text:
Clayton Bloom sired three sons. Even before they had hardly grown, each of them turned away from their father, obsessed by a need to outdo his brothers. When they could, the brothers demanded their inheritances and left their father—each certain that with his talent and resources he would excel over his brothers.
Time passed and the three brothers failed in their quests. Each found himself separated from the others and severely destitute.
At the right time, the father went in search of his wayward boys to bring them home. He found his oldest in a stupor and lying in a ditch.
The father appealed to the man, "Come home my son, and I will give you rest. You will have your original job at twice the salary. And someday you, along with your brothers, will be given control over my estate."
His son looked up through eyes half closed by contempt for his father and replied, "I don't want your pity, Old Man. And I certainly don't want your charity. I can care for myself. Go away and leave me alone!"
Reluctantly, the father left his oldest son in search of his brothers. Eventually he found his middle son, and appealed to him in the same manner he had with the man's older brother.
The middle son didn't answer his father right away, but thought, if I take the money, I can get myself cleaned up and go back to those guys who stuck me and make them sorry for underestimating me. The bums will soon be bowing to me, and I'll be on top, again. "Sure, Pops," the middle son said. "I'll go back to work for you. Thanks, thanks a lot!"
After the father had sent his middle son home with instructions for the servants to care for him after he arrived, the father sought out his youngest boy. He found the young man worse off than his brothers. The father knelt beside his youngest son, and appealed to him as he did his two brothers. The man looked up at his father with weak eyes that welled with tears.
"Why should you be so kind to me after I brought you so much disgrace? I have despaired so long, Father. If you only knew how tired I am of it all. I hate my life. I have tried to console myself by remembering my home and you and my life there, but I couldn't. I tried and tried but the memory was gone, so I convinced myself that it never really happened. I thought it was nothing but a dream. I went on even though deep down I knew it was pointless and ended here hoping to die. I didn't have the guts to kill myself. Now here you are. It wasn't a dream after all. I want to go home. I'll do anything to go back there. I'll listen to you. I'll do anything you say. Teach me, Father, so I can please you. I want to please you, but I've forgotten how. I should never have left home. How could I have been so stupid?"
The young man wept. The father reached out and pulled his son up out of the murky water and embraced him. He could feel his son's bones beneath his dank, soiled, and tattered clothing. The son staggered and nearly collapsed out of his father's arms. The father realizing how near death his boy was lifted the frail body over his shoulders and carried his son home.
A year passed, and the younger brother found the middle brother packing a suitcase.
"What are you doing?" the younger brother asked.
"I'm out of here, man," the middle brother replied.
"But why? We have everything we could ever want right here. No one out there will ever love you and care for you as our Father does. You of all people should know that."
The middle brother attending to his task answered, "This is too much like work. No thank you. You can have it."
"What are you talking about?" the younger brother pleaded. "Father has given us servants to do all the real labor so we can complete our studies. Once that is done, father has promised to put us in charge of the whole estate—the house, the land, the livestock--everything!"
"That's fine for you," the middle brother said as he snapped the suitcase closed."I got some old scores to settle." He waved a thick wad of bills before the younger brother's face, and then plopped it on top of others neatly stacked in a black attaché. "Besides," the middle brother continued, "I know just how to parlay this money into some big bucks. Soon you will be working for me, little brother. And I'll make it happen without all the sweat. I have all I need."
The middle brother picked up his things and made for the door and stopped. Turning to face his younger brother he said, "Still, I can always use dedicated workers like you. Yes, you'll be hearing from me, squirt."
The younger brother watched his brother walk out of sight; he never looked back.
Jesus once said, "For many are invited, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:14 [NET])
Sunday, November 27, 2011
The Call (A Parable)
Clayton Bloom sired three sons. Even before they had hardly grown, each of them turned away from their father, obsessed by a need to outdo his brothers. When they could, the brothers demanded their inheritances and left their father—each certain that with his talent and resources he would excel over his brothers.
Posted by Bruce Kokko at 4:22 PM 1 comments
Monday, November 21, 2011
Why did Javert kill himself?
My wife and I and many of our friends at different times recently attended performances of Les Misérables at the local performing arts center. With only one exception, the reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. My wife and I were in tears at the end. The play portrayed beautifully the Christian redemption story Hugo had so lovingly woven in his novel. Certainly, the protagonist, Jean Valjean, typifies the essential Christ-like character of a kingdom dweller. One friend concurred with me but noted, correctly, that the play took some poetic license by having the revolutionaries end up in heaven. True, just because one dies fighting for a cause—even a good one—doesn't make one kingdom material. Yet a deeper truth resonates within the Les Mis tale that we don't want to miss. And the truth can be found by asking the question: Why did the antagonist, Javert, kill himself in the end?
