middle; sometimes just barely above, sometimes just below it.
When I got a handle on the canonical Revan, I got a handle on the rest of the story, the world as presented through KOTOR, the inner politics and the other characters. I started getting into the experience, despite its occasional pacing problems. The party companions, in particular, I started viewing from an entirely different perspective and that was vital to learning how to enjoy the game. As mentioned before, good characters are key to a good RPG story. There is a reason Mass Effect 2 is the best in that series and it's not because it plays better than the other games (it doesn't). It's a very personal story, revolved around the characters, with far less focus on the silly space boogeymen plot that the first and third games devoted themselves to. KOTOR & KOTORII share a similar dynamic, but upon reflection the characters of KOTOR are a lot more integral to the plot by comparison.
The companions in KOTOR aren't very interesting; their motivations are basic, their personal stories fairly typical and so on. Their function, however, is extremely important in the story, because almost all of them operate as a means to provide context for Revan as a character. They are different aspects of Revan, a means through which to humanize the legend that looms over the story of the game. It's actually a brilliant approach, characterizing the canon character without limiting players from making their own protagonist in-game.
Juhani is the Jedi that fell to the Dark Side and was redeemed. She became a Jedi, because she believed in their purity and heroism and she fell, because she was impatient and overarchieving; not unlike Revan himself. Her prior relationship with Revan serves as the warning of what will happen if the player becomes too enamored with the legend as well.
Jolee is the veteran Jedi, who has little respect for the Jedi teachings. He's good and his heart is in the right place, but he makes his own choices and most of them have led him away from the Jedi way. He is subject to his emotions, which is generally forbidden for Jedi, but he has perspective, he knows which emotions to trust. He is what Revan wanted to be and would've been, had he not been corrupted and fallen to the Dark Side.
Carth, one of the "main" companions, is vital in the beginning of the game, because he exists to convince both Revan and the player that they're nothing more than ordinary Republic soldiers. Carth is the loyal soldier, the man that seeks to protect his people, but who has no mystical tools or laser swords to do that with. Unwittingly, he contributes to the facade the Jedi Council has built and through his mere presence throughout Taris, right after the game starts, when the player is most receptive, he convinces Revan that he's just another soldier and not someone with a great destiny.
Mission is a child. Despite her troubled upbringing, her mind is still virgin when it comes to wars, death and real adversity. She's the reflection of the mind-wiped Revan, a clean slate thrown into a complex world shaped by legends. She's capable and trusting, but ultimately naive and in need of direction; not unlike the new Revan himself. Revan may not, canonically, be of Taris like Mission, but because it is the first area in the game, it frames the rest of the experience. Mission is Taris' child, wetting her feet before she sets out to see the galaxy and, in this context, so is Revan.
Canderous Ordo, the Mandalorian, never speaks about himself; he is a weapon for Mandalore and all he does is recount stories from the Mandalorian Wars. He does it from his perspective, but in doing so, he provides context for the player, as Darth Revan was the man that won the Mandalorian Wars for the Republic. Through the reverence for Revan in Canderous' words, the player gains perspective on who Revan was before he fell.
Lastly, Bastilla is arguably the most important companion. She's the (canonical) love interest for Revan, but her value in the story goes far beyond that. Bastilla walks the exact same path Revan did. She's a very skilled Jedi Knight with a bright destiny ahead of her, but her rashness and over-eagerness make her flirt with the Dark Side too often. She struggles with staying true to the Jedi teachings, because she's tempted by her emotions. Bastilla's future is dependent entirely on what Revan and the player will choose to do in the game. She's the personification of the second chance Revan gets in life, it is through her that the player experiences their redemption or revenge story.
The only ones that don't seem to fit in this reading are Zalbaar, the Wookie and the droids. But, arguably, Zalbaar exists to flesh out Kashyyykk as a planet and the droids, particularly HK-47, are just fun to have around.
So, this is how I stopped worrying about the inevitable backlash from bashing this game and learned to love KOTOR. I don't think it is a coincidence that this game served as the blueprint for later Bioware games and especially Mass Effect. I also don't think it's a coincidence that, starting with Mass Effect, Bioware moved towards the pre-defined player character whose fate the player can shape in relatively small ways. When I played that series, I wrote a long post explaining that the backlash for Mass Effect 3's ending was unwarranted, because the character was written by Bioware to allow very limited control to the player. Shepard was always heading in one direction and only the journey would differ in small ways for each player. It's ironic that for Revan, this is the best way to play and understand the character. I'm not saying they should do it, but it would be interesting to see a remake of the original KOTOR with the new Bioware design philosophy. After all, KOTOR was a product of its time; it was a cRPG, because that was the type of RPG Bioware made at the time. In this day and age, when the company has moved on (for better or worse), it'd be intriguing to see KOTOR return with a fully-voiced, canonical Darth Revan at the story's helm.


text:
Tadarise Pro 20mg
What is Tadarise Pro 20mg?
Tadarise Pro 20mg is another name of Tadalafil. It is a medium potency medicine to cure erectile dysfunction. It relaxes and improves blood flow to certain parts of the body. It's most common use is in improving sexual performance in males.
Uses of the Tadarise Pro 20 Mg
It is used for erectile dysfunction in men. Erectile dysfunction is condition in which proper erection is questionable aspect during sexual activity. Tadarise Pro 20 is helpful in this situation of impotency, it helps to get proper erection needed during the course of sexual activity.
Side effect
common all Tadarise Pro 20mg Side Effects are here
- Headache
- Prolonged erection,
- priapism
- Flushing
- Muscle aches
- GI problems,
- heartburn
- Runny nose
- Congestion
How to take Tadarise Pro 20 Mg?
It is phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor and hence works by inhibiting this enzyme which leads to increase in level of cGMP and relaxation of blood levels in penis region of the body. These results into proper erection required for satisfying during sexual activity by keeping the penis erect for sufficient amount of time.
Tadarise Pro 20mg Dosage is one tab per day. Consult your doctor for your dose.
- Overdose
Consult your doctor right away.
- Missed Dose
If it is time for your next dose, then skip the missed dose or else take it as soon as you remember. Do not double dose.
Warnings and Precautions:
- Men that are allergic to any ingredient in Tadarise Pro 20
- Men that have severe kidney problems and will be taking Tadalafil daily is not at all safe practice
- Avoid taking tadarise pro 20 if you have severe liver problems or certain hereditary degenerative eye problems like retinitis pigmentosa
- If you have certain heart problems like unstable angina, angina during sexual intercourse, uncontrolled irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, or uncontrolled high blood pressure avoid taking Tadalafil composed ED medicine
- In case you have had a heart attack within the past 90 days or you have had severe heart failure or a stroke within the past 6 months do not take this ED medicine
- Tadalafil in the medicine may lead to dizziness, avoid getting involved in activities that need your attention like using machineries or driving
- Taking multiple ED medicine at the same time is not safe as it may lead to overdose that delivers severe side effects and adverse reactions
Storing this tadarise pro 20mg medicine in same blister pack is safe. Keep the sublingual form of ED medicine away from moisture prone area or direct reach of sunlight. Do not keep it near reach of children or pets.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
As if the design of a logo isn't challenging enough, I think it is especially hard for a place like ITP, which is unique BECAUSE it is so hard to define what it is. My approach was to try to think about what embodies the ITP experience and how I can articulate that with a logo. Here are some sketches I did:
I wanted to build the logo around actual tools we frequently use and things we do (eg: build circuits) at ITP to build the logo. As you can see in the sketch, I also wanted to capture the spirit of playfulness in the logo, which gave me the idea of using wooden building blocks to build the logo. To me, it embodies what ITP is all about (play, build, variety) and as it is a toy, it also captures the playful spirit.
More sketches:
Once I decided to use the building blocks idea, I wanted to see how best to physically build it. I wouldn't even begin to know how to build this in a computer, but how to present it as a physical object is also very difficult.
I managed to find a couple of wood blocks in the shop, and to find inspiration and potential prop, I got a Cubebot to help play out ideas and maybe become ripped apart for parts. I didn't realize it was held together by a string! But that allowed me to use the cubebot to pose and play with how best to construct the logo.
I did more sketches, and have to confess, I learned a valuable lesson: something can work great in one's head but making that into a reality is going to be much more time consuming than initially thought. I wanted to cut up the two blocks of wood, but not only do I don't really know how to use the machinery to make it happen, I also don't know how to do the math and calculate the angles to make a curve wood block. The other problem: I also don't have enough wood to make this into that perfect logo in my head.
So, I did some basic wood cutting. I really wanted to use that cubebot as a part of the logo (until I can build my own wooden robot, at least!) as I believe that playful inventiveness, and it might just be me, but I have always associated building robots with ITP. I also wanted to include some other materials (wires) to build the logo, making it more mixed media. The shop lacked quality wires but here are a few designs I did.
layout on a work table:
I liked the idea of having the logo on a messy work table and did a few shots with that:
with wire built "P" (I REALLY needed thicker wires)
Here are a few more layouts on a cleaner white surface:
I will say this first. I think this is REALLY far from perfect and far from how I'd like it to have penned out. I wanted darker wood (the nice wooden building blocks I found in a toy store was REALLY expensive which is why I tried to build my own), I want the wood shapes to be better, I want to build my own robot, I want to have found better wires. I wanted to light it better (but I don't quite know how) But, the basic concept is here. I wanted to share the ideas and get some feedback, to see if this idea even works in the first place, and hear what my next steps should be.
Here's the slideshow for the VW logo: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VC001KPNMS3dGknP28E6SbsCW_oIUgW2ljmSb51yQYg/edit?usp=sharing


