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Daily briefs of the top news stories impacting Christians around the world.
In today's edition:
- In London, IMB Workers Reach Out During Riots
- PA Pastor Charged with Flashing Two Women
- Christian Artist Makes Controversial Song About Gay Teen
- Priest Faces Expulsion for Supporting Women's Ordination
In London, IMB Workers Reach Out During Riots
Baptist Press reports that International Mission Board missionaries are looking for ways to serve Londoners in the midst of widespread rioting and looting in London and across England. "London is usually an incredibly safe city, but these riots bring to light the nature of sin in all humanity," said an anonymous IMB missionary in London. "Please pray that out of these shocking circumstances people will hear and understand the Gospel." Other IMB missionaries said they hope to bless and encourage the people of their communities in the midst of shock, disbelief and fear. They are actively seeking open doors to share the Gospel. And they invite believers to join them in prayer. Riots, arson and looting have spread from the capital to other parts of England in the days following the death of a police-shooting victim, Mark Duggan. Peaceful protests of the shooting turned violent after Duggan's death. Homes and businesses have been ransacked and burned in parts of London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Liverpool and Bristol.
PA Pastor Charged with Flashing Two Women
An Associated Press release states that a Methodist pastor in suburban Philadelphia has stepped down from his church after being accused of exposing himself to two women. 46-year-old Richard Rogers is allegedt to have flashed women on two separate occasions. Rogers was arrested Monday and resigned his post at Jarrettown United Methodist Church in Dresher, PA. According to investigators, the victims were members of an organization outside the church. Bishop Peggy Johnson, who oversees about 900 Methodist congregations in the region, says the church began investigating Rogers after learning of the complaints against him in May.
Christian Artist Makes Controversial Song About Gay Teen
The Christian Post reports that Christian rap artist Theory Hazit's latest single "Concealed Sorrow" tells the story of a harassed gay teen who ends up taking his own life. Hazit took his inspiration from minister Tony Campolo, who has told a true story of having bullied a gay classmate named Roger who later committed suicide. Hazit says he touched on the controversial issue in hopes of getting the church's attention. "I wrote 'Concealed Sorrow' hoping that the church would listen, watch, and perform the love of Christ to all that struggle." Campolo, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Eastern University, says he "regrets not befriending and showing the love of Jesus to Roger."
Priest Faces Expulsion for Supporting Women's Ordination
According to Religion News Service, a Roman Catholic priest who has campaigned for the ordination of women has been told he will be expelled from his religious order if he does not publicly recant. The Rev. Roy Bourgeois was issued a "second canonical warning" on July 27, and told that he would be dismissed from the Maryknoll order within 15 days if he continues to advocate for women priests and does not recant. The warning letter from Maryknoll Superior General Edward Dougherty was obtained by the National Catholic Reporter and said that Bourgeois has "remained unmoved" despite being asked "to consider the effects of your actions on the Society and the Church." Bourgeois said he would not retract his statements, however. "What you are asking me to do in your letter is not possible without betraying my conscience," he wrote in response. "In essence, you are telling me to lie and say I do not believe that God calls both men and women to the priesthood. This I cannot do, therefore I will not recant." Bourgeois has vowed to appeal to the Vatican, though he is not likely to get a sympathetic hearing.


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The table below should give you an idea of the similarities and differences
in chamber volume and valve diameters. You will be able to see how the
351C stacks up against the 302, 351W and 390 and why the 351C is capable
of huge performance. Some comparisons appear after the table.
Let's look at some comparisons. If you have any doubt about the Cleveland heads breathing well, compare the valve diameters to the 390, 427, 428 and even the 460 Police Interceptor. The Cleveland 4V has a bigger intake valve than any of the other engines except the 460 Police Interceptor! The 351C 4V exhaust valve is only 0.020" smaller diameter than the 460 PI, and only 0.010" smaller than the high performance 427. Even the lowly 351C 2V has intake valves larger than the high performance 390's and 428's, and the exhausts are larger than all 390's and some 427's, 428's and 460's.
Looking at the Intake Port of the 351C 2V, you will see that it is larger than the 390, 428 and some 427's and 460's (multiply the two dimensions). So, while the displacement in the 351C is obviously less than the 390, 427, 428 and 460, it is designed to breathe better than the others and it has fewer cubic inches to breathe (fill and empty). This is why the Clevelands Rock!
If you want to compare the 351W to the 351C, you will see that the 351W looks more like a 302 head and the 351C looks more like a standard 427 or 428 head!
So how do you identify the different Cleveland heads?
You can identify the 2V, 4V and M heads while the engine is still in the car. Cast into the head (raised) is either a "2", a "4" or an "M". These are located on the valve-side of the head (not the block side) near the intake (not the exhaust ports) in the upper left corner. This means that as you stand on the driver's side of the engine (US steering) and look at the head through the AC crapola, just above the valve cover on the left end of the head, you will see the marking. (This would be easier to explain if I had a picture. Perhaps I'll get one.)

subset: commoncrawl


text: As I read this morning's blurb in Diversions, I realized I have been through all the incarnations of the section. It first appeared on November 29, 1985. The introduction was at the top of page 1. The front of the section featured three stories: An art tour, kick off of the holiday film season, (it was the day after Thanksgiving after all) and the Armstrong State Coca-Cola Tip Off Classic. Now we run that established date inside for a while. What you may not know is that it was originally in broadsheet format. It didn't change to its present style until September 1, 1995 when it was almost 10 years old. Of course it has undergone revisions time and again. "A weekend guide to Savannah" has given way to "music. movies. arts. nightlife." and we include the surrounding area as well. We always did but not as much as we do now. One of the prevailing election themes this year has been change. We all go through it. Our paper has undergone subtle changes and major changes since 1850. Perhaps the lesson here is not to remain stagnant but to keep the waters swirling. Otherwise, the mosquitoes of life come up and bite you. So, as "Do" hits the streets, remember that change is a good thing. Anytime.


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Because I've got a girlfriend and a son with her, and i dont mind when she wants to paint my toenails, its just a thin sheep of color, no big deal
Is painted nails ok for both sexes?
Have an opinion?
What Girls Said 1
I wouldn't mind. If anything I would think it looked awesome.10|10|0
What Guys Said 1
No. That is not OK for both sexes dude.00|00|0
Why is that
- Show AllShow Less
Oh my god you're sexist. Why should'nt a guy be allowed to do it? "For women" really? Can't you start seeing beyond these idiotic norms that society has created and start acting like a respectable human.
@FatCatLady Sometimes society knows what people can and can't do better than they do and it has it's reasons.
It's not that men can't do it, its just a bit poofterish and inadvisable. It also looks stupid.
The only place its acceptable is if the person is in an 80's hair band.
Click "Show More" for your mentions
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Changes to stamp duty for first time owner occupiers and a vacant property tax have been confirmed by the Victorian Government today. Separately an equity share scheme was announced to assist first time buyers.
As a package of measures they will certainly impact the market, and whilst the tax breaks and first owner grants may simply lift prices, the tax on vacant properties and equity share strategies could certainly re-balance the market towards owner occupied purchasers. Our research shows there are more than 500,000 households in Victoria are currently struggling to enter the market.
Stamp duty will be abolished for first home buyers for purchases below $600,000, helping thousands of Victorians find their first home, as the Andrews Labor Government tackles housing affordability head on.
Those buying a home valued between $600,000 and $750,000 will also be eligible for a concession, applied on a sliding scale. The exemption and concession will apply to both new and established homes, in a move that is expected to help 25,000 Victorians find their first home.
In a further move to help tilt the scales back towards home owners, the Government will also remove off-the-plan stamp duty concessions on investment properties.
The off-the-plan stamp duty concession will now be available solely for those who intend to live in the property or who are eligible for the first home buyer stamp duty concession.
At the same time, a Vacant Residential Property Tax will address the number of properties being left empty across inner and middle suburbs of Melbourne.
Under the changes, owners who unreasonably leave these properties vacant will instead be encouraged to make them available for either purchase or rent.
The Vacant Residential Property Tax will be levied at 1 per cent, multiplied by the capital improved value of the taxable property. For example, if the property has a capital improved value of $500,000, the amount paid will be $5,000.
There will be a number of exemptions, recognising there are some legitimate reasons for a property being left vacant, including holiday homes, deceased estates and homes owned by Victorians who are temporarily overseas.
Each of these changes are part of the Labor Government's plan to help more Victorians break into the housing market.
The Equity Share scheme HomesVic was also announced.
Thousands of Victorians, dreaming of buying their first home, will be able to make their dream a reality, thanks to two new changes announced by the Andrews Labor Government.
A new $50 million pilot scheme, HomesVic, will target first home buyers who are able to meet regular mortgage repayments, but because of rising rental costs, haven't been able to save a big enough deposit.
Under the scheme, to be introduced in January 2018, HomesVic will co-purchase up to 400 homes, taking an equity share of up to 25 per cent in these properties. It will be available for both new and existing homes.
By allowing homebuyers to purchase less than 100 per cent of the property, they will require a smaller deposit and are able to enter the market sooner. In the long term, it will also mean having a smaller loan to service.
Eligible applicants will include couples earning up to $95,000, and singles earning up to $75,000. Buyers will need to have a 5 per cent deposit. The pilot will be tested across the state, and when the properties are sold, HomesVic will recover its share of the equity.
To further improve buyers' chances of owning their own home, the Labor Government will also contribute $5 million to a national, community sector, shared equity scheme, Buy Assist.
With similar goals to HomesVic, Buy Assist will help deliver an additional 100 shared equity homes and help low to medium income households get a foothold in the property market.
The Government is also set to give first home buyers priority in government-led urban renewal developments, with at least 10 per cent of all properties allocated to first time buyers.
This approach will be used for the first time at the Arden development.
The plan to develop the 56 hectare site Arden, announced by the Labor Government last year, could be home to around 15,000 people. Under this policy 1,500 of those could be first home buyers.
Finally, in a separate release, the overall portfolio of actions were summarised under "Homes for Victorians"
Every Victorian deserves the safety and security of a home.
But for many, that's becoming increasingly harder.
A significant number of Victorians, particularly young Victorians, are struggling to break into the housing market.
House prices are rising and upfront costs – a deposit, stamp duty and fees – quickly add up.
It's getting harder for renters too.
Many struggle to meet high rental prices, or instead choose to live in unsuitable housing. Some don't have the security they need, or the capacity to personalise their home as they would like.
At the same time, the number of Victorians who need to access public and community housing is growing. Waiting lists are long, and many of our existing homes have fallen into disrepair.
In short, too many Victorians don't have a real choice about where they live, or the type of home they live in.
And as our population grows, inaction will only make things worse.
Fixing this problem isn't simple.
It's why Homes for Victorians provides a co-ordinated approach across government, and across our state. It includes:
- abolishing stamp duty for first time buyers on homes up to $600,000 and cuts to stamp duty on homes valued up to $750,000
- doubling the First Home Owner Grant to $20,000 in Regional Victoria to make it easier for people to build and stay in their community
- creating the opportunity for first home buyers to co-purchase their home with the Victorian Government
- making long-term leases a reality
- building and redeveloping more social housing – supporting vulnerable Victorians while creating thousands of extra jobs in the construction industry.
It builds on existing work being done, including the soon to be released Plan Melbourne 2017-2050, reform of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997, the Better Apartment guidelines and the Family Violence Housing Blitz.
It also builds on our efforts to better connect Victorians with services and infrastructure. From schools to health care, roads to public transport, regardless of where they live, every Victorian should have access to the things they need.
It's a big job, but the aim is simple: to give every Victorian every opportunity to find a home.