Javert was a policeman of the highest order. As with all legalists, Javert saw himself as the great righter of all wrongs in the world. He had intended to weed it out one miscreant at a time until nothing was left but a pure world. He did this by holding everyone to impeccable standards; and, critical to understanding Javert, he held himself to those same standards; Javert was a quintessential legalist.
Javert operated on the eye-for-an-eye code of ethics; consequently, he dogged Valjean tirelessly throughout Jean's life because, according to the strict code of the Law, Jean had never paid fully for his sins, despite the fact that Jean had clearly repented of them innumerable times in most objective ways. Such penitence swayed Javert little because in his mind a person was either good or bad, and the distinction was made largely on the basis of appearances. For this reason, Javert accepted the bourgeois man's story after the prostitute, Fantine, had scratched the man's face, because she was a sinner, and the man a respectable citizen, even though in reality the man had all but raped Fantine and provoked her to defend herself.
Doesn't a policeman represent law and order, and above all else, justice? I've always been taught this. So what was Javert's problem? As with all legalists, Javert failed to realize that the holiness he sought cannot be established without love. The great and ironic fallacy is holiness can be attained and maintained by simply imposing rules and regulations on people.
Only by love first reaching out to the sinner can the latter ever hope to see the unholy state they are in. The priest proved this by his treatment of Valjean at the beginning of the story; Valjean demonstrated this truth by his treatment of Fantine, as did Jesus countless times during His ministry on earth—the woman at the well being a case in point (John 4). The reason justice requires first the expression of love (mercy) is because pure love rendered leads the receiver into the presence of God, the only source of the knowledge of holiness and the grace to live it. The line near the end of Les Mis, "when we love another we see the face of God," is absolutely true.
Saint Paul substantiates the aforementioned principle of love in Romans 2:1-4:
Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge someone else. For on whatever grounds you judge another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge practice the same things. Now we know that God's judgment is in accordance with truth against those who practice such things. And do you think, whoever you are, when you judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God's judgment? Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God's kindness leads you to repentance?
Javert and all legalists believe themselves to be holy because they promote the law by passing judgments on others. But Paul rightly says this is absurd because no one is guiltless—as Javert would soon discover about himself (I'll get back to this in a moment). No, only by the extension of pure mercy, which of course God has done perfectly by sending His son, Jesus the Christ, leads to repentance.
Mercy by definition does not condemn or punish but restores. True justice is not retribution but a course adjustment from the wrong order of things to the right order of things, which is holiness. The legalist misses this fact because he has divested holiness of love that is actually inextricably tied with holiness, and fails to see that God is about restoration, which is love and holiness working as mercy and justice, and not retribution. Certainly, final restoration will necessitate God destroying all things—everything remaining under His wrath--that hinder perfect holiness in love. But that is only for God to do because only He is perfectly holy and perfectly love.
Love maintains and establishes holiness because love originates in all eternity in the triune God who created everything. But love must be pure because God is holy; true love cannot be separate from holiness; otherwise, love reduces to attempting to relate with each other or God on the basis of whatever feels right, with the result of destructive relationships, where there is neither love nor holiness.
Therefore, the tension of love and holiness must be rigorously maintained or both will be lost. But in restoration, such as when the priest restored Valjean by forgiving him and elevating his status or when Valjean lifted Fantine out of prostitution, love must come first—always in complete conformity with holiness--because love is what both defines and maintains holiness. Love opens eyes blinded by the despair of death, and love cools the fires of hell, so the sinner might then properly assess his plight and clearly understand his own sole accountability.
Not everyone, of course, will respond to love (mercy) extended to them and seek its power to live in holiness (justice). Some, such as the other prostitutes who taunted Fantine, have consciences seared by self-hate; others, such as the innkeeper and his wife who had cruelly exploited Fantine's daughter, Cosette, are too consumed by greed; and others, such as Javert, have been frozen by their own self-righteousness.
Valjean, who certainly had a right to hate and not forgive Javert, extended mercy to Javert by letting him go when he could have taken revenge for a lifetime of torment by killing him. Yet this extension of the hand of love failed to move Javert. This time mercy did not bring about justice, which in this case would have been a shift from the wrong order of Javert's loveless legalism to the right order of love in holiness. Love did not soften Javert's heart to love in return—not even himself. And love to be love must be translational: freely flowing unconditionally between the lovers.