text:
Check out our Snowbabies. We're offering 40% off. Use promo code Snowbabies40 at checkout.
Seraphim Classics are 30% off. Use promo code Seraphims30 at checkout.
Offering 40% off retired Inge-Glas ornaments. Use promo code OWC40 at checkout
Best of Belznickles
Christmas Chime
Cool Jazz
Gift Giver
Glitzy Santa
Glorious Weihnachtsmann
Ho Ho Holiday
Jolly St. Nik
Kindhearted Nikolaus
Merry Man
Mini Nik
Nik's Knapsack
Nite Guide
Noble Weihnachtsman
Regal Santa Frost
Ringing in the Season
Romantic Santa
Santa's Goodies
Santa's Greatest Pleasure
Santa's Speech
Sir Frost
Timberland Nik


text:
Chief Operating Officer
Mike has spent over 16 years engineering nanoparticles for various applications in technology and medicine. Dr. Bruckman obtained his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University at South Carolina and received additional training in Biomedical Engineering and medical device commercialization (CWRU). During this time, Mike researched plant viral nanoparticles (VNP) for a variety of applications: diagnosing atherosclerosis (MRI), drug delivery (cancer), VOC gas sensing, cell growth, and optical metamaterials (cloaking devices). Two years prior to joining Haima, Mike lead the commercialization of a saliva glucose sensor for diabetics at the technology development startup company, NanoBio Systems.
Christa Pawlowski, PHd
Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer
Christa has over a decade of experience conducting research related to platelet biology and platelet-inspired approaches in nanomedicine. Christa received her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. As a graduate student and postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Sen Gupta's laboratory, she was lead researcher responsible for the design, fabrication and evaluation of the hemostatic capabilities (both in vitro and in vivo) of the SynthoPlate technology.
Anirban Sen Gupta, Phd
Co-founder and Chief Scientific Advisor
Anirban is a Professor in Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. Anirban received his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Akron and has 10+ years experience in engineering of platelet-mimetic particles with ~15 peer-reviewed articles in the area.
Junior Engineer
Norman has his Master's in medical physiology from CWRU. He joined the Sen Gupta lab in 2017 to work on hemostatic drug delivery and the translational aspect of SynthoPlate. He recently joined Haima Therapeutics to further assist in commercialization of SynthoPlate.
Research Intern
Lauren is pursuing her Master's of Public Health at CWRU with a focus on global health and disease burden. She has spent the last 3 years studying the pathophysiology underlying Type II Diabetes Mellitus and its comorbidities in Dr. John Kirwan's lab at Lerner Research Institute. Training in a translational research lab sparked an interest in exploring commercialization of therapeutics. Recently, she joined the Haima team to learn how to navigate the process of developing a nano-therapeutic from the bench to the bedside.
Research Intern
Kara is pursuing her Master's of Public Health at CWRU. She joined the Sen Gupta lab in 2017 and Haima in 2018.


text:
Elena R- 27m + Lulworth Banks – 22m
Map UnavailableDate - 10/03/2018
Time - 8:15 am - 3:15 pm
This is a two dive day, firstly diving the amazing Elena R at a sea bed depth of 27m, some lunch and then a drift onto the Lulworth banks for some great marine life and scallops at 22m.
We are not coming back to port between dives.
Extra dive cylinders and kit can be rented from Skin Deep based in the marina
A very in depth and well illustrated wreck tour of the Elena R Wreck tour 132 – The Elena R
If you wish to book this dive fill in the form below, new user details will then be emailed to you
(Please check your junk/Spam folder for the email from firstname.lastname@example.com)
Bookings are closed for this event.


text:
Earlier this year I was in Colchester with the God of Hookland AKA David Southwell, reading at the launch of the The Migrant Waders anthology from Dunlin Press. It was about wading birds and I'd written about avocets, RSPB Minsmere and Nazis, should you be curious. I recall sitting having a pint with Simon Spanton and David and talking about how for some people 'the war never ended'.
Fascists became relevant to my year. At the time I was becoming increasingly aware of an irritating online supertroll called Milo Yiannopolous. I have the dubious honour of having attended the same school as that sad excuse for a 21st Century 'personality'.
I had a conversation with David, slightly pissed and eating a KFC on a deserted Essex high street, that Kit and I should put out a statement decrying him and pointing out how shared roots can diverge wildly. Then I promptly forgot about it until the beginning of December when we got a little taste of alt-right trolling following a statement we put out concerning Milo speaking at our old school. It was a strange and depressing week, full of wilful misreadings of what we had written and downright insult. I didn't even know what a cuck or a snowflake was until late 2016 – at least I got to expand my vocabulary with a whole new unwanted lexicon of hate and bigotry.
2016 wasn't the best of years, I think we have all agreed. But there were many highlights.
I've had the privilege to work on a number of excellent books this year for both Unsung Stories and Influx Press. One of the most enjoyable aspects of working as an editor for small presses is bringing something you believe in, and work closely with, to a wider audience.
This year I have been working on Signal Failure: London to Birmingham, HS2 on Foot by Tom Jeffreys. The book is an exploration of the proposed HS2 route, of what cities and countryside and the landscapes of middle-England actually mean, and of the price of progress. It's an interrogation of city and suburbia, of landscape writing itself, and the individual's own shortcomings and failings built into the book (something crucially missing from a lot of landscape writing I read, to the point where I've been having some misgivings about the genre).
I want to say a big thanks for everyone who has worked on this project this year, namely Austin Burke for the design, Dan Coxon at Momus Editorial for his copy-editing skillz, and Maxim Griffin who provided the cover art and maps for each chapter. Maxim is a fantastic artist and you should check out his work immediately. I was lucky enough to do a collaborative piece with him back early this year for Unofficial Britain called Heaven is a Marsh in Winter, which we all know to be a statement of fact. Signal Failure is out in April next year so watch this space for events and other goings on. You can pre-order it right now.
Also for Influx, I've been working with editor of Elsewhere: A Journal of Place and knower-of-everything-about-Berlin, Paul Scraton. Paul has written the excellent Ghosts on the Shore: Travels Along Germany's Baltic Coast, an exploration of an area central to the mythology of the German nation. In October, I visited Paul in Berlin before we took a trip up to the Baltic coast to explore some of the locations in the book, arriving at Prora, the site of a half-derelict National Socialist holiday camp now being turned into luxury holiday apartments. We walked from there along a stormy Baltic coast to the tourist town of Binz, which was beset by a storm so bad it made front page news the next day. We got quite drunk in several German pubs and bars as rain lashed the windows. It was a great trip, and I can't wait for the book to appear in summer 2017. Thanks also to Paul and his wife Katrin (and Lotte of course) for giving me a tour of the old communist and socialist sites of Berlin – a side of the city perhaps many English tourists don't see. The Soviet war memorial at Treptower Park must be seen to be believed. Words or photographs simply don't do the place justice. I'm really looking forward to visiting Germany again next year around the time of the book's launch.
A big highlight of 2016 was Influx publishing An Unreliable Guide to London, our faux-travel-guide collection of short fiction from our favourite London writers. I'm very proud of this book, and delighted how it was received. We tried to create something that presented a true reflection of the city we live in, and largely succeeded in that. Thanks to everyone involved in the book – you're all brilliant. It was so much fun promoting the book at the Stoke Newington Literary Festival, Housmans, Burley Fisher and a packed-out launch at The Star of Kings. And as a Madness fan, I was particularly pleased to see the book in the London section of Foyles next to Suggs and the City.
Excitingly, Influx sold the rights to Darran Anderson's Imaginary Cities to the United States and to France, to the University of Chicago Press and Editions Inculte respectively. Both are due out in the first half of 2017. It's very satisfying to see a book we all worked so hard on getting out into the world; hopefully it's a forceful validation that small presses CAN take chances on books that will be successful and find an audience. Darran's a brilliant writer and he deserved the success. I'm proud to have played a part in that.
At Unsung I've worked on Metronome by Oliver Langmead, the follow up to epic-poetry-sci-fi-noir Dark Star. Metronome shows what can be done within the sometimes-limiting confines of fantasy – if you throw away the Tolkien-tropes and fully engage the creative imagination then something very special can come of it. Metronome is out in January and I heartily recommend it.
I've also worked on the debut collection from weird fiction writer Malcolm Devlin, You Will Grow into Them. This book is an absolute must for anyone who is a fan of the Robert Aickman tradition of short fiction. One story in this collection just blew me away and made me realise we were dealing with a real talent.
Through Unsung, I was lucky enough to meet several weird fiction writers I greatly respect including Nina Allan (author of the astounding The Race), Tim Jarvis (author of The Wanderer and a man who knows more about weird and outré fiction than anyone I've ever met), and Helen Marshall, author of Gifts for the One Who Comes After and an excellent drinking companion at Fantasycon in Scarborough back in September.
Fantasycon was excellent. I had a cracking time with nimble-fisted Nazia Khatun, Leila of the Post-Apocalyptic Bookclub and George Sandison, editorial overlord at Unsung. It felt very apt to be in a decaying Victorian hotel on the cold North Sea talking about horror and weird fiction. There are a lot of pasty shops in Scarborough, we noted. Horror maestro Adam Nevill even bought some Unsung books, and liked the The Beauty by Aliya Whiteley so much he put in this list of essential horror for The Quietus. Speaking of Aliya Whiteley, she's great, her novel The Arrival of Missives that we published at Unsung back in May is amazing and you need to read her work. She's going places. Trust.
Unsung have run a series of increasingly popular live literature events throughout 2016 at The Star of Kings in London, which has been a real pleasure to be a part of. We've had a wonderful array of readers including Catriona Ward, Irenosen Okojie, Tade Thompson, Angela Slatter, M.R. Carey and many more. Unsung Live has been really fun to be a part of so here's to it getting bigger and better in 2017.
In terms of non-Influx and Unsung activities, I was fortunate enough to take part in some interesting events this year. In April, I headed up to Liverpool with David Southwell for the Spirits of Place symposium organised by John Reppion at Calderstones Park. There were a range of fascinating talks taking in a range of overlapping subjects: archaeology, history, folklore, occultism, psychogeography, landscape and horror. Horror legend Ramsey Campbell was in attendance (read his novel Creatures of the Pool immediately), and it was great to meet Ian 'Cat' Vincent and Adam Scovell, both of who gave fascinating talks that were much better than mine. You can read a transcript of the talk I gave about landscape punk here.
Later in the year, Adam (new-ish to London) and myself took a wander from Tottenham Lock to Stratford along the Lee Navigation and the Lea, taking in Markfield Park, Springfield Park, Middlesex Filter Beds, the Wick Woods and finally the horror of the East Village. Next year we head to Leamouth.
In May I spent a memorable bank holiday with Gareth E. Rees at the Jack in the Green festival in Hastings, with the strange joy of being in a packed pub at 9:30am on a Monday morning as Morris men gather in the rain.
Caught by the River Thames in August was lots of fun. I got to hang out with good folk like Gareth E. Rees, Peter Haynes, Michael Smith and Richard Milward, watch the Super Furry Animals, and worship my God Chris Packham as he was interviewed onstage by Lauren Laverne. Tim Burrows and myself wrote it up for The Quietus.
September was the second Trespass punk gig on the Thames, organised by my friends in the Punk Ethics crew, featuring anarcho-legends Conflict and The Restarts. The gig took on the surreal and invigorating quality of a Situationist stunt mixed with a hardcore punk show. I wrote about the whole thing for The Quietus here.
I did lots of other things too, of course, but we all have to edit our lives.
Finally, thanks always to my Influx partners in crime, Kit Caless and Sanya Semakula. I never thought I'd end up in the acknowledgements in a book about Wetherspoons Carpets, which shows life can surprise you if you let it.