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Are you thinking about making a personal injury claim? If so it's important to understand what kind of people will be coming your way and what they can and can't offer you. Making a mistake here might lead to you missing out on compensation to which you should have been entitled. This article is intended to help you avoid that and to show you why, if you live in South Norfolk 'no win, no fee*' personal injury lawyers are the best way forward.
South Norfolk 'no win, no fee*' claims
If you've been injured in an accident you can be forgiven for feeling a little disorientated. That's because not only are you struggling to come to terms with an injury but you may also find yourself facing issues and challenges you're not fully prepared to face. This can leave you vulnerable to people who may not have your best interests at heart.
The most dangerous of these are the so called ambulance chasers and claims management firms. They will contact you and attempt to persuade you to use them to make a claim. Their appeal is that everything can run as easily as possible, but they aren't the ones who will be making a claim. Instead, they will pass your details on to another law firm and you may not have much control over who they are and what level of service you can get.
Even reputable insurance firms are at this game. They may suggest that they can help you make a claim and recommend a law firm for you to use. Again, this sounds like a good option, but they will be paid a commission. So rather than having your best interests at heart they are simply sending you to a firm which is paying them for the priviledge.
Settlement offers
People dread going to court so when they hear that this is unlikely to happen their first reaction is understandably relief. Most of the cases we deal with are settled out of court. The other side will probably be doing their own calculations and if they think that they can secure a better deal by settling early they will do so. However, in the early stages they will try to minimise the amount they offer as much as possible. So you will need good advice to know whether or not you should accept.
Paying for your claim
If you live in South Norfolk, 'no win, no fee*' claims are by far the most common, but this can hide the amount you will actually end up paying. Make sure you always check with your law firm and find out how much they intend to charge you and at what point.
So if you're looking for South Norfolk 'no win, no fee*' claims, give our team a call on 0800 689 0500 or 0333 500 0993 from a mobile.
Alternatively, you could visit www.accidentadvicehelpline.co.uk for more information.
Date Published: 31st October 2014
Author: David Brown