What in Javert prevented love from penetrating his heart? Why did Javert kill himself, instead? For Javert and all legalists, purity and righteousness means perfectly conforming to the law. When he learned by Valjean's example that perfect conformity to the law is actually love, he realized he had failed his whole life to live the very standard he always espoused; mercy, in Javert's legalistic mind, actually became a judgment against him. Javert always understood love as a transaction because that is the way legalism works: every action must get its rightful due; thus, by that standard, Javert saw himself condemned, so he saved God the trouble and killed himself. You must remember, Javert had always held himself to the same standard he expected from others.
In closing, no one can live in holiness without love held in equal force because without love holiness crumbles and vise versa. For this reason, the practitioner of loveless holiness will always destroy themselves in the end; either they will become bitter, merciless, and cruel, as did Javert, or they will abandon their so-called holiness altogether and do the very things they had always despised in others. None of these outcomes, of course, have any connection at all with holiness and love that define and maintain the kingdom of heaven, the dwellers of which Jean Valjean remains a sterling example: persons who seek to bring justice by first extending mercy.
Posted by Bruce Kokko at 8:16 PM 1 comments
Sunday, November 13, 2011
The Boy from U.N.C.L.E.
My favorite TV show growing up was The Man from U.N.C.L.E. For those of you too young to remember, U.N.C.L.E. stood for United Network Command for Law and Enforcement. The program documented the thrilling adventures of U.N.C.L.E.'s two top agents, Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin. The weekly show was a must-see for me; my mother even let me forego violin practice to watch it.
The Cold War raged during the Sixties, and we all had to do our part. My friend John and I loved the action. Even though we were both toe-heads, John assumed the role of the suave and sophisticated dark-haired Solo, and I the persona of the quiet and introspective blond Kuryakin —a Russian, ironically enough, who had defected to the side of good and democracy.
John was probably the brighter bulb of the two of us—he would later become a physician—but that wasn't the main reason he landed the more prestigious spy position at U.N.C.L.E.; he had all the official gear, including the pistol with silencer, the assault rifle, and the ID badge with the number eleven on it. I had to hand-draw my badge, and tape a safety pin on the back. Although, to be fair, Mother (Mother, second only to Mr. Waverly, headed Allocations-Sector One) issued to me the Man from U.N.C.L.E. cigarette lighter with the hidden radio transmitter, faux cigarettes, and cap gun. It was a great concept, but proved too fragile in the field—especially when duty required falling off retaining walls or leaping over fences. After a few make-shift patch jobs, I left the weapon on my dresser at home.
John possessed the state-of-the-art equipment, but I had superior cunning and stealth. We made a formidable team, admired by everyone back at headquarters and feared by our enemies on the streets. Mr. Waverly always assigned us the plum missions. John and I kept the neighborhood safe from the countless incursions of that global menace, THRUSH.
My only glaring deficiency was the look. Everyone knows that ninety percent of what makes any top-notch secret agent is appearance; if you look cool, you will be cool. My drab attire had definitely affected my ratings, especially with the female agents. They became increasingly dubious of my reputed prowess. I found myself taking more and more risks on each new mission in order to compensate for the negative effects of my dreary wardrobe. Clearly, a change was needed, so I asked Mother for a black turtleneck shirt.
It seemed a simple enough request. After all, I hadn't asked for a Beretta, or an exploding pen, or a mini-submarine—as much as those things would have come in handy—just your basic black turtleneck. Yet for some unknown reason, Mother resisted. I would plead; Mother would push back. Could it be Mother worked for THRUSH? The idea of a double-agent that high up in the organization was too horrific to even contemplate. Perhaps she knew what the people in Apparels were whispering behind her back because Mother finally relented, and allocated to me a white turtleneck dickey and a brown v-necked sweater to go over it.
Now picture it: Kuryakin wearing vintage 1960's two-tone tortoise shell glasses with the right lens thicker than the left--enlarging one eye that never quite aligned with the other (I have amblyopia)—seated on freckled cheeks—although the scar I received from attempting to shave at age four made up for the freckles— and outfitted with the top portion of a white turtleneck tucked under a brown sweater.