text:
Energy saving tips for hospitals, schools, colleges, universities, local councils and government
The Carbon Trust helps organisations contribute to and benefit from a more sustainable future through carbon reduction, resource efficiency strategies and commercialising low carbon technologies.
Register for an online account and pay by Direct Debit.
A business smart meter can help you understand your energy usage.
Complete air conditioning service for your business from £129 excl VAT.


text:
04 Jun 2013
June 4, 2013
Return from Summer: Weds 4th September BREAKFAST CLUB Can I remind parents that entry to the breakfast club is 8.20am at the earliest. I have been told that recently a number of unaccompanied children have turned up at school as early as 8.00am. Last entry to breakfast club is at 8.45am. Children will be able.. read more →


text:
The Chester Lions Club will be accepting applications for its annual scholarship initiative. Interested students are encouraged to apply. High school seniors maintaining residence in the towns of Chester, Mendham and Washington Township in Morris County are eligible to apply…
- Home
- About
- Oktoberfest
- Upcoming Events
- Projects
- Contact
- Membership


text:
Substantial debts and staff departures as CEO admits firm is experiencing 'very difficult time'
Speculation over the future of Shebang Technologies Group intensified last week after 'To Let' signs were placed outside the distributor's head office in Daventry.
Shebang has been based at the site since the firm was founded by Iain Humphrey and Joseph Berry in 2001.
Estate agent Lambert Smith Hampton posted the property on its website, advertising the two-floor building as available for £163,000 per year.
Rumours in the channel that the group had entered administration were denied by the firm's managing director Duncan Hay earlier this month.
Shebang CEO Iain Humphrey confirmed the business will relocate to smaller offices in Daventry in early September as it no longer requires the space.
Staff numbers have been reduced significantly in the past year, from around 200 at their peak to just 32 today.
Sources close to Shebang have described its Daventry offices as a "ghost town" in recent months.
Mobile News has also learned Joseph Berry quit the board in July, leaving Humphrey as the sole director. Berry is the eighth director to quit in the past 18 months (see boxout, left).
Humphrey confessed the firm is going through a "very difficult time" and will now focus on its MVNO, Go Mobile 4 Everyone – its only remaining business.
The MVNO, which runs off the Three network, is being sold in around 100 Go Mobile retail stores, which Shebang sold to A1 Comms in June.
MVNO focus
Humphrey said: "We have been working through various problems over the past couple of months and it has been a very difficult time, but we're dealing with them.
"We have a lot of hard work ahead of us over the next year but we feel quite confident about what we can do with the MVNO.
"The premises we are in currently are too big for the number of staff we have. The lease was coming to an end on that building and we are moving to smaller premises in Daventry to concentrate solely on our MVNO business."
The Shebang Group business has been slowly dismantled over the past year.
At the beginning of 2011, Humphrey restructured the business into six different divisions, operating under the Shebang Technologies Group name, to provide greater clarity on its offerings.
But in May this year, Humphrey told Mobile News he "absolutely regretted" the move, claiming it provided little benefit to the businesses and that it segmented too many people.
In March, Shebang Consumer Solutions was issued with a winding-up order and went into liquidation on April 5. Sources close to the firm claim it owed HMRC around £800,000 in unpaid VAT.
Shebang Logistics Solutions has also ceased trading, with a creditors' meeting taking place on July 31. The same sources claim Shebang owed HMRC around £350,000 in unpaid VAT, and accessories distributors Santok and Peak £350,000 and £90,000 respectively. Humphrey refused to confirm or deny the exact details of the monies owed for legal reasons.


text:
This section is from "Every Woman's Encyclopaedia". Also available from Amazon: Every Woman's Encyclopaedia.
A new Art School and its Ideals - Individuality and Originality Carefully Fostered by Teaching Methods - Hours of "Work - Subjects Taught - Fees - Prizes and Scholarships
This is the newest of London Art Schools of importance, for it was opened in
May, 1910, in a specially designed and splendidly fitted building, containing a set of fine studios, at 70, Campden Street, Campden Hill, W., by Mr. Byam Shaw and Mr. Rex Vicat Cole, two of the most brilliant of our younger artists.
A studio tea is usually a merry little meal that makes a welcome break in the afternoon's work
It has already become a highly flourishing school, with an attendance of over forty students, and the chance visitor to the school is struck by the youthful spirit of energy and artistic enterprise which animates students and teachers alike, and which is a most stimulating and refreshing thing to meet with.
To the girl art student a peculiar attraction in the teaching lies in the fact that the chief object in the course of training is to stimulate the young artist's own originality, and, by constant change of work and of models, to avoid any possibility of staleness or monotony in the daily round of work in the studios.
Work and Working Hours
School working hours are from 10 to 6, with a break of an hour for luncheon and a short rest for tea, except on Saturdays, when the school closes at 4.
During the morning hours, from 10 to 12.30, all girl students who are sufficiently advanced work in the woman's life class, under the direction of Mr. Byam Shaw himself. From 1.30 to 4 p.m. a costume model poses, while from 4.30 to 6 there is a draped model sketching class held in the biggest of the studios for the entire school, men and girl students working together. A fresh model sits every day, posed with different accessories, under different effects of light, with the object of encouraging students to sketch general effects rapidly and to depict objects in action.
Mr. Byam Shaw criticising a student's work in the costume class, held daily in the afternoon
With these ends in view, all sorts of original accessories have been introduced into the studio. A hammock in which the model was gently swaying to and fro, and a swing with a child to be painted engaged in more vigorous action, were among the subjects which lately occupied the sketching class.
Mr. Vicat-cole has excellent schemes for obtaining original effects of lighting. A big cupboard door, leading down to the cellars below, has been pressed into service on one or two occasions to provide an admirable setting for a model posed peeping from the shadow of the open door with a brilliant light behind her, giving the weird effect of some tantastic witch's cave.
Round the studio wall runs a narrow shelf beneath which is a most interesting and highly varied collection of vivid arresting students' sketches, each of which. While showing much individuality and character in its treatment, is obviously painted with a keen appreciation of the necessity of depicting every object in relation to its immediate surroundings, important point which both Mr. Byam Shaw and Mr. Vicat-cole are never tired of impressing on their pupils.
The colour schemes of these usually bold and original, and show much true artistic feeling, for Mr. Vicat-cole, himself a very fine and subtle colourist, knows both how to show students to see colour and to teach them the relation-ships in which colours stand to another, and how they can be harmobeautiful and, at the same time, true
'many otherwise excellent modern portrait is entirely spoilt by the hopeless way in which the clothes are painted." as Mr. Byam Shaw remarked, and the art of how to paint both historic and modern costume has, therefore. been made a special feature of instruction at the school.
Both the princi-pals are strongly in favour of students working from the draped lay figure, so as to learn how to give full value to contrasts of texture and material without the necessary interruptions for the model's rests - ten minutes in an hour.
Medieval Dollmr. Byam Shaw himself is. as all picture lovers know, a great student of mediaeval times, and many of his fine mediaeval costumes have been put at the disposal of the students for study.
In the still life and lay figure costume painting studio there is a most interesting case hung against the wall, which displays a number of dolls wearing the garb of mediaeval times. The knight, the page, the chatelaine, the serving-maid, and, last but not least, the fool, are all represented. Their dresses, having been copied from prints and pictures of the day, are correct in every detail. This collection furnishes a valuable means of reference for students engaged either in planning out a set of illustrations to some romantic story whose period is set in olden days, or in composing some important picture. Each new girl student is invited to contribute to the collection one of these dolls, dressed, of course, entirely by herself. Certainly those the writer saw were a great tribute to their makers' taste and skill. A Kindly Critic
On Saturday mornings the students' weekly unsigned exercises in composition, executed in black-and-white, on a given theme, as, for instance, "Isabella and the Pot of Basil," are pinned up in a row in one of the studios for criticism by Mr. Byam Shaw, whose own brilliant illustration work makes him a most helpful critic of his pupils' often very ambitious attempts to portray some difficult subject. His comments are keen, yet always kindly, and his humorously apt remarks and suggestions are received with enthralled attention by the group of young artists who, from a respectful distance, surround him. and hang on his words as he passes from one drawing to another and returns finally to the best picture of the week to pay it a highly coveted compliment with the remark, "I should like to keep that, please!" But sketches are kept to be criticised by one of the visitors at the end of the year.
Continue to:


text:
Is it just me, or did summer fly by? I know in my household, Labor Day has always been the last "hurrah!" before the new school year began the following day.
Preparing for a new school year is no small feat, and certainly many items are on the never ending list to be accomplished and crossed off before the school bells ring and your child runs off with his or her friends, full of smiles, in anticipation for the year to come.Read More


text:
Technology Executive Monte Ford Appointed To Iron Mountain Board Of Directors
BOSTON,Oct. 15, 2018/PRNewswire/ -- Iron Mountain Incorporated(NYSE: IRM), the storage and information management company, has appointedMonte Fordto its board of directors, effectiveNovember 1, 2018. Adding Ford to the board increases Iron Mountain's board to twelve directors. Ford will be a member of both the Compensation and Risk and Safety Committees...Read Full Article
Mentions: Management risk NYSE


text:
PDF version
#MapOfTheDay! Today the Critical Issues Program (@AGI_GeoIssues) shared an interactive map of volcanoes and current volcanic activity alerts across the United States from the Volcano Hazards Program at the U.S. Geological Survey (@USGS), which you can find at http://bit.ly/1Fr07sC. For over 300 reports from trusted sources about volcanoes, check out our Research Database.


text:
If you have any works of art in good condition that you would like to offer to others then this is the chance for you.
For just £1 – non returnable – we will display up to four of your paintings or high quality prints and offer them for sale during the exhibition (February 3rd to 16th. If successful we will pay you the purchase price less a commission that we will use towards the upkeep and future of the TAAG Centre.
To take part bring your works of art to the TAAG Centre in Northumberland Place between 5 and 8pm on Thursday February 1st or between 10am and 1pm on Friday 2nd. We will do the rest.


text:
The Expanding Role of the Network
Tuesday, February 21: 11:15-12:15 CET
Only Cisco DNA can lead the charge in transforming the network from a platform for device connectivity to a platform for innovation, agility and security with extensible reach and breadth of innovation.
Come learn how Cisco DNA enables you to tap into the power of your network to deliver on real business outcomes. You will also learn about new deployment models that meet both business and IT requirements.


text:
Legal Notices
This site is managed on behalf of Boston Spa Parish Council. A number of sites are linked from this web site. Boston Spa Parish Council accepts no liability for opinions expressed in web pages not published in the name of the Parish Council. Any person or organisation objecting to the contents of any page within or linked to this site should contact the Clerk
The Parish Council reserves the right not to publish material which in its opinion is offensive, promotes unlawful activities or is contrary to the published policies or the Code of Conduct of Boston Spa Parish Council, until the guidance of the Council has been obtained.
We have always taken data protection seriously and have been working hard to update our processes and documentation to meet the requirements of the GDPR, the new European data protection law. As part of this we have updated our Privacy Notice to give you a better understanding of how we process your personal data. You can view the new Privacy Notice here.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience Accept. For details on how to change your computer setting click here.


text:
IPL 2017: Match No. 55: Rising Pune Supergiant vs Kings XI Punjab Review:
I felt it was a shocking defeat for the Kings XI the other day against Pune Supergiant at the Maharashtra Cricket Association in Pune. In the first innings, Punjab were bowled out for a mere score of 73 in 12 overs. This was the lowest score for Punjab in IPL history. The second innings was very easy for Pune to qualify for the Playoffs.
Punjab lost five wickets quickly as Shardul Thakur took a 3 wicket haul of the batsmen Shaun Marsh, Rahul Tewatia and skipper Glenn Maxwell.
Then, it looked like Wriddhiman Saha and Axar Patel would help Punjab with their partnership but Daniel Christian took both their wickets which were edged back to MS Dhoni for a comfortable catch. Adam Zampa ended the Punjab innings early by taking the wickets of Ishant and Mohit Sharma.
The second innings started well with Ajinkya Rahane and Rahul Tripathi building the innings but Axar Patel bowled a slower ball to Tripathi taking his wicket. Rahane continued alongside skipper Steve Smith to finish the innings. There was a chance to take his wicket but it was dropped by Martin Guptill.
The Rising Pune Supergiant will play the Qualifier 1 against the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede, Mumbai. Kings XI Punjab finish at fifth place and are knocked out of the tournament. None of the players seem to have taken the game seriously in playing a responsible innings to take the team to a winning position.


text:
Silver Ivory White Pearl and Crystal Sunburst Brooch
$ 7.50
Silver off-white pearl and crystal sunburst brooch is perfect for brooch bouquets or added jewelry decoration. Each ray is studded with quality crystals around a 15mm pearl and it comes with a pin on the back. Also available in gold in our Brooch Collection.
Quantity 1
Size: 2 inches long and 2.25 inches wide with 5/8 inch 15mm pearl
Colors: Silver metal with clear crystals and 15mm pearls


text:
SONG OF THE DAY: I by Moon Gangs
Movie Trailer Tuesday
The Maze Runner The Signal The Giver Get On Up
"Nau Sau Ser Bil Uma Rah Rab" by Mirror Mirror
Directed by Robert Bittenbender
Stoney's Guide To A Balanced Diet
Some of you may remember Stoney, Pauly Shore's beloved character on the 90's classic Encino Man. Created for comic appeal, most would pass him…
Trailer Tuesday
Transformers Paddington Bear Nymphomaniac The Double
ART HISTORY: "The Fourth Dimension" by Zbigniew Rybczyński (1988)
Zbig Rybczynski The Fourth Dimension (1988) "Rybczynski produced a 27-minute, 35mm color film exploring the choreographic and narrative potential of slit-scan techniques. The artist writes:…
Song of the Day: Dragon by Princess Nokia
This makes my heart swell a little bit. Happy Friday! Enjoy! VIDEO BY MILAH LIBIN & ARVID LOGAN Produced By @OWWWLS
The New Godzilla movie looks epic…
After experiencing the highly commercialized 1998 rendition growing up, it's hard to wash the nostalgic Dorito taste from my mouth and judge a new Godzilla movie…
Music Video: "Chorus" by Holly Herndon
Directed by Akihiko Taniguchi, the video for Holly Herndon's "Chorus" is a multi dimensional photo mapped free-for-all. The stimulating end product makes for a…


text:
Life is going well.
I appear to be in 'remission' from the worst aspects of my disease(s). By this I mean that the fatigue is vastly reduced and the pain is well controlled with the drugs. This makes it easier to move and enables me to have fuller days. I am back to swimming almost daily. It is two years since I have been able to do that. My weight is going down as a result.
The date for our Civil Partnership is all set. 3pm July 7th 2012. I call it a wedding. (The govt. intend making it full marriage anyway but don't ask me what the differences are!) I have invited all the guests. Our intent has been properly registered.
I have booked a suite in Frankfurt, Germany as our wedding treat. Sunday8th to Sunday 15th, with Monday to Saturday in the suite. It's a 'Sky Suite', a high rise room, with city views. I will not go near the balcony probably but John will like it. The hotel is central in walking distance of shopping and museums and galleries.
I am very pleased with Mary-Grace's litter. I sold the only female, a very good one, to my friend for showing. I will leave it to her as to when it becomes public knowledge. i have kept two males, Chase and Christophe. I prefer Chase but Christophe is also very promising. I kept both so as to see how they develop. I will sell Christophe as a pet or a show dog when he is over 6 months and it is easier to see how he has developed. Both move every well and have excellent movement tho they are of different style.
I have sold yarn well. I have not made much effort to do so as I have been so busy with the litter. I have only one sleeve left to knit on my cashmere/silk sweater.
We have had much snow here with more forecast. It is very cold, with temps going down to -10c tomorrow night.
Today I have been listening to a woman called Devil Doll. I really like her forthright style. Big band/rock type songs with guts and power and sometimes 4 letter lyrics! It's different and she has a powerful voice.
A quick post on a Sunday afternoon - It seems I'm always posting (when I do) on Sundays. I think it's because I don't usually plan much on Sundays save the usual get-togethers we have as a...
16 hours ago


text:
In 2019 we're launching a membership program for those who wish to support our efforts through a yearly membership.
We'd like to emphasize that this will not be a requirement to enroll in any of our camps.
Members will not have priority over non members
To our families – Tutors, therapists, and treatments are all expensive. We get it. If becoming a member will negatively impact you even 1%, please do not sign up.
To everyone else every dollar counts and will be put to good use. Memberships will include stickers, t shirts, hats, and other neat items with our logo on it.
Once we finalize our different membership packages, we'll announce it on our website, Facebook, and Instagram.