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Dear Friend and Partner,
We greet you in Jesus' Name. The heading says "with Bibles International" and that is still correct. Though our status is now "emeritus", we continue to minister as "volunteers" and are very thankful for the strength to do this.
We are in the first month of our retirement. We certainly have not seen any lessoning in activity. In the last few weeks we have attended a retirement party at the home of Hantz Bernard, director of BI (pictures at right), have attended the BI field council meetings (picture lower left, worked at the BI office, taught adult SS 4 times, preached 3 times, and tried to catch up on correspondance. The picture of our staff below shows several new couples that have recently joined us.
We are so very thankful for the many letters, cards, and e-mails from friends and supporters who received our last letter and video. We are also very thankful for the churches and individuals who have decided to continue to support us, at least partially. God has been faithful down through all these years in providing for our needs and we can but praise Him as this continues to be true.
Greetings in Jesus' precious name. We trust that the Lord is continuing to bless you and preserve you. We are sure that you look to Him for the strength for each and every day, just as we must do.
We have been greatly blessed during our 44 years with BMM and the different ministries in which we have been able to serve our Lord. We have now come to the time to "slow down". We are retiring from active status to "emeritus" status with BMM. We will be continuing to help at Bibles International as volunteers and will look to the Lord for other occasions to serve Him.
We had hoped to be able to visit our supporters again to thank them for their partnership in our ministry and for their financial and prayer support, but Nancy has a condition in her neck which makes both car and air travel impossible. We have created a 20 minute DVD which will give you a look back over 50 years of our life and ministry. Just click on the link.
The above link takes you to our video, which is low resolution so that it can be downloaded to your computer.
I am going to quote from the letter that BMM sent to all of our supporters this week:
Richard and Nancy will retire from active missionary service on July 31, 2013. In view of their 44 years of faithful missionary service, the General Council of Baptist Mid-Missions has accorded them the honored title of Emeritus Missionaries. Their ministry has been marked by faithfulness and fruitful service.
Many churches do not have a policy relating to retired missionaries. We have worked with Richard and Nancy to assess their projected living expenses and retirement income. The Teachouts have been faithful to save what they could for retirement. They will receive some income from Social Security and from a small pension. Richard and Nancy will need 20% of their present missionary support during retirement to meet their retirement needs.
Would you prayerfully consider helping by maintaining the Teachouts' support at 20% of what you were giving during their years of active missionary service? The Mission will continue to maintain an open account for Richard and Nancy as it does for all retired missionaries. Your gifts will be available for their use as they have been during their active missionary career.
It has been my privilege (Larry J. Beckman, Administrator for Missionary Finance, BMM) to have known and worked with Richard and Nancy. They were especially helpful while we were studying French at the University of Laval in Quebec City. They are sincerely thankful for your faithful support. Baptist Mid-Missions' Home Office will continue to provide the same services that were available to them during their years of active ministry. It usually takes several months after a missionary retires before we know if their ongoing needs are being met. Let us know if we can be of help to you, and please continue to pray for Richard and Nancy, especially for strength as they seek occasions to minister.
Greetings from cold and snowy Michigan! I am sitting in my office in Grand Rapids at BI headquarters and most of my thoughts and work concerns people and projects in much warmer lands! Thank you for your part in our ministry and that of Bibles International. This month we have several praise notes to share with you:
We greet you again at Christmas time. The words above are taken from several Scriptures and they are true. The world around us has gone mad, taking Christ out of Christmas and mocking those who believe in Him for their salvation and for their hope and their peace. For the world, the "holidays" are all about lights and gifts. For us, Christmas is about the Son of God who came to be the "light" of the world, coming as the "gift" of God. We are thankful for each of our friends who has believed and has helped us down through the years as we have worked in several mission fields to preach the glorious gospel of Christ.
The Lord has given us a good year and we thank you for your prayers. Though we had some health issues, we were able to continue our ministries throughout, both in Bibles International and also for six months as interim pastor of a small struggling church nearby.
Since a great many of you have been our friends and supporters for over 40 years now, many have prayed for both our ministry and also for our family. Therefore we are adding one sheet to this letter with pictures of all of our grandchildren and most of their parents. Wherever we have served, in Africa, in France, in Quebec, and here in Michigan, our family has not only been a joy to us as they came to us and left us to marry and begin their lives, but a responsibility and you have helped us with your financial and prayer support. Thank you very much.
Dear Friends and Helpers,
October is always a busy month, both for us individually, and also for the whole Bibles International Staff, sometimes frantically so. Thank you for partnering with us in our work of Bible translation.
This year we prefaced our October with a two week trip, during which we were able to visit our home church in Pensylvania and enjoy a restful time. This is a place where we have lived in the past and where we often walked a beautiful pathway by a small lake.This time we thoroughly enjoyed the walks and the time spent with a nephew and his family and with many old friends. We had the oportunity to share with the church the ministry to which God has called us.
When we arrived back to our home in Coral, the first thing we did was to share in a missionary conference with a church in New Jersey that has supported us for almost 45 years. We could not be present with them, but using skype, we could see them and communicate to them a report of our work. Then, along with the BI Staff, we plunged into the preparation of our annual Harvest Dinner.We thank the Lord for giving us a very successful evening. The staff was able to prepare an excellent program which featured 5 Bible translation projects in Central and South America. An excellent meal and fine time of fellowship was enjoyed by all. We were able in our preparations to find sponsors for the cost of the dinner so that every bit of the evening's offering would be divided among those 5 projects. At a time when many organizations are suffering financially, we were very happy to welcome over 700 enthusiastic BI supporters! The Lord touched hearts so that the offering for these 5 projects was almost $41,000.
New SPECIFIC prayer request. We need your help in a very practical way. Our last BI annual report (in August) showed that our "outgo" exceeded our "incoming" in a significant way. Our donor base has shrunk with the difficult economic times and our expenses have increased with all the projects that were finished and presented last year. We really need to increase our "incoming", as yet more translated projects will be finished this year. We are praying for $100 per month of new support from 100 churches or persons, or "100X100" which should bring us back to a sound financial basis. Anyone can be a part of this with either $100 per month gift to Bibles International or any part of $100, such as $50 or $25. Please pray for our 100X100 program. We have already started on this, with 6 participants for $600. Praise the Lord. If you have a question, please e-mail us.
Things are quite busy here at BI headquarters as they always are at this time of the year. We had our annual retreat and yearly BI Staff Conference. We reviewed last year's blessings and achievements and looked forward to this year's challenges. We had quite a few of each for which we praise God and ask His help. On the one hand, we had one of the best years ever for the number and quality of "presentation ceremonies"(6 Bible translation projects) around the world. In each one we presented a newly-published Bible or new Testament to the people for which it was translated. On the other hand, we have several more of those presentation ceremonies scheduled in the next year. Rising costs and the present financial state make this a challenge. We will appreciate your prayers.
Last week we had our annual "Consultants' Seminar". This is an intense time of in-house training and revision for our language consultants. We had a record attendance this year, as our own consultants were joined by several new missionaries who have been accepted by Baptist Mid-Missions to work with Bibles International. Pray for them as they begin and continue their deputation.
Things are starting to "gear up" for our Fall BI Banquet, which involves a great deal of preparation by our staff. Please pray, that even though the economy is down, God will bring to the Banquet those who love our ministry and are willing to help to finance it.
We appreciate very much your praying for our temporary ministry as interim pastor of Victory Baptist Church. We are happy to report that the church feels that it can continue to go forward on its own now, without our help. Please continue to pray that God will lead them as they follow His Word.
In our last letter we began with "the sun is shining". Today, it is still shining and our hearts are still full of praise to our God. Here are some of the reasons:
Nancy and I are praising God for His grace in her recovery from an extensive back-operation. She has just one more therapy session to go and her therapist is very happy with her progress (as is she herself!). She went through many weeks of much pain in doing the various exercises. She has very greatly improved her mobility and significantly diminished the amount of pain medication she was obliged to take. She is about as busy as she can be in the home, in the church, and in the community.
This continues to be a year of hard work and God's blessing for Bibles International. Yesterday we "celebrated" the retirement of one of our BI missionaries, who has been faithfully working here for 29 years. He will be missed. Please pray that God will provide new staff members to fill much-needed positions. The news from many countries where we are working has been good, as the work on the various translation projects continues to go forward. Not long ago we received a gift from India, from some youth in the Ranglong people. It was a plaque with a message (pictured at right) which touched our hearts and motivated us anew to keep on with our ministry of putting God's Word in the hands of those who do not have it.
Thank you too for your prayers for the work God has given us as pastor and wife to a small, hurting church. We have seen a little growth in numbers and good improvement in unity and commitment. Recently we invited 2 other Baptist churches for a "Sing" on a Sunday evening, and everyone was really blessed by the experience. Pray for continued strength and wisdom in this ministry.
Your missionaries for Jesus' sake,
Richard and Nancy Teachout
Greetings from sunny Michigan! A well-loved chorus goes: "There is sunshine in my soul today" and we have to agree. We feel "sunny" not just because of the unseasonable warm weather, but because God has been so near to us in some trying times. Richard had the stitches taken out of his eye on his birthday and the surgeon says the growth he removed was benign and all is good. It is wonderful to see clearly again and we are especially thankful that Richard has been able to preach and work right on through this long experience of recuperation. Nancy has seen a marked reduction in the level of pain that continued very high for 7 weeks. She has been able to sleep better and to reduce her medication and increase her activity in the last ten days and is very thankful. She is hopeful to be able to drive again in April, perhaps in time for her birthday on April 3. Please pray for continued healing and pray for God's provision for the medical bills that are starting to come in. We have had a total of 5 surgical interventions in a space of 16 weeks.
The work in Bibles International continues, by God's grace. This month we received a substantial gift from a church which made the Impui Naga New Testament translating project "fully funded". Then we were able to receive and enter the final corrections from the "read and review" committee in India and send that project to the printer. The date planned for its presentation to the Impui Naga people is in June. These three events: fully funding, printing, and presentation are always a cause for great rejoicing, both here in Grand Rapids among the BI staff, and in the country to which each New Testament or Bible will go.
We would like to ask special prayer for our work here at BI for two great needs: 1) pray for healing and recuperation for BI missionary Don Block. He fell and hit his head on the ice and was operated on for fluid in his brain. For several years he has done a wonderful work of formatting the translation projects we receive from the translators and getting the text ready for printing. Of late there have been many projects going through his capable hands on their way to those who will receive the published Bibles and New Testaments. In the picture at the right, he is in India, teaching an Indian Christian how to format text, as we get more and more national Christians involved in more and more of the technical aspects of producing quality translations of God's Word. Pray that God will strengthen him so he can continue this very important work. 2) pray for gifts for our projects. We have many that are very needy and many that are getting close to being finished.
Pray too for an ambitious evangelistic effort we are undertaking in Victory Baptist Church where we are working. We are preparing to put on a Wild Game Dinner and there are already a good number of unchurched men that have promised to come. Pray for the church in its preparation and that the Holy Spirit will touch hearts with the Gospel message.
We want to thank each one of you for your special prayers for us. We realize that it has been a long time since our last update and we can assure you that it has seemed very long to us also. There just was not much to report, especially not much positive news. Up until Saturday, Nancy was continuing to experience a lot of pain (constant and muscle spasm attacks) and was unable to lie down for more than about three hours, getting some sleep in a chair. Richard was waiting for word of the biopsy of the operation on his eye. The only good news was that he could still see well enough to drive, for which we really praise the Lord. Thus he has been able to continue to do his ministries and drive his wife to where she needed to go.
Now the good news. There is definite improvement for Nancy. She has had three nights in a row in her bed. She still has some pain and still needs your prayers. Richard found out that there was no cancer in his eye and that by next week should have new glasses that will enable him to see much more clearer.
We would ask special prayer for our oldest son, Rick, who is in the Dominican Republic and has some great special needs.
Thank you again for your faithful prayers.
In Him, Dick and Nancy Teachout
Appreciate your prayers. Had surgery today and am wearing a patch and no glasses. They cut a suspicious spot out of the white of my eye. Please pray:
Thank you, Richard
Thank you very much for praying. This weekend has been extremely difficult. She has had recurring attacks of very severe and painful muscle spasms in her lower back and legs. The worst was last night and we had to take her by ambulance to the hospital. Xrays showed no problem with surgical site, but the spasms have been difficult to endure.
Thanks for praying,
First, though Christmas seems a long time ago, we want to thank our many friends from all over the US for the many cards and gifts we received. Hearing from friends is always a welcome part of Christmas. Our New Year is now well started. We have already been in touch with many of you several times with e-mail updates on needs and praise notes from our medical "adventures". If you are not receiving our letters and updates by e-mail and would like to start, please send us a note at our e-mail address given above and you will begin to receive them. For this prayer letter, we will repeat some of the medical news. Nancy was operated on Jan 17. She had lower back surgery (fusion of vertebras and rods and screws). She came home 3 days later and recuperation has been painful and difficult. Today she had the staples out and was informed that she is making good progress. We thank God that there is improvement and that she has been able to sleep at night. Please continue to pray that there will be complete healing and that the pain will recede. Richard had an examination of a suspect spot in his right eye which will need to be operated on Feb 28th. Please pray that there will be no cancer in the eye and for complete recovery.
Secondly, our ministry with Bibles International continues. This year will be one of the banner years in BI's history in the number of Bible translation projects coming to completion. Already, the trips by BI staff members are beginning. Among several departures for Europe, Africa and Asia, our director, Dr Bernard, flew to Peru, South America, for the Quechua New Testament dedication and presentation, and then is flying on to Togo, Africa, for the Kabiye New Testament dedication and presentation. The Quechua New Testament has been eagerly awaited and its final copy was delayed by many things, including a disastrous earthquake!
Finally, our little church that we are trying to build up again, is going well. Before they called us to come as interim Pastor, they had lost half their members, but we have been able to keep supporting all of our missionaries and pay our bills and our people are facing the New Year with hope and anticipation. Please pray for Victory Baptist Church and for us as we minister to bring the church back from the brink.
Your missionaries for Jesus' sake,
Richard and Nancy TeachoutStewardship RepresentativeBibles InternationalInterim Pastor, Victory Baptist Church