Mother thought it looked adorable—any mother would, of course. All I know is it ruined my career at U.N.C.L.E., at least as a field agent. I tried fitting the turtleneck piece with an undershirt to jerry-rig a white turtleneck shirt, but the dickey showed through the thin cotton fabric. Left with no recourse, Mr. Waverly transferred me to the Library-Sector Thirteen. Not long after that, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. went off the air.
Posted by Bruce Kokko at 1:13 PM 1 comments
Sunday, November 6, 2011
"Whoever is not against us is for us."
My youngest daughter is attending a Catholic high school. Xavier HS is an outstanding institution--spiritually, academically, and athletically. Our daughter is thriving there. Yet some people have blacklisted us for our decision--at least, passive-aggressively. They equate our sending Carly to Xavier on par with the Israelites building Ashtoreth poles. In my youth I probably would have felt the same way. But when I seriously began investigating God's love in holiness, the outcome of which was my book, A Final Word on Love, I became increasingly suspicious of such biases.
Both a good friend and colleague of mine and my son have since joined the Catholic Church. After many discussions with them, I realize how little separates the two branches of the orthodox Christian church. Indeed, both camps stand squarely on the same essential dogmatic turf. As I have discovered while preparing to teach a history of doctrine course at church, the issue concerning the implementation of salvation and grace, the crux of the Reformation schism, was in many respects a misunderstanding. Pope Benedict has recently said the Augsburg Confession—the definitive Lutheran doctrinal statement--is completely consistent with Catholic teaching.
I admit that I am still not happy with the Catholic Church withholding communion from non-Catholic orthodox Christians. I know Pope Benedict remains adamant on this point. But I provided ample Scriptural grounds in my book to refute the Catholic position. Nevertheless, I would never force the point when attending a Mass, out of respect for their faith.
I'm also not totally comfortable with some of the Catholic traditions; but I can say the same for some protestant and Eastern Orthodox traditions, as well. Besides, I have discovered in most cases my trouble is not with the founding principles of those problematic traditions but how people have extrapolated them in the course of the centuries. When given a chance, people tend to gravitate toward superstition because it gives them a modicum of control. I have spoken before in this blog of how difficult it is to walk in faith.
The Catholic Church is quite correct in teaching that God understands our need of visual/physical illustrations of His purposes and grace; such are the bases of the sacraments. But when we turn these types into idols, which I have said we are wont to do, we stray from faith. And we cannot do that because faith defines being a kingdom dweller with Christ.
You may ask: aren't these sacraments something we do to earn our salvation? No doubt it can be interpreted that way. However, I think the whole question of merit and earning salvation has been a wrong one all along in the Western church. A true Christian is so because he/she willingly subjects him/her self to Christ as King—he/she loves Christ first and last by obeying Him.
Therefore, from one perspective, everything done in obedience to Christ could appear to be works we do to earn His favor. But that is wrong. The correct perspective is these acts of obedience—works—evidence that we dwell in Christ's kingdom by faith. We don't obey Christ to earn our place in His kingdom; rather, our obedience validates our membership in His kingdom because "the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort – for the sake of his good pleasure – is God (Phil. 2:13 [NET])." And none of this would be possible had it not been for Christ's faithfulness—not anything we have done; on this we all agree, whether Roman, orthodox protestant, or Eastern Orthodox.
In every act of obedience we receive grace: grace to inspire our will, grace to act on that inspiration, and grace to become more like Christ. Consequently, technically speaking, all acts of obedience are, therefore, sacraments. Perhaps our Eastern Orthodox brothers and sisters are closer to the mark in this because they don't limit the sacraments to seven, as does the Roman church.
Therefore, the sacraments need not be seen as works earning salvation. Instead, they are acts in keeping with our salvation. Certainly, the act of being baptized doesn't save a person. But if a person refuses to be baptized (notice I said refuses and not prevented), then has that person truly entered into salvation? Has the person truly subjected him/her self to Christ? The question becomes: whom has that person subjected him/her self? Christ? Or is he/she clinging to his/her pride, or familial or sectarian regulations? Only God knows the person's heart, but such stubbornness doesn't bode well for the person because Christ told us to repent and be baptized. If the person truly dwells in Christ's kingdom, he/she will want to be baptized.
Let's stop building walls between us and our brothers and sisters in the Roman and Eastern Orthodox arms of the Christ's Church. Remember, we are all brothers and sisters solely because we have subjected ourselves completely to Christ and His will. And this subjection is evidenced by a continuous pattern of seeking to obey Christ, not simply a one-time statement of confessing Christ as Lord. And Christ commands us to love one another.