text:
I left the pistachios in this recipe larger than what would probably be expected. I love the taste of them after they have been roasted so I want to make sure there would be a burst of flavour in each cookie.
When I thought about creating this recipe I was a bit concerned about finding already shelled nuts. I had images of sitting down watching an episode of Dexter while trying not to undo my progress by eating every other pistachio I shelled. Luckily my local grocer had containers of them with all the work done for me. It still didn't stop me from eating handfuls (or watching an episode of Dexter).
Roasting nuts is actually quite simple. The key is to not walk away from the pan. Before you know it they burn. So throw your nuts in a fry pan over med-high heat and give them a stir every 1/2 minute or so. Once you see even one turning it means they are minutes away from being done so keep stirring them. Should take 5-7 minutes total. Place them in a bowl to cool (try not to eat them all too). Once they are cool enough to touch give them a course chop.
In a large mixing bowl cream your butter. This is also a good time to combine all your dry ingredients; flour and salt in a separate bowl. Add your sugars to the bowl of butter and beat.
Add your vanilla and egg. I'll totally admit that I never measure my vanilla. Its a purely by sight decision. But I also love vanilla. A good guideline is if your cookie has a lot of strong flavours like chocolate, peanut butter, fruit etc you can be a little more heavy handed. Lighter flavours like this shortbread need less.
Once everything is beaten together well combine your dry mix. Start at a low speed or else be prepared for a puff of flour dust.
Add 1 cup of your roasted, chopped pistachios to the dough and give it one last fold on the mixer.
Split the dough into two evenly shaped and sized logs. Spread the remaining nuts on your work surface. Carefully roll the log of dough in the nuts making sure to press them down gently so they don't just fall off. Keep rolling to get good coverage as well as to keep the round log shape.
Carefully cut off slices of the dough. These action is going to automatically press and flatten as least one side of your log so after each cut you should give it a quick roll to put back in place. You can also help shape the slices with your hands.
Place the rounds on your prepared baking sheet and place in preheated oven to bake until bottoms begin to brown. These cookies have little spread so you can get lots on one sheet.
Like all shortbread I consider these a drier cookie so a nice cuppa will be a perfect pairing.
Yields 3-3 1/2 doen
- 2 cups pistachios, roasted and chopped
- 1 cup butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl cream the butter, then beat in the sugar. Add the egg and vanilla and mix well.
- In a separate bowl combine the flour and salt then carefully combine into the butter/sugar mixture.
- Fold in 1 cup of the pistachios then form dough into 2 logs about 2" wide.
- Place remaining nuts on work space and roll each log of dough through pistachios until completely covered.
- Cut logs into slices and place pieces on to your prepared pans.
- Bake for 6-8 minutes until browned on bottom. Let cool completely on wire racks.


text:
NY Fashion week has begun and I already have my favourite - Vera Wang's Spring Summer RTW is a breath of fresh air. Inspired by Kill Bill - the movie, Vera brought a mix of oriental sensuality and New York minimalism. Love the slouchy pants and her draping work.
Photos: style.com


text:
A classic cocktail is transformed into a delicious slow cooker meal that is perfect for game day (or any day!) in this Slow Cooker Captain & Coke Pulled Chicken recipe...
Post updated 9/5/18- This flavorful Slow Cooker Captain & Coke Pulled Chicken recipe deserved some updated photos just in time for college football season. I did leave one of the originals down below just so you all can see for yourself why this recipe so desperately needed a little face lift. ;)
My husband's go-to drink of choice is a good old fashioned Captain & Coke. In fact, we always have a bottle in the freezer. Not that he kicks back with a cocktail every evening. In fact, we have had the very same bottle of Captain Morgan in our freezer since we were married almost 2 years ago. We also have a rather larger bottle of Captain in the cupboard leftover from the reception from the above mentioned wedding.
Needless to say, I am always look for some ways to help use up a little of that rum.
You know, besides taking shots or mixing up cocktails. ;)
Original photo from my 2013 post.
One day it hit me! Slow Cooker Captain & Coke Pulled Chicken! Yes!
(You could also use pork in this recipe. I had chicken on hand, so I used chicken.)
Serve on your favorite sandwich buns with whichever toppings you prefer. Or none at all! This sandwich was perfect and flavorful sans any condiments or toppings. :)
Slow Cooker Captain & Coke Pulled Chicken
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6-7 hours
Ingredients (serves 6-8)
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups Coca-Cola (or about 1 can)
- 1/3 cup rum (I, of course, used Captain Morgan.)
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 3-4 chicken breasts (or about 1 lb)- still frozen is fine
Trim the chicken breasts of excess fat and place into the slow cooker. You can use frozen chicken breasts in this recipe.
Place the chopped onion over the chicken.
In a small bowl whisk together the Coke, rum, ketchup, and brown sugar. Pour over top of the chicken and onions.
Cook on high for 5 hours. (Or on low for 5-6 hours if the chicken breasts are thawed.)
Before serving, use two forks to shred the chicken. You can do this right in the slow cooker if you wish. Or you can take out the chicken, shred it on a cutting board, and then stir it back in. Give it a good stir and cook on low for another 30-60 minutes.
Serve on your favorite sandwich buns with whichever toppings you prefer. Or none at all! This sandwich was perfect and flavorful sans any condiments or toppings.
Powered by Recipage
Which cocktail would you like to see transformed into a slow cooker meal? ;)


text:
2017 is over and I had an awesome reading year. If you follow me on Goodreads( please do!) you would have saw I read 144 things! WHAT!! yep, 144! I am still amazed by that. This past year I have learned that it is o.k. to read things that everyone else aren't reading and it's o.k. to like to read children picture books. I feel like I grew as a reader and that makes me feel so good.
I didn't want to pick a number and try to pick my favorite books. So I just wrote down all the books I really loved or changed me in some way and that's how this list was made. Here is my 16 favorite books of 2017, they are in no special order and I love them all the same!
By Seanan McGuire
By Jenna Evans Welch
Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions
By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
By Katie O'Neill
By Rupi Kaur
By Chelsea Clinton
By Joseph Boyden
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
By J.K. Rowling
By Judy Sheehan
Haunting the Deep ( How to Hang a Witch #2)
By Adriana Mather
By Heather Henson
By Amy Reed
California Dreamin': Cass Elliot before the Mamas & the Papas
By Penelope Bagieu
Lillian's Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
By Jonah Winter
By Julie BuxBaum
By Stacey Kade
As you can see this is an eclectic list of books and I love them all so much. Let me know if you read any of these and what you favorites of 2017 were! Here's to another amazing reading year!


text:
Nicolette Richer, Founder
Nicolette Richer (pronounced: Ree-shey) is a skilled Facilitator, a Designer of environmental education policies and programs, and a Chronic Disease Health Consultant. With a background in Sustainable Community Development and a clear view of the human and environmental health connection, she brings 15 years of experience in program and policy development, project management and evaluation, process design and facilitation, effective community engagement, public speaking, and community based social marketing.
She is an engaging individual that thrives on hosting conversations that matter on topics of:
- Nutritional and Lifestyle Changes to Achieve Optimum Health
- The Human Health and Planetary Health Connection
- Environmental Education & Fostering Eco-Citizenry
- Mindful Communication
- Intuitive Birthing & Pre-Natal Yoga
- Deschooling, Self-Design, & Creating Natural Learning Environments
What an array of topics to discuss! This is because Nicolette uses a system's perspective to view the interconnectedness that exists among the major choices that pertain to our daily lives. To create truly sustainable communities, wise action must be taken around how we birth, feed, communicate with, and foster learning and education environments for our planet's future citizens.
Nicolette is also a certified yoga instructor specializing in Pre-Natal Yoga and Birth Assisting and is a certified Gerson Therapy Home Set-Up Trainer.
Her education includes a M.A. in Environmental Education and Communication from Royal Roads University, a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies and a certificate in Sustainable Community Development from SFU. Originally born in Africa where her roots remain, Nicolette considers home to be the mountains, forests, and beaches of British Columbia. Nicolette remains hopeful and present in Whistler, BC where she loves life with her 3 daughters and husband.
Email: email@example.com


text:
January 12, 2015: Everlasting Arms
Song: "Everlasting Arms" by Vampire Weekend from Modern Vampires of the City
The squeaking wheels of a desk chair are hid in the distance, getting steadily closer until it spins into view, a man tied to it and gagged. THE INTERN follows closely after, body rigid with anger
And now, you are going to listen to every damn word I have to say. And you can just sit there. And listen. For once in your entire blessed life.
THE INTERN grabs the chair and spins the man around, hard. He lets his hostage spin a few rotations before grabbing and stopping the spins. He tests the bonds before continuing.
The weird thing is part of me still wants to impress you, wants to get your seal of approval. Do your realize how screwed up that is?! After everything you've usbhected me to, after everything you're gleefully taken from me, every idea of mine you've dressed up as one of your own without even pretending to give enough of a damn to acknowledge my contribution…after EVERYTHING! I still want to make you proud.
THE INTERN (quietly to himself)
I admired you. I trusted you when you said you'd mentor me, said you'd find a way for me to find a place in this industry. I looked up to you as someone in the business, but also as a guru, as a colleague, and even as friend. And you…you're just a thug pretending to be high class. You don't give a damn about nurturing protégés or improving the industry. None of your rhetoric meant a thing to you! It was just nonsense to spout off to keep me on the hook. Well, congratulations! You tricked me into taking that hook so deep I HAVE to do something to even the score.
I can't just walk away now and detonate my life. I shouldn't have to! I am not the one lying, cheating, and more just because…because why? Is it that you'd much rather just destroy people like me than shape us? Rather force us out than ever have to face the possibility that you might have to change your approach? Or, god forbid, move on to do something else so there's room for someone new.
Instead, you cultivated my faith in you, my respect for you, my hope in what you represented. You made me believe in you until…BAM!
THE INTERN slams an open palm against the wall to produce a loud and echo-y statement fo his anger.
YOU TOOK EVERYTHING! You made it look like my idea was yours. You told everyone I was lazy and underhanded. You convinced my girlfriend I slept with that girl from the airport bar. When you did! Married with four kids, you! You had sex with her. You. You. YOU!
You took apart everything I believe in, everything I value, everything I wanted to achieve. And now? All I have is you. Bound in a chair. Alone. No one around for miles. Not that that matters. With the gag, you won't be able to make a squeak loud enough for me to hear from here, nevermind raise a ruckus enough to get someone to save you. This is it for you. Just you and me and a year's worth of growing resentment that I suppressed, convinced you were doing what you needed to be good at this and to make sure I got good at it to.
But that was a fiction, wasn't it? A lie? Because it was funny? Because you liked hurting me? I don't know. I don't care. Or I'm trying not to care. Either wayl
THE INTERN walks to a nearby panel, turning on a spotlight and turning off all the other lights. The bound man is in the center of the spotlight. THE INTERN pulls over a small table and proceeds to lay out a variety of tools, humming to himself.
The only thing you need to think about now, "Boss," is how much pain you think you can endure. Because you are in for plenty.
With a low laugh THE INTERN grabs the man and pushes him hard against the wall. Without a word, THE INTERN leaps into the man's lap with brandishing a small saw. THE INTERN smiles broadly but without mirth as he brings the saw against the man's face.