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GROVE CITY, OH (WCMH) — A threat against a central Ohio school district related to clowns has parents and students on edge and police stepping up patrols. This time, the targets of that threat are schools in Grove City.
Parents received a a phone call from the district early Friday morning about the threat. NBC4 received a number of calls and emails from parents concerned about this post on Instagram from an account called "Clowns Lives Matter." The post says "Hitting up all Grove City schools. Killing time."
After hearing about a threat Erica Purtte says there was no way she was letting her child stay at school today.
"When I received a notification that something like this is going on it makes me very concerned, makes me very anxious," said Purtte.
The Grove City Police Department looked into the post, they say they do not believe it is credible.
"In Grove City we do not have any credible information that anyone has seen a clown or someone dressed up as a clown. We have seen some photos of someone dressed as a clown that has been taken in areas of Grove City," said Lieutenant Rick Butsko, Grove City Division of Police.
Authorities tell NBC 4 the initial complaint and threats came from a location in central Ohio. Now the Franklin County Sheriff's Office is investigating the post.


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Preconceived notions of international travel are common. While individual impressions can be formed through first-hand experiences, feelings can also be influenced by other sources that are not always comprehensive, impartial or completely factual (movies, novels, news stories, etc.). When I packed up for my first holiday across the border over a decade ago, I toted with me a number of fears along with my overstuffed bags. Now, having traveled more extensively internationally, my own reflections drive my beliefs. Below are some common travel myths and truths.
Myth: International travel is cost-prohibitive.
My Reality – Travel cost is directly proportional to preferred travel style. For example, if an individual prefers a first-class airline seat, towncar transport, an exquisite all-inclusive hotel, five-star dining and elaborate tours, that package is probably going to come with a hefty price tag. However, for those who are open to economy travel, different transport options such as taxi, shuttle or bus and a variety of accommodation, meal and exploration options, travel can be quite reasonable while still maintaining some "comforts of home." This does not mean that the only way to travel cheap is to carry a backpack, stay in hostels and eat street food. There are plenty of mid-level options if you are not quite ready to take the plunge into budget travel. You may just have to be a little creative in your planning and leverage some good travel discounts ("hacks") such as reward/loyalty programs, coupon/promo codes, etc. If you are willing to try the backpack/hostel/street food options, though, look out – you are in for some fun and will likely be hooked on travel because you can stretch your money even further in order to see more places for less. The trips I have enjoyed the most have been those that were balanced and incorporated a little of everything.
Myth: International travel is dangerous.
My Reality – Well, so far I'm still standing. Basic common sense can carry you a long way and I do listen to my intuition. A lesson I learned quickly while traveling is to know you are not invincible. If there is something you would not normally be comfortable doing at home (e.g., walking though a dark alley by yourself at 2am), for example, you may want to avoid doing that in a foreign country. Something smart you can do in advance of your travel is to research international customs and safety suggestions – not to scare you, but rather, to inform you. Frequent travelers are comfortable sharing their experiences in blogs, traveler forums and in travel reviews, so you can learn from those who have gone before you. This may also help you to pack appropriately. For example, in some destinations you may want to carry a travel flashlight and others, you may want to bring pants to cover your knees. Nothing says "tourist target" like standing out in a crowd, so learn the cultural norms where you will be traveling before you arrive. Know that you may never blend in fully, but the less you draw attention to yourself, the better, when it comes to safety. Hint: Lower your voice when you speak. Another tip, ask the people who work at your hotel or hostel for advice – they want you to enjoy yourself and they will usually gladly help you stay safe (e.g., they can often help you find a safe taxi or bus, tell you when you might want to be inside, share where not to flash your camera, etc.).
Myth: Everyone gets robbed. Then, what?
My Reality – Again, common sense goes a long way. I have never been robbed or the victim of a pickpocket, but I have made my share of novice mistakes over the years. Perhaps my worst decision ever was when I was traveling by chicken bus between two areas and I allowed my backpack be loaded into the bus cargo area. This is routine and would not normally be a concern for me…except that I had inadvertently placed my passport in that bag. Thankfully, even after multiple stops along the way to my destination, I was reunited with my bag, having learned another valuable lesson. You really should always keep your passport near you when you are in transit. Hidden waist belts are an option to consider for extra security IF they are truly hidden – they are of no value once they are exposed in public. To keep these secure, use a restroom stall when you need to go into one, but otherwise, keep these out of sight while in transit. One of my friends recently found himself without his passport in Barcelona (he is convinced this fell out of his pocket in a taxi) and was in a very tight time crunch. However, he was able to go to his local embassy and obtain a replacement passport in record-breaking time with limited disruption to his trip. It certainly depends on the areas where you travel, but as a woman, I rarely carry a purse for several reasons. First, I don't like to have anything to worry about forgetting or losing. Second, I never carry more than a few dollars with me at any point (that's the beauty of budget travel!). I also wear little to no jewelry when I travel because I do not want to think about that either. Wearing expensive jewelry and flaunting signs of wealth in an impoverished country comes with other risk as well. It can make you a target for crimes more significant than pickpocketing and also be received as a type disrespect to a humble community. General rule: If something is irreplaceable, leave it at home, and whenever possible, align your attire to the communities which you will be visiting.
Myth: Traveling alone as a woman is out of the question. Plus, you will get bored.
My Reality – I travel by myself often and quite enjoy the experience. I can assure you, I have never been bored. Engaging in conversation with others is a great way to meet new friends and learn about local culture and history, too. You may find some great tips this way as well since travelers often like to share experiences. If you prefer some privacy but still crave connectivity at the same time, you could consider staying at a hostel but select a private room. This can provide the alone time you want but also some fun opportunities to connect with others through excursions, happy hours, community meals, etc. I generally try to have a balance in my travel.
Myth: You are going to get sick or catch some dreaded disease.
My Reality – Again, I'm still here and plenty healthy, nonetheless. Before I started traveling extensively, I did obtain some preventive immunizations that made me feel more comfortable. There is more information here to help you make the best decision for you. In all my trips, I have only been sick once. Sure, it was a miserable three days, but I was in good company because everyone at the timeshare was also ill (see, this stuff happens even outside of budget accommodations!). The common thread in this example was the water. I made a novice mistake of ordering lots of ice water at the pool instead of purchasing bottled water. It is impossible to predict sensitivity to local water, especially if it is toted as purified. For me, I tend to trust local purification standards and drink bottled water when purified is not available. I like to bring a folding water bottle so that I can fill up at my hotel or hostel before heading our for a day of exploration. We likely all have different levels of tolerance, though, so do what makes you most comfortable. Food, on the other hand, has never made me sick and I love street food and local options (I can't even remember the last time I ate American food when left the country). I generally select vendors who cover their ingredients between servings, have coolers to keep perishable items cool, etc., but again, every stomach is different. I do pack a little medicine "kit" with me when I travel but I rarely have a need to dip into it.
Myth: It takes way too long to plan a trip like that.
My Reality – Planning takes as much time as you allow. I joke that I can plan a trip around the world now in 20 minutes or less, but I have yet to actually clock it (it might be even less than that!). If you compartmentalize your planning (destination, transportation, accommodations, excursions), it can really simplify your planning. Avoid planning each and every detail – leave something to spontaneity and resist the urge to micromanage your trip. If you just get the basics down, the rest is a snap and you can fill in the blanks later. When you find a helpful website, bookmark it for later so you can use it again.
Myth: My suitcase isn't big enough.
My Reality – Really? Set out what you think you need…and then put half of it back. Works every time! No one is going to notice if you wear the same shirt more than once and laundry facilities exist around the world. It is also possible to wash your own clothes when you travel (gasp!). I have shared some tips and tricks for what to pack here. If you struggle with the actual packing process, you will find some additional tips here.
Myth: Don't talk to strangers. Trust no one.
My Reality – In all honesty, if this is your perspective, traveling internationally may not be for you. Thinking back on my travels, my guess is that it would have been terribly frustrating, painful and lonely if I had not connected with anyone along the way. There are many times as a solo traveler, especially, where I rely on the help and direction of strangers. Sure, I am careful about where I seek guidance, but trust is a part of travel. It can actually become one of the most beautiful parts as well. I have encountered some of the kindest, most generous and helpful people through my journeys and it reminds me of the good that exists in this world when sometimes we are flooded with negativity and reports of crime and injustice. The world is full of amazing people and culture – traveling is an intimate way of experiencing this for yourself. When I travel solo, I just tend to limit the information I share with strangers until I know them well.
Myth: You need to pay for an expensive tour.
My Reality – There are indeed locations where a tour is nice. However, I would not be inclined to state that it is the only way to experience a destination. In fact, sometimes I think organized tours consume too much time and money, and guides go into more detail than my patience allows, so I prefer to explore on my own. For example, when I visited Antigua, Guatemala, there were so many costly tours available to see the ruins, but the individual admission fees by themselves were actually very reasonable (just a few USD each). I was able to see so many sites, chat with the security guards, and feel very comfortable exploring independently while other groups were only accessing certain areas and having to listen to long lectures. That said, I did opt for an organized excursion to the volcano because it included transport and introduced a social factor over a lengthy climb (and it was only ~$10 USD). You can gain a lot of knowledge of destinations online before your departure through tools like TripAdvisor. Travelers often share helpful suggestions in their reviews and common sights are ranked by visitors, so that may help you decide that which is best for you. Another creative way to see a city when you are hesitant to explore solo or when time is a factor is to consult with your accommodation to see if there is anyone there who can simply spend the afternoon with you and safely take you around. I had so much fun doing this in San Salvador, El Salvador! In exchange for teaching Jaime some English phrases that could help him in his business, I had a great time practicing my Spanish with him as we saw some cool local sights.
Myth: Everyone will laugh at me because I don't speak their language fluently.
My Reality – You might be surprised how few locals will laugh at you or judge your lack of fluency. The truth is that your effort to speak their native language will likely come with an increased level of respect and you may even find locals complimenting you on your use of their language. Even knowing some key words and phrases can be very helpful. If you are in an area with wifi, there are some translation apps that might be helpful too. Tip: I tend to pre-translate some common phrases and then take screen prints so even if I am not in wifi or service range, I still have access to these on my phone.
Myth: No one likes Americans anymore.
My Reality – Well…that probably depends where you go. I try to keep an open mind when I travel and I have learned that my most enjoyable experiences have come when I have intently approached the trip with humility and respect. Researching simple cultural norms such as clothing is probably my first recommendation. Another novice mistake I made once (trust me, you generally only do these once) was wearing shorts in Mainland Ecuador. I have always known the importance of covering arms and legs in places of worship, but I had no idea (and clearly did no prior research) that shorts were simply not worn anywhere in Ecuador outside beaches, islands and exercise facilities. To say it was an awkward situation and I felt highly uncomfortable scurrying back to my hotel to change was an understatement. Now, I always pack a scarf, sarong, a pair of pants and a sleeved shirt wherever I travel because those tend to cover any circumstance I could run into. Generally speaking, politeness, patience and respect will go a long way when you are abroad. If you can, use local words for please and thank you. Know that the concept of time is not always the same as in your home country, so save yourself the stress of rushing around and relax, especially when you are on an island. Before you take your camera out and snap photos, be sure you are in an area where that is acceptable and approved. Many churches and museums prohibit photos or, at minimum, prohibit flash. My recommendation is to strive to be discreet as a traveler, whether that relates to clothing, behavior, etc. And in case it is not obvious, do not touch or remove ANYTHING underwater! This is not just for your safety – many reefs are protected and you can land yourself in big trouble by even innocently removing a shell so just don't do it.
Myth: Everything I need is at an all-inclusive resort.
My Reality – Every traveler is different. For me, I need to get out and about when I travel and feel as though I have experienced some part of local culture. However, my style of travel is not for everyone. My recommendation to a traveler who is going to stay within the confines of an all-inclusive resort from touchdown to takeoff would be to find a nearby destination that meets your needs so you can enjoy as much time onsite as possible rather than consuming extensive time in transit.
Myth: After flying that far, all I am going to do is sleep.
My Reality – Good luck with that. Sometimes, it is easier said than done. If you are traveling to a destination at high altitude, for example, even your best intentions to nap upon arrival may be a long shot. I experienced this in Ecuador and barely slept a few hours over the course of several days while retaining all of my normal energy. Depending on your accommodations at any elevation, you may want to bring with you some earplugs or an eye mask to accommodate any sensitivities you may have to varying timezones, window coverings and noise levels.
Myth: I could never stay in a hostel.
My Reality – This is certainly personal preference. However, you might be surprised how wide the variation is between hostels lately. Some destinations are immaculate and modern with more technology than you could imagine, while others are definitely "rustic." Your best bet may be to research options in advance. Keep in mind that hostels are not always the least expensive accommodation option, especially if you want a private room. I have sometimes found less expensive and more comprehensive facilities in a bed and breakfast or hotel, so if you are open to different types of accommodations, you may save some money with research. Good things to consider if you stay in a hostel are traveler reviews and any amenities you consider essential (e.g., wifi, lockers, food options, hot water, air conditioning).
Myth: I am too old to travel.
My Reality – In my travels, I have come across adventurers of every age and demographic. While I do not consider myself young anymore by any means, I do not feel as though age is restrictive. Traveling may be easier for those who are young and in good health and physical condition, but being a triathlete is certainly no prerequisite for travel. Travel according to your comfort, preferences and experience.
Myth: Oh I could never…
My Reality – Ohhhhh, you might be surprised what you can (and sometimes will) do when you travel. Some of my odd experiences and travel outtakes are shared here.