I will close by reminding us of an event during Christ's ministry:
John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, because no one who does a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to say anything bad about me. For whoever is not against us is for us. For I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a cup of water because you bear Christ's name will never lose his reward (Mark 9:38-41 [NET]).
Posted by Bruce Kokko at 5:36 PM 1 comments


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
A Sister's Secret
- Wanda E. Brunstetter Author
- 2007 5 Dec
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is an excerpt from Wanda E. Brunstetter's A Sister's Secret (Barbour Publishing).
Chapter 1
A chill shot through Grace Hostettler. Stepping outside the restaurant where she worked, she had spotted a redheaded English man standing near an Amish buggy in the parking lot. He wore blue jeans and a matching jacket and held a camera in his hands. Something about the way he stood with his head cocked to one side reminded her of Gary Walker, the rowdy Englisher she had dated for a while during her rumschpringe, her running around years. But it couldn't be Gary. She hadn't seen him since—Grace pressed her palms to her forehead. Her imagination was playing tricks on her; it had to be. She forced her gaze away from the man and scanned the parking lot, searching for her sister. She saw no sign of Ruth or of her horse and buggy. Maybe I should head for the bakeshop and see what's keeping her.
Grace kept walking, but when she drew closer to the man, her breath caught in her throat. It was Gary! She would have recognized that crooked grin, those blazing blue eyes, and his spicy-smelling cologne anywhere.
He smiled and pointed the camera at her. A look of recognition registered on his face, and his mouth dropped open. "Gracie?"
She gave one quick nod as the aroma of grilled onions coming from the fast-food restaurant down the street threatened to make her sneeze.
"Well, what do you know?" He leaned forward and squinted.
"Yep, same pretty blue eyes and ash blond hair, but I barely recognized you in those Amish clothes."
Grace opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off. "What happened? Couldn't make it in the English world?"
"Don't tell me you talked Wade into joining the Amish faith." He slowly shook his head. "I can just see the two of you traipsing out to the barn to milk cows together and shovel manure."
Grace swallowed against the bitter taste of bile rising in her throat. "D–don't do this, Gary."
He snickered, but the sound held no humor. "Do what? Dredge up old bones?"
Grace wasn't proud that she'd gone English during her rumschpringe or that she'd never told her folks any of the details about the time she'd spent away from home. All they knew was that she had run off with some of her Amish friends, also going through rumschpringe, so they could try out the modern, English world. Grace had been gone two years and had never contacted her family during that time except for sending one note saying she was okay and for them not to worry. They hadn't even known she was living in Cincinnati, or that—
"So, where is Wade?" Gary asked, halting Grace's runaway thoughts.
She shivered despite the warm fall afternoon and glanced around, hoping no one she knew was within hearing distance. The only people she saw were a group of Englishers heading down the sidewalk toward one of the many tourist shops. "Wade's gone, and … and my family doesn't know anything about the time I spent living away from home, so please don't say anything to anyone, okay?"
He gave a noncommittal grunt. "Still keeping secrets, huh, Gracie?"
His question stung. When she'd first met Gary while waiting tables at a restaurant in Cincinnati, she hadn't told him she was Amish. It wasn't that she was ashamed of her heritage; she'd just decided if she was going to try out the English world, she should leave her Amish way of life behind.
But one day when a group of Amish kids came into the restaurant, Grace spoke to them in German-Dutch, and Gary overheard their conversation. He questioned her about it later, and she finally admitted that she was from Holmes County, Ohio, and had been born and raised Amish. Gary had made light of it at first, but later, as his quick temper and impulsive ways began to surface, he started making fun of Grace, calling her a dumb Dutch girl who didn't know what she wanted or where she belonged.
When Wade came along and swept Grace off her feet with his boyish charm and witty humor, she'd finally gotten up the courage to break up with Gary. He didn't take to the idea of her dating one of his friends and had threatened to get even with her. Had he come to Holmes County to make good on that threat?
"Wh–what are you doing here, Gary?" Her voice sounded raspy, almost a whisper, and her hands shook as she held her arms rigidly at her side.
"Came here on business. I'm a freelance photographer and reporter now." He jiggled his eyebrows. "Sure didn't expect to see you, though."
Grace heard the rhythmic clip-clop of horse's hooves and spotted her sister's buggy coming down the street. "I–I've got to go." The last thing she needed was for Ruth to see her talking to Gary. Her sister would no doubt ply her with a bunch of questions Grace wasn't prepared to answer.