text:
Clive Lewis
Clive Lewis is the Labour MP for Norwich South
If we want to create a truly fair tax system, we need to target the top 5%, says shadow Treasury minister, Clive Lewis
As Father's Day approaches, the Labour politician recalls what his dad, Tony, taught him about tweed jackets, jogging bottoms and fatherhood
Theresa May must not be drawn into Trump's threat to unleash US drone terror on Pakistan, writes the Labour MP Clive Lewis
We felt a profound sense of dismay when Tories won by narrow margins. In seat after seat, progressive votes were wasted, because of our broken electoral system
The public had its say on whether we should leave the EU, it's only right the public is consulted on how we do it. It may heal a few divisions, too
They once called themselves the one-nation party. But under this leader, the Conservatives look like they hope to run a one-party nation
My party has long recognised that markets are no guarantor of fairness, or even of efficiency. This knowledge is the basis of our bold new vision of society
Decades of deference to the markets and deregulation created the conditions for the BHS scandal. It was not the moral failings of one man
He is far from perfect. But at a time of existential crisis, when power structures are being turned upside down, Corbyn is the only choice that makes sense
Parliament will decide on Monday if the UK's nuclear submarine fleet will be replaced. But it's simply a ludicrous exercise in political game-playing
• Labour split deepens as Thornberry urges vote against Trident renewal
The experts came, they mocked, they prophesied doom – and then Labour enjoyed a thumping byelection win under the new leader
Clive Lewis: Many young black men's chaotic lives would benefit from an army career but outmoded views of the military get in the way


text:
You won't want to miss the River West Kids Christmas musical, "The Best Christmas Present Ever!"
The Best Christmas Present Ever:
A group of children from a local church have one week to invite people from all over town to a birthday party for Jesus. Each day they meet back at the church to share responses of the people they invited. These responses correlate to the way people in the Christmas story reacted to Christ's birth.
For Those In The Musical:
Kids from kindergarten* through junior high are invited to participate.
*Must be at least 5 years old AND in kindergarten to participate.
Rehearsal + Performance Schedule:
- Sundays | Sept. 30 - Nov. 25 (except Oct. 28) | Rooms 108-109 | 10:15-11am (between the morning services)
- We ask that kids miss no more than one rehearsal.
- Extended Rehearsal | Sunday, Oct. 28 | 12:45-3pm | Rooms 108-109 + Sanctuary | Mandatory + bring a lunch!
- Dress Rehearsal | Sunday, Dec. 2 | 12:45-3pm | Sanctuary + Rooms 108-109 | Mandatory + bring a lunch!
- FINAL PERFORMANCE | Sunday, Dec. 9 Children should be available for all three services to sing on stage. Musical is after the 5pm service, approximately 6:15pm.
Sorry! Signups ended on September 30!
For more information contact Kristin Butkus at email@example.com or 971.219.9233.
9am + 11am + 5pm
Tue - Fri | 9am - 5pm
9am + 11am + 5pm
Tue - Fri | 9am - 5pm
The Happenings
Sign up for our weekly email update.


text:
Our Staff
Pastor Randy Dewater
Lead Pastor
EMAIL : email@example.com
Randy has a passion for Jesus, his family, and the Bible. He enjoys drinking coffee on a cold day as he sits by the fire while looking at Fall leaves.
Tami Stenberg
Administrative Assistant
EMAIL: email@example.com
Tami has been married to her fun-filled husband Steve Stenberg. They have two kids: Pete and Rachel. Tami loves to sew and make crafts. She also enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time her family. Tami and her husband Steve have lived in the Vancouver area for a LONG TIME.
Tiffany Price
Tiffany is married to her wonderful husband Jake Price. They have three kids: Tucker, Josie, and Rosie. Tiffany loves to do bible studies with women from the church along with others friends from outside the church. She also enjoys camping, hiking, swimming, beach trips and relaxing in the back yard. When she gets a moment all to herself, you would probably catch her reading a book or seeking to spend time with her family.
Michael and Carrie James
Michael and Carrie James have been going to EVCC for a LONG TIME. They have two daughters, Ashlyn and Madison. They are also grandparents! Youth group meets on Wednesday Nights 7pm. Please call or email if you have any questions. Or just show up! They would love to have you!


text:
Technology: Re-imagine Customer Service Solutions like Never Beforeby PCQ Bureau November 29, 2017 0 comments
Contributed By:
Prashant Gupta, Head of Solutions – India and South East Asia, Verizon Enterprise Solutions
The 21st century has almost become synonymous with the adjective 'instant'. Instant coffee, instant messaging, instant payment and more. While living in this instant world, don't you find it frustrating when the customer service agency puts you on hold? The instrumental music which is played when you are in 'queue' or the recorded message "please be on the line, your call is important to us" contribute little in making the overall experience less annoying.
In this customer-first era, brands do not determine how customer-centric their services are, the customers do. It is a no-brainer that great customer service boosts loyalty, satisfaction and revenues, and in today's digital world, customers demand information, gratification and an instant solution at just the click of a button. The critical question to be asked is, how can technology help a brand improve its customer service experience further?
Technology advances are significantly changing the contact centre game by reinventing the experience for a consumer population, that by and large prefers digital self-serve features – accessible through a mobile app for example – but still sometimes needs to take the contact centre route.
In order to reinvent itself to cater to the customers, the contact centre industry can adopt the following four trends, which will create an everlasting impact on the industry:
- Artificial Intelligence(AI)has reached a critical juncture wherein consumers are now accustomed to interacting with robots on the phone and chatbots online. Natural language recognition technology, for example, has now matured, allowing consumers to speak more casually and still be understood, which is helping to build acceptance.Globally, technology titans have built chatbots and are working towards virtual assistants, which can further improve the overall experience by reducing the time taken to resolve the query. AI technology can help the company in storing and analysing mammoth data, all in an easily accessible format.
- Contextual customer experience (or Contextual CX) involves leveraging data to deliver a more personalized experience that helps in shortening the customer service interaction and building customer loyalty. A person contacting their insurance company, for example, will benefit if the agent is already aware, through geolocation data, that the caller is on the road in bad weather, which can potentially allow the agent to anticipate the call might be related to an accident so that it gets prioritized in the queue. Contextual CX then allows an enterprise to tailor service appropriately, which can be a brand differentiator and positive reflection.
- Mobile Customer Experience is allowing consumers to more easily and securely using their smartphones for customer service. Organizations have recognized how much time consumers spend using their mobile apps and are making them user-friendly by designing features with a 'mobile first' mindset from the ground up rather than as an afterthought. Moving away from cumbersome password entry to simple and secure thumb recognition when tapping on an app is one such outcome that is improving customer experience.
- Brand globalization or expansion into other countries is creating the need for seamless and personalized customer service experiences that transcend geographic boundaries and devices. An organization's customer service program is a critical link to maintaining a brand image on a global scale. For example, once a customer becomes accustomed to a certain level of service with a hospitality company, consistency is expected whether they are in the U.S or travelling in China. Similarly, this consumer should expect to use the same methods when communicating with the travel company– if texting for dinner reservations while in New York is preferred, the experience should be the same when in India. Ultimately, a company equipped with the right technology can deliver these consistent experiences to customers and earn their brand loyalty.
As the word seamless implies, communication should be uninterrupted. The same applies to customer service. With the customers changing their preference of the channel, companies providing customer service should ensure that the conversation conducted on one channel is flawlessly integrated with the next channel.
A Broken or fragmented conversation between different channels can cause greater customer dissatisfaction than not having that channel live for customers. Omni-channel communication would also mean tailored services for the customers. In order to be innovative and proactive, businesses need to be forthcoming with their communication channels and provide multiple options to customers which are tailored to their needs.
Companies should leverage next-generation solutions to cater their customers with undivided attention and customized assistance. Businesses will also gain a competitive advantage by enhancing customer loyalty and reducing the customer service costs.
By providing quicker, simpler and more efficient access to information through omnichannel solutions, businesses can reimagine customer service solutions like never before. The time to build a whole new era of contact centres is now.