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Simple Tex-Mex Ground Beef/
This is one of my absolute favorite dishes for when I'm feeling rather lazy in my cooking. It does not require many ingredients and can be infinitely modified. You don't really need to worry too much about watching this dish as you cook, which makes it a great dish to whip up when you have to multitask while trying to get dinner together. The ingredients list is based on the amounts that I used, but feel free to add more or less of anything.
Olive oil, enough to cover the bottom of the pan
Garlic, 2 cloves (diced)
Onion, 1 large quarter (diced)
Ground beef, 1 lb
Tex-Mex seasoning, to taste (can be store bought taco seasoning, but homemade is better)
Bell pepper, 1 large green (diced)
Tomatoes, 5 small to medium (cut into large chunks)
Avocado, 1 medium (sliced)
Sea Salt, to taste
Serves: 2-4
Time - Prep and Cooking: 30 min (or however long you'd like to simmer)
1. Pour some olive oil in your pan and heat it over a medium flame. Add the garlic and onions, both roughly chopped. Cook until the garlic and onions become fragrant and even a little caramelized if you'd like.
2. Add the ground beef and cook until completely brown. Next add the Tex-Mex seasoning mix of your choice to taste (I will be posting my Mexican seasoning recipe shortly.) Mix the beef and seasoning until well mixed – remember, a little seasoning goes a long way.
3. To the beef mixture add the bell pepper, roughly chopped. Cook for a few minutes until the peppers just begin to soften. Finally, add the tomatoes, cut into large chunks.
4. Let everything cook together over a medium-low to medium flame, stirring occasionally to break down the tomatoes. At this point you can pretty much let it go for however long you'd like – I prefer for the tomatoes to breakdown quite a bit so I've been known to let it simmer on a medium-low flame for up to an hour but it is also quite good with the tomatoes more intact.
5. After you've cooked it down to your preference, spoon into bowls and top with sliced avocado and salt to taste. The salt is a very important part and will really bring out all of the flavors – just make sure to taste as you salt so you don't over do it!
What do you whip up when you need something quickly?
Related Recipes:


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Three U.S. senators introduced legislation that could speed up installation of fiber optic broadband technology in highway rights of way, by streamlining the permitting process.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said: "One of the most efficient ways to close the opportunity and innovation gap between rural and urban communities is to expand broadband infrastructure. This effort is critical to improving education, transportation, public safety, healthcare and the economy."
Hatch – along with Sens. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Steve Daines, R-Mont. – introduced the "Highway Rights-of-Way Permitting Efficiency Act of 2017," which among other things applies a "categorical exclusion" to broadband projects in existing highway rights of way so that such a project would not need an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement.
Carlos Braceras, executive director of the Utah Department of Transportation, said in a statement with
the senators' press release that UDOT "has successfully partnered with the private sector to deploy broadband in support of highway operations. Unfortunately, the federal permitting process has, at times, slowed or inhibited installation of fiber with our private sector partners."
Braceras, who is also secretary/treasurer for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, said the proposed bill would help speed broadband deployment, especially in rural areas, which in turn would facilitate "the merger of technology between motor vehicles and infrastructure, leading to greater mobility and increased safety on our nation's roads."
The bill sponsors said broadband providers currently may be required to obtain approval from multiple agencies, including the Federal Highway Administration, state DOTs, the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service.
"This process includes running the gamut with National Environmental Policy Act compliance, which often requires separate environmental assessments or impact statements for a single project," they said. "These duplicative reviews cause unnecessary years-long delays in processing and cost overruns. They also discourage providers and states from pursuing broadband deployment projects, particularly in rural areas."
So besides applying the categorical exclusion to broadband installations in existing highway ROW, the lawmakers said they built on an FHWA program under which some state DOTs have signed agreements to take on many of the federal agency's NEPA review requirements.
"This bill allows a state to opt into an agreement to take on the responsibility of environmental review – on behalf of the relevant federal agency," they said.
The bill would also designates a lead agency in the federal permitting process, to consolidate efforts from the executive branch and create a single point of contact for a broadband deployment project.