Gary lifted his camera, and before Grace had a chance to turn her head, he snapped a picture. "See you around, Gracie."
She gave a curt nod and hurried away.
Ruth squinted as she looked out the front window of the buggy. What was Grace doing in the restaurant parking lot, talking to an English man with a camera?
She guided the horse to the curb, and a few minutes later, Grace climbed into the buggy, looking real flustered. "H–how was your interview?" she panted.
"It went fine. I got the job."
"That's good. Glad to hear it."
"Who was that man with the camera?" Ruth asked as she pulled slowly away from the curb and into the flow of traffic.
Grace's face turned red as she shrugged. "Just … uh … someone taking pictures of Amish buggies."
"It looked like you were talking to him."
"Jah, I said a few words."
"Were you upset because he was trying to take your picture?"
Grace nodded.
"Some of the English tourists that come to Berlin and the other towns in Holmes County don't seem to mind snapping pictures without our permission. Either they don't realize we're opposed to having our pictures taken, or they just don't care." Ruth wrinkled her nose. "I feel such aeryer when they do that."
Not even Ruth's comment about feeling vexed provoked a response from Grace.
"Guess it's best if we just look the other way and try to ignore their cameras."
As Ruth halted the horse at the second stoplight in town, she reached across the seat and touched Grace's arm. "Are you okay? You look like you're worried about something."
"Just tired from being on my feet at the restaurant all day."
"You sure? That frown you're wearing makes me think you're more than tired."
"I'll be fine once we get home." Grace smiled, although the expression seemed forced. "Tell me about the bakeshop. What will you be doing there?"
Ruth held her breath as the smell of manure from a nearby dairy farm wafted through the buggy. "Mostly waiting on customers while Karen and Jake Clemons bake in the other room," she said, clucking to the horse to get him moving again when the light turned green. "Some days, I'll be working by myself, and others, I'll be with my friend Sadie Esh."
"Are you wishing you could help bake?"
Ruth shook her head and turned the horse and buggy down the back road heading toward their home. "Not really. I'll be happy to keep waiting on customers until I get married some day. Raising a family is my life's dream." Ruth glanced over at Grace. "Of course, I'll have to find a husband first."
"What about Luke Friesen? You think things might get serious between the two of you?"
"I don't know, maybe. For now I'm going to concentrate on my new job." Ruth smacked her lips. "Just thinking about all those delicious pastries and pies at the bakeshop makes me hungry."
"I'm sure Mom will have supper started by the time we get home, so you'll be eating soon enough."
"Speaking of Mom, I heard her mention the other day that she'd like for the two of you to get busy on your wedding dress soon."
Grace nodded and turned toward the window. Was she staring at the vibrant fall colors on the trees lining the road, or was she trying to avoid conversation?
"Do you still want me to help with the flowers for your wedding?" Ruth questioned.
"Jah, sure."
"You'll need several fresh arrangements on the bridal table, and I'm thinking maybe one big bouquet in the center of each of the other tables would look nice."
"Will you want some candles, too?"
Grace nodded.
"Since Cleon's mother and sister make beeswax candles, I'm sure they'll want to provide those."
"Maybe so."
"I hope Cleon knows how lucky he is to be marrying my big sister."
"I–I'm the lucky one." Grace picked at her dark green dress as if she noticed a piece of lint, but Ruth didn't see anything. Of course, she couldn't look too closely as she had to keep her eyes on the road. Just last week, a buggy coming down one of the hills on this stretch of road between Berlin and Charm had run into a deer.
Grace sighed, and Ruth gave her a sidelong glance. If something was bothering Grace, she would talk about it when she was ready. In the meantime, Ruth planned to enjoy the rest of their ride home. Shades of yellow, orange, and brown covered the birch, hickory, and beech trees, and leaves of red and purple adorned the maple, oak, and dogwood. A dappling of sunlight shining through the trees gave her the feeling that all was right with the world—at least her little world.
Cleon Schrock stepped up to the counter near the front of the restaurant where Grace worked and smiled at Sarah, the owner's daughter. "I came to town on business about my bees, so I decided to stop and see Grace. Would you tell her I'm here?"
Sarah shook her head. "Sorry, but Grace got off work about ten minutes ago. Said something about meeting her sister, who had an interview at the bakeshop."