text:
Wise and wonderful Wendy Orr, tagged me for a blog post about one of my characters. She followed it up with that evil laugh – but when I skipped across and checked out her blog post on Nim, I was quite excited to be asked. What a great way to get a bit of perspective on your character! (Be sure to read Wendy's post for lots of fascinating insights into Nim.)
But here I am. I'm 'It'.
What is your character's name? Toby Coster. He's one of the main characters in my new book – released May 27. (That's the cover above. I'm still in love with it. :P)
Is Toby based on you? Well – he wasn't intentionally, but I think we might have shared a few insecurities. And I might not be that crash-hot with the handwriting, either – which is something Toby is really struggling with.
How old is Toby? Toby is 11yrs-old.
What should we know about Toby? Toby has a big brother, Shaun, who is only 11 months, 9 days, 4 hours and 22 minutes older than Toby – but that's enough to make him oldest. And with oldest comes all sorts of privileges and capabilities. And sometimes that just isn't fair!
(Funny, because Shaun is the other MC in 'On Track' – and Shaun would say the baby of the family, 'the favoured one', outsmarts everyone.)
Toby also has a few physical challenges that are getting him down. And he's suffering at school because of his messy handwriting. Of course, everything is so much worse when Toby compares himself to Shaun, who is so good at everything!
What are Toby's personal goals? Hmmm… Toby is initially so caught up in his frustrations, that he can't see clear to set goals for himself. He wants to do something first, better, best – but he doesn't know what that something could be.
But things happen, and Toby starts to see potential in running… His goal then is to compete on Sports Day and not come last in everything.
Where can we find out more about the book?
The book is only just starting to appear online – because it's not released until midway through 2015. It's published by UQP, so keep a check on their site, uqp.com.au. It will be distributed by Penguin, and the placemarker is up on the Penguin site; https://www.penguin.com.au.
If you potter around on my website, you'll find a few posts, including;
2011 Panic Writing (complete with panic button)
2013 Poetry Snippet (at the bottom)
2015 What I learnt during edits
And now the fun bit. I get to tag some friends to follow it up. But unlike previous blog tours, I don't have to ask them in advance. COOL! (I don't feel bad about that, because this is a really interesting/insightful blog tag. And it's good to reflect on your characters.)
I tag Karen Collum and Katrina Germein. They're both wonderful writers and longtime friends – and they've both got new books coming out this year, so I'm sure they'd love to share snippets of their characters with you! Watch their blogs over coming weeks, to see if they take up the challenge!


text:
Today I'm sharing a D.I.Y. trick with you!
I'm not a D.I.Y. star at all,
so you are shure all do-it-yourself's posted on this blog are super doable and easy!
Especially this one!
This is just a super simple and fun method to make you boring accesories a little bit more special...
Let's get started!
The things you will need:
Your accessory! As you can see I'm using a plain haircomb.
- Your glue! I like to use nail glue rather than super glue, just because it is equally strong, but it takes a bit longer to dry. So you have more time to work with it, but it also doesn't take too long to dry. Also, this nail glue by essence is super cheap and easy to work with.
- The studs or gemstones you want to use. You can buy special studs or gemstones, but it's easier to just use a nailwheel.
- And a tweezer!
This is where it gets tricky if you have a more complicated design. But if you're doing something similar to me, you just slide the gems aside and dip some glue on the place where you want the gems to be. If you have another design, you just slide aside/take off one gem, dip glue, and place the gem back. Than you just repeat these steps!
Now slide back the gem into the glue using your tweezer. You don't want to get this on your fingers!
After that has dried, it should look something like this!
Now, so the studs stay in place better, top it off! You can also use a regular topcoat for this, but glue is way stronger. This is also where using nail glue comes in handy! Using a brush and swiping on the glue is way easier than having to find a way to do it using super glue. After leaving that to dry for a minimum of 10 minutes, you are finished!
So this is the 'trick' for decorating you accesories! Hopefully it will be usefull for you!
Do you ever decorate clothing or accesories so it fits better to your personal taste?


text:
Ubers are great because you get free water. So, I only book Ubers when I'm thirsty.
When the driver asks me 'where to mate? I respond 'just a couple laps of the block thanks mate, I'm here for the water'.
P.S If you would like to subscribe to these blogs, please enter your details on the contact page.


text:
Go Green Civil Engineering Ltd (Groundworks)
Gloucestershire Groundwork Company
Welcome To Go Green Civil Engineering Ltd. We are an experienced professional groundwork company that has laid 100s if not 1000s of foundations.
Shallow foundations, often called footings, are usually embedded about a metre or so into soil. One common type is the spread footing which consists of strips or pads of concrete (or other materials) which extend below the frost line and transfer the weight from walls and columns to the soil or bedrock.
A deep foundation is used to transfer the load of a structure down through the upper weak layer of topsoil to the stronger layer of subsoil below. There are different types of deep footings including impact driven piles, drilled shafts, caissons, helical piles, geo-piers and earth stabilized columns.
We can complete to plan any foundation related groundwork, we primarily cover Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, The West Midlands & South West Of England.
We are available for all foundation jobs, for an inital discussion, a quote or a site visit.


text:
Schrader promotes the use of its service packs when servicing the TPMS during tire changes and rotations. The company said each time a clamp-in sensor is removed from the rim hole, the grommet, nut, nickel-plated core and cap should be replaced. Snap-in sensors also should have their valves replaced each time the sensor is removed from the rim hole.
The reasons service pack replacement is "critically important," according to Schrader, include:
- Rubber grommets replace old seals that may have taken permanent compression set;
- The valve stem nut replaces the old nut which may have damaged threads caused by over-torqueing or other mistreatment;
- Nickel-plated valve cores are used to prevent galvanic corrosion between non-similar metals (brass and aluminum), causing a brass core to seize into an aluminum stem;
- The valve cap with seal prevents dirt and moisture from entering the sensor and also acts as a secondary pressure seal. Old valve caps may have a seal that is compressed set or missing; and
- The washer replaces the old washer, which may have been deformed during initial installation.


text:
Best 30 Bathroom Ideas
In bathroom remodeling, conventional designs are again taking center-stage and one such phenomenal comebacks are Vintage Baths-especially people who incorporate the early 1900s American style. After an incredible makeover, which included expanding the area, this bathroom features a stroll-in shower and gorgeous quartz counter tops. Take a look at our information on How one can Decide a Bathroom Vanity for extra ideas or search our library of loo vanities to get some design concepts to your subsequent rest room rework. Bathroom remodels are costly, so ensure you spend wisely.
You bathroom's wall coverings should be sturdy because of moisture, warmth and cleaning necessities. It is nice to have a place to take a seat and enjoy your Zen-like walk-in bathe, thus constructed-in and moveable benches are an additional-added luxury that does not have to break the funds. Many common design options are now part of mainstream rest room design.
Besides maximizing the counter area, opting for a single sink vainness saves you the expense of the second sink and tap. Unless you're an skilled DIY renovator, you may need to rent an experienced contractor to put in toilet options like plumbing lines, sinks, faucets and toilets, ceramic tile, and flooring. Some bogs, generally known as "Jack and Jill" bogs , even have two separate sinks.
These sinks supply a great option for working with the tighter confines of a smaller toilet However, relying on the mannequin, they could require installing the water supply or drain traces so that they're hidden behind the wall, which may make their set up tougher and costly. Host Nicole Curtis added new fixtures and gorgeous white wainscoting which provides visible curiosity and displays mild inside the space.
All the things about this small lavatory is in want of a modern makeover, from the busy wallpaper to the curtained pedestal sink. Lastly, be cognizant of the National Kitchen and Bathtub Affiliation planning pointers so that you simply and your bathroom designer can plan a protected and purposeful format that meets each your needs and rules. With a darkish wooden cabinet and tile walls, this basement bathroom felt dark, dated and confining.


text:
adidas Tiro 17 Training Top Child Size
adidas Tiro 17 Training Top Child Size
Product description
Size Guide:
5-6 Years
7-8 Years
9-10 Years
11-12 Years
*Age ranges are a guide only
The younger players can arrive at the ground in style with the adidas Tiro 17 training top. A new addition to the range of junior adidas Tiro training and teamwear, Tiro training tops are exclusively styled the adidas way, trademark looks with top performance.
More Features and Benefits
The Tiro 17 kids training top is a versatile long sleeved shirt, perfect for the training pitch and ideal for everyday use.
Slim fitting and constructed with adidas Climacool so you can ignore the heat and keep your focus where it should be, on the football pitch. Garment construction and micro ventilation in the fabric enhances breathability and moisture evaporation. Not only does this blend of fabrics help in keeping the sweat off your body, but it also keeps the heat off. Climacool garments integrate special ventilation zones throughout it to allow air to circulate close to your skin.
These Tiro 17 training jackets incorporate thumb holes and a fold over glove detail, ideal to keep sleeves in place and affording that little extra warmth on cold days at the training ground.
Finished with a mock neck and piping to the hem, available in shades to match the club colours and kids and adult size options.
Slim fit.
Mock neck.
Thumb holes.
100% Polyester.