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Volunteer To Get Ahead
You may know that volunteering has benefits for the organisation you're supporting, but did you know it can also help you get ahead in a career? Seek.com.au says putting your green thumb to work for a local not-for-profit can make you stand out among other candidates vying for the same position. According to Seek, volunteering is advantageous in three ways: Employers view volunteering as being as credible as paidContinue reading


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From notice posted on Federal Biz Opps
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is initiating a new acquisition program entitled "Next Generation Mail Processing Solution" to identify participants and sources of supply, capable of providing research and development, design, and in or out sourced manufacturing for a new state-of-the-art, automated, mail processing design solution. This solution will be deployed to sort and sequence the high volume of letter and flat mail currently processed within USPS facilities nationwide.
This market notice and supply chain opportunity is ultimately seeking suppliers who can offer new or not previously fielded concepts or variations of existing equipment, having an achievable maturation path leading to deployable equipment commencing within the next six years.
This initial notice is providing for market research and publication of opportunity, with a following step of additional discussions related to supplier capabilities and qualifications for inclusion within a competitive process toward the above goal.
Current Mail Processing Operational Information:
Currently, the Postal Service processes approximately 550 million letter and flat mail pieces at 283 processing facilities each day. The USPS segregates letter and flat shaped mail as it enters processing, and this separation is maintained throughout the sorting process. Our existing automated process yields a high volume of sorted mail to a finite number of delivery points. Several high speed processing runs are performed each day to accommodate all delivery points within a single mail processing centers' coverage area. Letter and flat mail is manually merged during the final processing operations by our street carriers for delivery to the addressee.
NGMPS Program Objectives:
The NGMPS Program Objective is to deploy a system solution which will be capable of efficiently, reliably and accurately delivery point sequencing both letter and flat mail simultaneously within a merged mail stream and within the same system. As space is a cost consideration for the USPS, the solution should utilize and accomplish this task within the smallest footprint possible. The required output of the system is a single, combined mail stream for letter and flat mail in delivery point sequence order. Designed solutions should consider the use of specifically designed letter and flat mail input subsystems, or use feeders currently deployed within the Postal Service. Deployment of equipment to individual delivery units is not desired and does not meet the Postal Service's future vision. Competitive factors for success will be sort and sequence accuracy, time to process, and the systems ability to support our established high standards of service for the American people. Additional factors are projected to be development cost to bring to market, system reliability, accept rate, labor cost to operate, and overall space required to accomplish the mission. Finally through NGMPS, the USPS seeks a system which can be deployed nationally and incrementally to provide maximum flexibility to delivery point sequence letter and flat shaped mail within existing and future Postal Service infrastructure.
Future Mail Trend Impact on NGMPS:
Research indicates a shift in mailing trends propelled by the numerous means of communication options available to business and consumers today. These trends are characterized by slower mail volume growth and continued increases in the number of delivery points. As volume growth slows, emphasis must shift to accommodate more delivery points with less volume. A new solution with processing based upon the volume of mail available, with delivery points as the variable, would provide an opportunity to streamline operations. Processing letter and flat shaped mail on one system (using either a single induction feeder or multiple induction feeders to accommodate the varying mail shapes) would eliminate the manual merging process, improve efficiencies, and reduce costs. The most efficient processing scenario would be a one feed solution for letter and flat mail, independent of delivery points, limited only by a maximum volume, which would provide a merged letter and flat mail product in delivery point order. The NGMPS Program is seeking such a solution.
NGMPS Acquisition Approach:
The Postal Service will provide for a supplier prequalification and competitive process through identified Phases leading to test and production deployment. The Postal Service is reviewing alternative approaches to ensure that it provides for selection of a best value solution which ensures supply base availability to support future deployment phases, quantity acquisitions, and system upgrades.
NGMPS Phase I Acquisition Schedule/Time Line:
It is envisioned that development and deployment of the NGMPS will be contracted for in phases. Phase I will include a study, concept design, and simulation deliverable. Simulation analysis is critical in demonstrating the potential USPS return on investment of the developed concept to substantially and positively impact USPS infrastructure in mail processing, transportation, logistic and delivery operations.
Phase II is planned as an equipment build and component test phase, with participation planned for those suppliers, and their manufacturing source if applicable, who submitted concept designs and simulations which were considered by the Postal Service as best value in the ability of the design concept to meet operational needs. Phase II will be divided into subsequent "equipment build" phases, which might include major component bread board, prototype, or pre-production phases depending upon the maturation level of the proposed solution.
It is anticipated that the USPS will issue a Statement of Objectives (SOO) to pre-qualified sources in January 2009, and that contracts for Phase I as described would be awarded no later than April 2009. A subsequent announcement prior to RFP issuance in January will identify all pre-qualified participants.


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Inside an Illustrator's Stylish Office Makeover
We'd be lying if we didn't admit we often dream of ditching the daily commute and fluorescent cubicles for a home office. And we're not alone. In fact, one in five Americans work from home, and that figure is rising. Making the swap requires self-discipline and focus since you don't have a manager in the room to keep you on task.
To keep the motivation meter high, many entrepreneurial creatives are designing multipurpose spaces at home to separate their personal lives from their professional ones. Fashion illustrator Carly Kuhn, aka @thecartorialist, worked with Laurel & Wolf designer Julian Porcino to design an office space that would allow her to create art without distraction.
"It's an exciting time for Carly, as her illustration business has seen big growth," said Porcino. "However, this has lead to imperfect living conditions. So we helped her design a work/live space that allows her to focus on her art and have more room for inspiration."
The result is a gallery-like multipurpose space with monochromatic tones and cool California vibes, thanks to stylish succulents and a banana-leaf tree. "When you work from home, you want to be sure the work aspect doesn't feel that apparent, so when people come to your home, they don't feel uncomfortable as if the''re entering your workspace," said Kuhn. We think they nailed it.
Timber accents and greenery add warmth and visual interest to an otherwise monochrome space.
Eames Molded Fiberglass Dowel-Leg Side Chair ($549)
The natural light provides ample inspiration for creating art.
US Art Supply Medium 67.5-Inch Studio H-Frame Artist Easel ($100)
This multipurpose table allows Kuhn to stand or sit with storage to stash spare pens, books, and materials.
CB2 Public White High Dining Table ($399)
An easel sits elegantly with illustrations in progress.
The Cartorialist Black Eyes Green Fur ($299)
IKEA drawer units lined up next to each other make stylish storage for Kuhn's artwork.
IKEA Alex Drawer Unit ($119)
The drawers keep each illustration tidy and dust-free.
The Cartorialist Black Turtle Shades ($299)
Need to break up a blank wall space? Add a gallery wall (featuring The Cartorialist artwork, of course).
Target Desk Task Lamp ($24)
The green eyes match the greenery perfectly.
The Cartorialist Edie Green Eyes ($299)
Every home office needs an accent chair, and this wire-framed piece is sitting pretty.
Croft House Sierra Chair ($1075)
Kuhn has the space to create without distraction.
Morph Bertoia Bar Stool ($195)


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Many recipes develop extra layer of flavor with the addition of wine. I have an elegant Chicken and Mushroom preparation that calls for dry, white wine. A creamy-soft, fruity, cabernet in my Bolognese Pasta sauce truly finishes the dish. When I add wine to a dish, I only add wine I would like to drink by the glass. Of course never terribly expensive wine, but decent wines go into my recipes. Some recipes actually call for cooking wine. Stop! I believe you only put in your recipe what you would drink with your recipe, and believe me, you would not drink cooking wine. Cooking wine is often rice vinegar! In the United States many cooking wines are treated with salt and have added food coloring. Good food takes effort, so reward that effort with good wine, in and out of the recipe!
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- Home
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- Nissan RWD SR20DET
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- GKtech Eccentric Throttle Wheel - Nissan S13 SR20DET
or even general street use. Seriously, one of the best cheap mods money can buy.
- Light weight 6061-T6 billet aluminium construction
- Direct bolt on replacement of the standard throttle wheel
IMPORTANT Notice to customers: GKtech products are typically(but not always) shipped to you directly from the manufacturer in Australia, therefore shipping times may take anywhere from 5 to 14 days. please be aware of this extended delivery time when placing your order.
What's the advantage of the eccentric throttle wheel?
The eccentric throttle wheel makes the travel of the throttle cable down low in the rev range longer and gives you more control, and makes the travel up high shorter for instant throttle response. Don't believe us? Try it, if you're not happy with it we'll gladly refund your money.
Do you make these for other cars?
No, we only sell the products listed on our website. If it's not listed on here, then we don't sell it. Sorry.
I have an aftermarket throttle body, will this fit?
We don't know. Try fit your standard throttle wheel on your aftermarket throttle body, if it fits then this wheel should fit.
Is this hard to install?
No, not at all. Pop your bonnet, unbolt the standard throttle wheel and bolt this one on. It shouldn't take longer than around 2 minutes.
Will I have to get my car tuned after installing the easy throttle?
No, nothing is changed in terms of the engine. The wheel just alters the feel of the throttle which ultimately gives you more control.
Great replacement
Posted by Cameron on
Got this because my oem one was starting to deform which was odd, after putting this in it really changed the feel along with a light weight flywheel.
Easy install
Posted by Clyde on
Great fit and easy install. If you use the s13 throttle with a freddy intake manifold you will need to make a throttle cable bracket but it is easy.
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Cultural Diversity in Health and Illness
- Edition: 5th
- Format: Paperback
- Copyright: 12/01/1999
- Publisher: Prentice Hall
- Newer Edition
Note: Not guaranteed to come with supplemental materials (access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.)
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For courses in Community Nursing, and for use in basic health related profession programs, as well as in medical, social work, and other health disciplines. This text promotes an awareness of the dimensions and complexities involved in caring for people from diverse cultural backgrounds. It examines the differences existing within North America by probing the health care system and consumers, and examples of traditional health beliefs and practices among selected populations. An emphasis on the influences of recent social, political, and demographic changes help to explore the issues and perceptions of health and illness today.


text: Musical Media Marketers It's a bi-monthly meeting of MusicPreneur's, specifically those engaged in online marketing efforts such as blogs and podcasts. We meet the first and third Thursday of every month at 10 am EST. Feel free to join us for a session and see if it's something that will help you in your business! Just send me an email and I'll hook you up.