"Okay, thanks." As Cleon turned toward the door, he felt a keen sense of disappointment. He hadn't seen Grace since the last preaching service, and that had been over a week ago. "Have a good evening, Sarah," he called over his shoulder.
"You, too."
Cleon opened the front door, and just as he stepped out, he bumped shoulders with a tall, red-haired English man. The fellow held a fancy-looking camera in one hand and a notebook with a chunky green pen clipped over the top in the other. "Sorry. Didn't realize anyone was on the other side of the door," Cleon said with a shake of his head.
"Not a problem. As long as you didn't ruin this baby, no harm was done." The man lifted his camera. "She's my bread and butter these days."
Cleon stood, letting the man's words sink in. "Are you a newspaper reporter?"
"Nope. I'm a freelance photographer and reporter, and I've written for several publications." He smiled, revealing a set of straight, pearly white teeth. "The pictures I submit often bring in more money than my articles."
Cleon gave a quick nod; then he started to turn away.
"Say, I was wondering if you'd be willing to give me a quick interview. I'm trying to find out some information about the Amish in this area, and—"
"Sorry, not interested." Cleon hurried down the steps and onto the sidewalk. The last thing he wanted was for the Englisher to start plying him with a lot of questions about the Amish way of life. He'd read a couple of articles about his people in the newspaper recently, and none of them had been accurate. Cleon rushed around back to the parking lot, untied his horse from the hitching rail, and climbed into the buggy. If he hurried, he might catch up with Grace and Ruth on their way home.
Taken from A Sister's Secret © 2007 by Wanda E. Brunstetter. ISBN 978-1-59789-226-1. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the publisher.
Published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683


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AboutPage address: http://www.mnsu.edu/campuswellness/archive/
Creating a campus culture of wellness requires Minnesota State Mankato to develop an institutional-wide plan that will result in an all-encompassing wellness program for all members of our campus community. Positive health and wellness are conducive to effective teaching and learning.
MSU recognizes the relationship between physical, mental, social, intellectual, and spiritual well being and the vital role health, mental health, recreation and other programs and services play in assisting members of our campus community in achieving optimal wellness.
For students, optimal wellness will increase retention, decreases absenteeism, and positively impact academic and personal success.
For faculty and staff maintaining optimal health and wellness reduces illness and optimizes personal and professional performance.
Given the important and well documented linkages between health and success, MSU seeks to identify deliberate ways to assist the University community in optimizing health and wellness in an effort to enhance intellectual proficiency, job performance, and overall individual well being.
Campus Culture of Wellness Open Forums were offered in Ostrander Auditorium, CSU on the following dates:
- Monday, October 16, 2006, 10-11am
- Tuesday, October 17, 2006, 2-3pm
- Wednesday, October 18, 2006, 12-1pm


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RBC.com | Français | | Contact Us
Skip Breadcrumb Links
About RBC > Community & Sustainability > News > SRI A Growing Trend
RBC experts explain how investors can do more to help the environment and society through Socially Responsible Investing (SRI).
An interview with Jason Milne, Manager ESG Policy & Research, PH&N Investment Management and Thomas Van Dyck, Senior Vice-President and Financial Advisor, Socially Responsible Investments, RBC US Wealth Management.
What goes into creating an SRI portfolio?
Jason: There are two broad categories of mutual funds when you're looking at socially responsible options. The first I call "Do Good" funds, which means they invest in things like green energy or microfinance projects – so these funds are really trying to make a difference in the everyday life of people on the planet. The second type I call the "Do No Harm" options, meaning we analyze companies and evaluate how they are incorporating environmental, social, and governance factors into the way they do business, and then only invest in companies that are being responsible. Examples of these types of funds are the PH&N Community Values Funds and the RBC Jantzi Funds.
Thomas: We customize all portfolios to our client's specific environment, social and governance (ESG) issues. We have our clients fill out a financial and ESG questionnaire to determine their risk and return objectives and how rigorously they want the ESG screens applied. Our in-house social researcher will apply the ESG screens to all the managers we select for the client, which means we can use any money manager in the universe, rather than limiting our selection to those funds or managers that provide ESG screening. We also assist our clients in shareholder engagements, with impact investing and provide a full suite of products across all asset classes of public securities, alternative investments and impact investing.
Who are socially responsible investors? Is there a typical "investor profile"?