text:
Sweet & Simple Pancakes
I reckon a lot of people won't be going to church this Holy Week but I bet 99% of us will be eating pancakes tomorrow. I have to confess I've had them three times already in the last week! Traditionally during the Lenten period, milk and eggs were prohibited, so pancakes were the order of Shrove Tuesday to utilise any remaining supplies. I remember it being one of the few school mornings where we would willing get out of bed, drawn to the kitchen by the delicious smell. My mother standing at the solid fuel cooker, making pancake after pancake and keeping a batch warm on a plate over a large pot of simmering water -so that we could all have one in unison, thereby saving a row between us kids. Often we would have them again that night and manys a time my mother would have to top up the batter with more milk, to stretch it out for our hungry mouths. We only ever had them with caster sugar and copious amounts of fresh lemon juice and that still remains my most favourite way to eat them. If you can it's best to make your batter ahead of time ensuring a lighter pancake -my mum would usually make hers the night before! Don't worry too much if you're short on time you can still use it straight away.
Makes 4/5 pancakes
- Sieve 100g plain flour into a bowl, make a well in the middle
- Whisk up one egg, put in the well along with a pinch of salt
- Gradually add 350 mls of milk (if you're dairy free oat, rice or soya is ok)
- Using a whisk gently mix and 'take in' the flour from the edge of your well to avoid lumps
- Add a small knob of melted butter or 2 tsps of sunflower oil
- If you get lumps whizz them out with a hand blender
- After the batter has rested over night or for an hour at least, put your non-stick pan on a medium heat
- Put your batter into a jug, melt some butter in the pan -enough to lightly cover the base, pour your batter in, tilt the pan to spread it and cook evenly on both sides
Before the roll-up
- Enjoy with;
Lemon & Caster Sugar
Lemon & Honey/Maple Syrup
Your favourite Jam
Nutella & Banana
Spinach, Walnuts & Goats Cheese
Cheese & Tuna etc.....
Cookie Monster....I feel the same way about pancakes.


text:
About Leona G. Shankle, Author
Book Title: At The Starting Gate
Leona G. Shankle, a retired teacher turned writer and first time author, emerges from a forty-year journey through young adulthood, marriage and motherhood, and teaching and mentoring. She hopes to encourage others who have put their dreams on hold or on the back burner of life to reach for their dreams. If you have ever thought about writing a book, then Leona's new book is a must have.
Leona introduces her book, At The Starting Gate, a collection of her poetry and short stories. After proclaiming time after time that she wanted to write a story or a book, Leona said "time to walk the talk" and decided to "do it" instead of talking about it. With the passion for writing rekindled, Leona wrote this book to finally get her story told.
Her delightful short stories and inspiring poetry collection will encourage you to start writing your book. It will help motivate you while you write.
Her book is an example aspiring authors can hold, read, examine, and critique. This captivating book provides new writers tangible evidence that they can write a book.
Leona's book will make you say...
"I can do that!"


text:
5th graders have been working for WEEKS on their Ivory Coast Masks! I finally have a few finished ones to share. I'm so excited!
The rest should be finished next week.
Missed the process? Check it out here, here and here.
Wow! These Ivory Coast Masks are Incredible! Great work!


text:
Each week throughout the ReMarkAble series at First Baptist Church, we will have a guest post from various pastors, church planters, missionaries, professors, bloggers, etc. I will always post them on Tuesdays. This week, Dr. Mark Strauss has provided his reflections on Mark's eighth chapter.
Mark L. Strauss (Ph.D., Aberdeen) is professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary San Diego, where he has served since 1993. He is the author or coauthor of various books, including commentaries on Mark's Gospel in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary Series (2014) and Expositors Bible Commentary (2010); How to Read the Bible in Changing Times (Baker, 2011); Four Portraits, One Jesus (Zondervan, 2007), and The Essential Bible Companion (with John Walton; 2006). He is New Testament editor of the Expanded Bible (Thomas Nelson) and the Teach the Text Commentary Series (Baker). He also serves as Vice Chair of the Committee for Bible Translation for the New International Version and as an associate editor for the NIV Study Bible. He is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, the Institute for Biblical Studies and the Evangelical Theological Society.
Mark has a heart for ministry and preaches and teaches regularly at churches, conferences and college campuses. He lives in San Diego with his wonderful wife Roxanne, a marriage and family therapist, and three delightful children, two in college, one in high school.
You are the Messiah
Mark chapter 8 is the center point and key transitional chapter for the whole of Mark's Gospel. It is the axis upon which the whole Gospel turns. Throughout chapter 1–8 Jesus reveals his authority as Messiah and Son of God. He heals the sick, casts out demons, calms the sea, raises the dead, and feeds the multitudes. His actions produce awe and amazement in the crowds, but opposition and hostility from the religious leaders. The crush of the crowds means there's hardly time to eat or sleep, so in Mark 8 Jesus takes his disciples for some R & R to the beautiful region around Caesarea Philippi, north of Galilee. On the way, he asks them a telling question, "Who do people say that I am?" They answer with some popular views about Jesus: "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." Jesus then asks, "What about you? Who do you say that I am?" Peter answers for the Twelve, "You are the Messiah." (Mark 8:27–29; all quotes from NIV)
Peter gets it right! Jesus' remarkable authority has proven that he is the long awaited Savior, promised in Scripture. He is the One!
Yet Jesus then shocks his disciples by predicting the suffering role of the Messiah:
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. (Mark 8:32)
Peter lacks a full understanding
Peter is appalled by this defeatist attitude and rebukes Jesus. But Jesus turns around and rebukes him right back: "Get behind me, Satan!...You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns" (Mark 8:33). In one sense Peter gets it right. He recognizes that Jesus is God's mighty Messiah, who will bring salvation. But he doesn't realize that the Messiah's role will be to suffer and die. Jesus will bring salvation not by conquering the Roman legions, but by sacrificing himself as an atoning sacrifice for sins, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). The whole second half of Mark's Gospel will describe the "way of the cross," as Jesus heads to Jerusalem to accomplish this messianic task.
Peter had his own vision of what the Messiah was to be. He wanted a king who would defeat Israel's oppressors and bring victory, glory, security, and dominance to Israel. Jesus had a greater vision. He was here to reverse the results of the fall and defeat Satan, sin and death—humanity's greatest enemies.
Getting a greater vision for the world
We are often like Peter. We want a god who will satisfy what we perceive as our needs—happiness, health, prosperity, comfort and security. Yet while God promises us eternal health and happiness, the path to this glory is one of sacrifice and suffering. To be Jesus' disciple means to deny ourselves, to take up our cross and to follow him (Mark 8:34). The message of Mark's Gospel is that following Jesus means getting a greater vision for the world than our personal success or happiness. It means submitting to God's kingdom and seeking his purposes. That purpose is to share the message of reconciliation with a lost world—that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself (2 Cor. 5:18-19). That is a message worth passing on; and one worth dying for.


text:
CVARS Newsletter – October 2013
CVARS WA7UHD Sunday Night Net Controller Schedule
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
When: Wednesday, November 6, 2013
6:45 PM Board Meeting
7:00 PM Social Time
7:30 PM Program
Where: Lewis County Fire District 6 Training Room
corner of SW 21th St & Jackson Highway
Program: Election of 2014 board members
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
CVARS WA7UHD Sunday Night Net Controller Schedule
The CVARS WA7UHD Net meets Sunday at 8 PM local time on 145.430 MHz –offset, 110.9 Hz tone. Net controllers are:
October 6 – Rita Pratt, KE7YAB
October 13 – Linc Haymaker, K0ZCO
October 20 – Paul Van Dyck, K7VWH
October 27 – Barbara Southern, AC7ET
November 3 –
November 10 –
November 17 – Barbara Southern, AC7ET
November 24 –
-------------------- -------------------- --------------------
The October 2, 2013 board meeting didn't have a quorum, so wasn't held. Present were Chuck Verdon, James Van Ornum, John Ellingson.
Chuck called the general meeting to order at 7:30 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag followed by people introducing themselves. The attendance sheets and CVARS Sunday 8PM Net Controller sheet were passed around.
Barbara Southern and Jim Campbell presented the following slate of nominees for the 2014 board:
President – Chuck Verdon
Vice-President – Linc Haymaker
Secretary – James Van Ornum
At-Large – Rita Pratt
At-Large – Theresa Haymaker
The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum board has its monthly meeting in the Fire District #6 training room on the second Wednesday of the month. James is trying to contact Wanda Thompson, board secretary, to see if they plan to meet on January 8, 2014. We may have to cancel our January 2014 meeting.
There was discussion about the need to publicize Amateur Radio classes and examination sessions being held in Lewis County. In addition to posting class and exam information in the cvars.org web site, it was suggested we have a notice printed in the Centralia Chronicle.
John Bertels presented a program, with pictures, about his trip to El Salvador.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM after drawing for 50/50. There were 28 people attending.


text:
George Dimarelos has a little confession at the top of his latest show, George Michael is Greek; but it's not so much a George Michael tribute show as it is a tax write-off for he bought a jacket for a party. That being said, there are some indicators he could be onto something – he does open by dancing to one of two musical numbers by the notorious artist, and there are a couple of little factoids.
Dimarelos is energetic and engaging, and there's something about his that says, "by the end of the show, we're all going to be friends". I certainly couldn't not like him. It's a shame, therefore, that on the night I saw him, he had to contend with what – to my mind – must be one of the most annoying hecklers of all, the "know-it-all". While, when he asked for, or initiated audience participation, everything was friendly and smooth, frequent interjections from one particular person seemed, initially, to startle him a little. This was someone else trying – maybe not intentionally – to assert their own dominance. Fortunately, Dimarelos was quickly able to regain control and through charm and quick wit he never lost the audience or stumbled over his material. A good skill to have!
His material was somewhat eclectic, but never strayed from the idea of culture, especially cultural identity, which he professes to by fascinated by. A lot of that comes from the dichotomy between Australian and Greek culture; did you know that Melbourne boasts one of the largest Greek populations outside of Greece? And that with many of the original white Australians as male convicts, maybe there's more than a few things we have in common.
Dimarelos is well travelled as a comedian, and that shows in his understanding of the differences between the cultures, as well as what makes us the same, as humans, and his ability to draw comedy from them. If you're eager to experience humour with a slight international twist, I would definitely recommend George Michael is Greek.
George Michael is Greek is at the Greek Centre 6pm Tues – Sat, 5pm Sunday, until 22 April as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Tickets are available via the MICF website.