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Honey Creek Resort Continues to Struggle
The financial report for Honey Creek Resort State Park for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010 was released, and the results were not encouraging. The report lists of loss of net income before taxes of $1,497,701.
Virtually all areas within the operation budgets showed declines, with June 2011 numbers sharply off projections. Lodge revenue fell short in June as did Cottage revenue. Total food and beverage revenue was down in June and for the full fiscal year as well.
Electrical and mechanical expenses were over budget by $28,800, as a number of Climate Master cooling units failed. The department is in discussion with Climate Master and will attempt to recover some of this expense from them. One bright spot was the Water Park, as that showed a bottom –line improvement of $9,954 for the year.
Unseasonably cool temps in June, high winds and rain on some weekends had an adverse effect on the number of rounds played at the golf course. Both revenue and rounds played were down 12% for the year, but part of this loss was offset by improved merchandise sales at the course.
From looking at the financials, it appears the department will use $1.2 million from the FY 2010 REAP fund to cover the shortfall.


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CeBit 2005: products and novelties from ULi
Alexander Vorobiev keeps sending us the new photos from CeBit 2005. This time his attention was drawn by products featuring ULi chips:
JETWAY PCI-Express motherboard: ATI RADEON® XPRESS 200 Northbridge, ULi Southbridge.
A similar solution from Gigabyte.
And below you can see ULi-based mobile solutions:
Sharp notebook with ULi M1535 Southbridge.
Single-bridge motherboard from Gigabyte based on ULi M1689.
ASUS P5RD1-V motherboard on ULI M1573 and ATI Xpress 200. Supports Intel LGA 775 CPUs.
ASUS Launches R9 200, R7 200 Series, Matrix R9 280X Graphics Cards
Apacer Launches SATA SLC-lite SSD solutions
ADATA Introduces a Stylish External HDD HC630
Samsung Introduces New Wireless Multiroom Speakers
WD Gives Consumers a Cloud of Their Own
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Copyright © Byrds Research & Publishing, Ltd., 1997–2011. All rights reserved.


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San Francisco - Twitter said it paid $134.1 million (R1.4 billion) for social data provider Gnip in May.
The price included $107.3 million in cash, with the rest in stock, the San Francisco-based company said in a regulatory filing yesterday.
The acquisition gave Twitter more control over information gleaned from the content flowing through its network.
Apple paid more than $200 million for Topsy, a Gnip competitor, in December, people with knowledge of the matter said at the time.
Twitter also said in the filing that it may be liable for risks related to "credit card processing."
That's the latest hint related to the company's interest in becoming a centre for e-commerce.
People can't buy directly through the site yet, but Twitter has been building a strategy for the possibility and recently agreed to buy CardSpring, a service that lets users redeem deals and discounts through merchants' tweets.
Separately, Twitter revised the data for the portion of users accessing the microblogging service via third-party applications, and therefore don't see advertisements.
Twitter reported that 11 percent of active users accessed its service via outside apps in the latest quarter, after recalculating the data from an initial 14 percent.
Jim Prosser, a spokesman for Twitter, referred to a statement in an updated earnings presentation when asked about the change:
"Twitter previously indicated that for this period approximately 14 percent of all active users used applications that have the capability to automatically contact our servers for regular updates, but later discovered that this number included certain users who accessed Twitter through owned and operated applications." - Bloomberg News


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A Spatial Analysis of Sectoral Complementarity
This paper presents a spatial econometric method for characterizing productivity comovement across sectors of the U.S. economy. Input-output relations provide an economic distance measure that is used to characterize interactions between sectors, as well as conduct estimation and inference. We construct two different economic distance measures. One metric implies that two sectors are close to one another if they use inputs of other industrial sectors in nearly the same proportion, and the other metric implies that sectors are close if their outputs are used by the same sectors. Our model holds that covariance in productivity growth across sectors is a function of economic distance. We find that (1) positive cross-sector covariance of productivity growth generates a substantial fraction of the variance in aggregate productivity, (2) cross-sector productivity covariance tends to be greatest between sectors with similar input relations, and (3) there are constant to modest increasing returns to scale. We test and reject the hypothesis that these correlations are due to a common shock.
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Volume (Year): 111 (2003)
Issue (Month): 2 (April)
Pages: 311-352
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| Web page: http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/JPE/
References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
- King, Robert G. & Plosser, Charles I. & Rebelo, Sergio T., 1988. "Production, growth and business cycles : II. New directions," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 21(2-3), pages 309-341.
- Arthur F. Burns & Wesley C. Mitchell, 1946. "Measuring Business Cycles," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number burn46-1.
- Mario Forni & Lucrezia Reichlin, 1998.
"Let's Get Real: A Factor Analytical Approach to Disaggregated Business Cycle Dynamics,"
Review of Economic Studies,
Oxford University Press, vol. 65(3), pages 453-473.
- Mario Forni & Lucrezia Reichlin, 1998. "Let's get real: a factor analytical approach to disaggregated business cycle dynamics," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/10147, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
- Susanto Basu, 1996.
"Procyclical Productivity: Increasing Returns or Cyclical Utilization?,"
The Quarterly Journal of Economics,
Oxford University Press, vol. 111(3), pages 719-751.
- Susanto Basu, 1995. "Procyclical Productivity: Increasing Returns or Cyclical Utilization?," NBER Working Papers 5336, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Burnside, Craig, 1996. "Production function regressions, returns to scale, and externalities," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 37(2-3), pages 177-201, April.
- Chen, Xiaoheng & Conley, Timothy G., 2001. "A new semiparametric spatial model for panel time series," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 105(1), pages 59-83, November. Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)
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I am so excited to start the Ultimate Reset on Monday March 27th. I plan to share every bit of my journey on social media and blog as best i can! I just got my kit today! I am nervous, overwhelmed and CRAZY excited! I will share more this weekend about my meal prep for Week 1! Stay tuned!
Fill out my online form.


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people keep talking about this on this site what is it?
Most Helpful Guy
I don't have a clue. Why don't you do some research at your local library or search in an encyclopedia?21|10|0
hahaha, thanks
people keep talking about this on this site what is it?
I don't have a clue. Why don't you do some research at your local library or search in an encyclopedia?
hahaha, thanks
Have an opinion?
Lol I remeber when I asked a similar question... www.girlsaskguys.com/.../q857672-do-you-did-you-know-what-gag-stands-for
It stands for Girls Ask Guys =)
I am laughing WITH you, not AT you. OK, a little AT you, mostly with you though.
The site you're on duhhhh
GAG - Girls Ask Guys... haha
Guilty as good :P Hahaha
That vomiting feeling you get in your throat
Girl Ask Girl
Ahh... in this case, stands for Girls Ask Guys... the site you are on...
Girls Ask Guys
It's short for Girls ask Guys
Girls ask guys...
-a piece of cloth put in or over a person's mouth to prevent them from speaking.
-a device for keeping the patient's mouth open during a dental or surgical operation.
-a joke or an amusing story, especially one forming part of a comedian's act or in a film.
But on this site it means GirlsAskGuys.
really? people talk about it? everyone I know in real life don't know shit about this website lol
I think he meant what does GaG stand for lol
@Debbie2020 aww cmon that's too obvious and too dumb hahaa :D
I know!
I first thought he was joking! 😂😂
Thanks for the laugh.
Question for you: Why did you create an account here if you didn't even know what it is? Do research first.
Okay, now try to follow me on this: "G" stands for "Girls." "A" stands for "asks." And the other "G" stands for "Guys."
it's radio GAG-a
It stands for Girls Ask Guys or Guys Ask Girls and it the site your on right now.
just look at the URL or google it use your brain.
It means Girls ask guys (GAG)
I.. lol sorry but it some times means...
some GIRLS ARE GUYS LOL
GAG is the shortcut of the site's name. Girls Ask Guys, a. k. a. GAG. I learned this on my own. :3
Ask the user girlsaskguys
You cannot undo this action. The opinion owner is going to be notified and earn 7 XPER points.


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Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Another of Tim Burton's magical creations, I'm not personally partial to Fox's remake of this that was serialised for television, but the original is quite a satisfying watch. This is an American Gothic Horror film, and it primarily follows Constable Ichobad Crane in 1799 who lives in New York but is sent out to a little town to investigate several curious murders. The main character … Continue reading Sleepy Hollow (1999)


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The American media is now owned and operated for the benefit of the rich and powerful. . Billionaires with deep pockets are ready to spend an unlimited amount of money…. to hire their own president to run things in Washington. Media giants are sitting on a big old surprise for us voters. Ever wonder why practically no established Republican speaks on behalf of Romney? If he was such a great Governor and private sector businessman..why no surrogates on his behalf? The Republican mainstream is solidly behind AE2012. AE2012 is also bringing on board independents and as many Democrat's as they can (neo) con . Their election bylaws will present 6 candidate's in May, along with 6 VP choices from the opposite party.
What's shaping up is an. all skull and bones ticket ….Jeb Bush and John Kerry..private guns for the private benefit of billionaires and large corporations. The 63 leaders posted on the AE2012 website (americanelect.org) include Bank of America, hedge funds controlled by George Soros, the Rothschild family,the Rockefellers,..and oil and pharmaceutical interests.The richest and most powerful people and corporations are trying to make an end run round Democracy. We really shouldn't be surprised…but the middle class can get informed and can take action. The Internet has leveled the playing field..and people have power to change things..we don't need billionaires..we just need people and passion.
It's no surprise that AE2012 has gone to great effort to not reveal who is putting up all the big bucks. Secretive donors and media companies that pretend to be independent set off all kinds of red flags. .The 1% is alive and well, and they want "their" White house back. With the media as their little bitch, corporate America is set to conquer. Should someone say something?


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Traditional Avgolemono is made with orzo pasta, but I have substituted rice for a gluten-free version of this delicious, lemony, aromatic soup.
- Yield
- 8 servings
- Active Time
- 8 min
- Total Time
- 15 min
- 7 c. good chicken stock
- 1/2 c. long-grained white rice
- 3 eggs
- 1 T. cold water
- juice of one large lemon
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Lemon slices for garnish
- 1. Pour stock into a large pot on medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Season with salt and pepper. 2. Add rice and cover for 20 minutes. 3. Once rice is finished cooking, in a large bowl beat eggs until frothy, then add lemon juice and 1 T. cold water. 4. Slowly stir into the egg mixture a ladle full of hot stock. Then add one or two more ladles of stock. Remove pot from the heat and pour egg mixture into the pot. Stor well. Season to taste. 5. Serve immediately with lemon slices as garnish
Related Video
Nutritional Info
- Calories147
- Carbohydrates19 g(6%)
- Fat4 g(6%)
- Protein8 g(17%)
- Saturated Fat1 g(6%)
- Sodium578 mg(24%)
- Polyunsaturated Fat1 g
- Fiber0 g(2%)
- Monounsaturated Fat2 g
- Cholesterol66 mg(22%)


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(Looking for Policies/Shipping info? Get thee to the Policies/Shipping page my dear friend!)
I'm Moxie. I'm an artist, author, cat lover, and surprisingly shy people-person. Hi-Fiber Kits is my playground and I'm inviting you to join me.
What is felt? Start from the beginning or else!
Felt is the oldest textile known to human kind. Made without sewing or weaving, felt is traditionally a matted fabric. The word "felt" comes from Latin and originally it meant "to beat."
The birth of the first piece of felt is more legend than fact. The version I like best involves a woman wandering the desert long ago, before the invention of footwear. As this barefoot woman led her camel across the desert, the sand became too hot for her feet. (I suppose this was also before the invention of "The desert is $*#@*ing hot!") To protect herself and continue on her journey, she tore off clumps of the camel's hair and wrapped them around her feet. Finally sunset came and the heat subsided. She removed the wrappings and noticed that the camel hair on the soles of her feet had become flat and solid. Her sweat had added moisture, the sand had added heat, and the action of walking on the camel hair had entangled it, turning it into flat sheets of felt.
Ok, but "needle felting?" What is it that you do here?
Needle or "dry" felting is the process of turning wool fiber into felt using barbed needles that force the wool fiber to attach to itself. (Industrial felt is made using thousands of these needles.) The felting needle is punched or pushed repeatedly through the wool fiber which locks the fiber together. You can uses felting needles to create intricate designs and 3-dimensional shapes. I call it "fiber alchemy" because it's so magical when the wool changes and takes shape.
But, don't you need water? Also, can't you wash a knitted thing and make felt?
I'm a needle-felt-aholic so Hi-Fiber Kits is all about bringing awesome needle felting kits and supplies to the people. Having said that, the key to felting is entangling wool fibers so that they become permanently joined and there are lots of ways to do that. Some felting methods require wetting of the wool fibers then agitating to cause the fibers to felt. Another way to create felt is to start with a knitted, crotched or woven base fabric. Putting this into a hot washing machine will cause the same reaction as hand felting wool fiber. The fabric will shrink and matte. After that, you can cut, sew, embroider and embellish the felt you've created without fraying!
It's easier than you think and completely addictive. The possibilities are endless and most of the projects here can be finished in about the same time it takes to watch your favorite movie.
Felting needles are extremely sharp. Children ages 6 – 12 years of age should not try this without direct supervision. Having said that, I've taught lots of children to needle felt safely. As long as you're watching, I trust you to know what your kid can do. (Also, say "hi" and tickle 'em for me, would ya?)
I want to make my creations smooth like yours. How do you do that?
This is a hard thing to teach over the internet, but my best advice is this: working in patches, add very thin wisps of fiber using teeny tiny pokes all over the surface. Teeny tiny pokes tac the fiber layer down, forming a smoother outer layer.
Did these project ideas come out of your brain meat?
Yep. I'm crazy like that.
Are the tutorials really free? Don't you have to pay rent and stuff?
I love to spread the good news about needle felting to far more people than I have time to meet. I want you to be able to play with my techniques and ideas without the burden of monies getting in the way of our relationship. I provide lots of cool supplies that you can buy, but the ideas? Those are my present to you.
Is it ok if I make your projects and then sell what I make?
Even though my projects and instructions are free for you to use, they are copyrighted works that I sweated over because I want to make you happy. They're intended for personal use only. I have no doubt that you can use the skills you learn from my projects to create great original works of your own to enjoy or sell as you wish.
When there's time, I love to teach the people. Make sure you sign up for the newsletter to find out about upcoming workshop opportunities. If you'd like to arrange for me come to your town or fiber store to hold a workshop, drop me a line and we'll see what we can work out!
Can you make something for me to buy instead of me having to make it myself? Pretty please?
I'd like to, but I don't always have time. Drop me a line if you'd like to ask me about making you something special and we'll see what we can work out.
Do you have any finished work available? Where can I see your art?
My artist headquarters is at moxielieberman.com


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Bless the Skies by Julie Elise Landry is a riveting and provocative work of dark fantasy, which follows the lives of three girls, Laeli, Sophia, and Elaina, who must navigate a bleak and desperate world. When Elaina is kidnapped and enslaved by the twisted High Lord Lawrence Anderton, Laeli and Sophia risk their lives to save her, through a dangerous and unforgiving landscape.
Although the journey narrative of the novel might suggest Lord of the Rings fare, Landry takes her characters to much darker depths than Tolkien, or even Game of Thrones. So much of fantasy fiction is, well, a fantasy – i.e. transporting you to a fantastical, and mostly-safe place. Even sword-fighting, wars, and death have the comfort of distance between a fantasy world and our own. Such is not the case with Bless the Skies, which doesn't shy away whatsoever from adult themes, and goes into some deeply dark territory.
Landry delves into such issues as prostitution, slavery, torture, and more, which is wholly accurate for a "dark age" book, but, again, a place where much fantasy fiction fears to tread, even as it mimics in some degree the world of the Middle Ages, which was rife with these sorts of issues. Of course, Landry adds in a whole level of magic, which makes the dark world of Vilez even more daunting. This isn't a fantasy that whisks you to a place where you wish you could live, but one that makes you feel some degree of despair about the human condition on the whole. For young adult readers, there is a lot here that may be disturbing – primarily the abuse of a child by her kidnapper.
That the book is so evocative, and inspires such deep empathy with the characters, is a testament to the power of Landry's writing. This is an unsettling book, and that is because Landry paints each moment so vividly. If anything, the book is sometimes dark to a fault. While it's in some part an accurate depiction of "man's inhumanity to man," the world Landry has sculpted is so depressing and downtrodden that it becomes a little too much to take in at times, and Landry doesn't always offer enough light to balance the dark. That is, only at times, and as you feel deeply for these characters, it draws you into the story, no matter how dark it sometimes get.
There is a lot for Landry to manage in this story: told from intertwining points of view, this could either become confusing or even disappointing if the reader becomes attached to a character before having to jump to another one. This is not really a problem with the novel, although there are times when the switch is a bit abrupt, or even not immediately apparent. The novel is also somewhat slow to start – understandable given how much the book needs to set up, but still not as immediately engrossing as it could be.
Overall, Bless the Skies is an impressive and unique work of fantasy fiction. Vividly told, it will stay with you long after you finish reading, and you'll hope for another installment, even as this novel is such a harrowing read.
Author Site
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