Jason: SRI has been a trend that we've seen slow, steady growth in over the last five to ten years, especially as more and more people are committing to live an environmentally-friendly lifestyle. When you're talking about retail investors, SRI is a viable investment option for people who are not only interested in environmental issues but really make it a lifestyle. They believe in recycling, using environmentally sensitive products, and riding a bike to work and have a desire to incorporate those beliefs into their investment portfolio. We are also seeing an upswing with the Generation X crowd that grew up hearing about being more environmentally conscious. Most people are aware of SRI funds but may not be ready to take the next step to bet their RRSP on it. In general, the mainstream investor still needs to be shown that this is a viable investment option. However, the level of interest is definitely starting to increase and so I'm hoping over the next few years that we do start to see more growth in this area.
Thomas: To me, the SRI investor seeks to incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) qualitative screens into their investment portfolios. Most take a long-term view of investing and seek to incorporate these factors into their portfolios in an effort to avoidinvesting in companies that perform poorly in areas that matter to them. Socially responsible investor clients are anyone from individual high net worth investors, such as entrepreneurs, inherited wealth, and celebrities to institutions, usually family foundations, endowments, non-profit groups, religious groups and some unions.
Is the performance of SRI funds competitive with mainstream funds?
Jason: There's a myth out there that you have to give something up in terms of performance if
you're going to have SRI products in your portfolio. At PH&N, we did a literature review – a kind of a myth-busters study of all the research available on this topic and we found there was no evidence to support underperformance of SRI funds, but rather that SRI funds tended to perform
inline with non-SRI funds over the long-term.
Every investment has a certain amount of risk and what people have to do is decide what is best for them and their lifestyle. A general piece of guidance is that if you have a well-diversified portfolio that incorporates SRI, then your performance should be in line with the index or with comparable products over the long term.
What do you see as the future of the SRI marketplace?
Jason: For Canada, I think younger people are more aware of ESG issues and it'll be a natural extension to incorporate socially responsible investing into their portfolios. A potential growth area will be the institutional side as we're starting to see more pension plans and institutional money incorporating SRI into the way they manage their portfolio. The Canada Pension Plan is a good example of how institutional investors are building SRI into their portfolios. (Note: The CPP Investment Board adopted a Policy on Responsible Investing in 2005, which mandates that they consider ESG factors from a risk/return point of view.) So from this perspective, the institutional market will be an engine for growth going forward.
Thomas: The SRI marketplace continues to grow in the U.S. despite the recent financial crisis, even though the broader universe of assets under management has remained roughly flat. According to a 2010 report, SRI has grown by nearly 400 per cent in the last 15 years and is currently approaching almost 12 per cent of total assets under management in the U.S. ($3.07 trillion). I believe that a decade from now, SRI/ESG investing will be the majority of the market for two reasons - first, the ESG factors help identify superior management practices and teams, lowering risk to the investor and improving long-term performance; and second, the majority of investors are continually looking for ways to make money by investing in sustainable solutions.
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Welcome to our hostel
The best qualified chain of hostels of the continent! At the best points of Uruguay (Montevideo,Punta del Este,La Pedrera) Colombia & Paraguay.The only hostel in Colonia with AC / HEAT & toilet in every Dorm. Breakfast included! (be careful that cheapest Hostels in Colonia doesn´t included breakfast)
We are the only hostel in Colonia with all rooms ensuite and air conditioning/Heat!!
Located within the famous 'Historic District' (Historical Heritage Site by UNESCO) and just 600 meters from the port and the bus station, also very close to the beaches. In a beautiful XIX century house with all the comforts of XXI century: bright skylights, high ceilings, wood stove, BBQ & sundeck. You can also enjoy our outdoor bar where we serve food and drinks at night.
The homemade breakfast and linen are included, and our kitchen is fully equipped for your deposition.
Other services offered include 24/7 hot water, free internet, cable TV, DVD with a wide variety of movies, laundry service, bike rentals, horseback riding.
Colonia is considered the most beautiful city in Uruguay, thanks to the Historical Town and its museums, the Plaza Mayor with its restaurants, its Mother Church (the oldest in Uruguay), the lighthouse from where you can see the entire old city, its beaches, areas and national parks. We look forward to receive you!
* No children under 18 years in the Hostel.
* Credit cards payments have an 5 % extra charge
Please note that from the 16/11 to 27/03/2016 all Uruguayan residents are charged extra 10% tax. This only applies to residents.


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Inside the Box
Maho Travel Case, Microfiber Pouch, Warranty
It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one wearing the coolest shades. - Charles Darwin.
The Galapagos is an impossibly handsome aviator-inspired frame for explorers, wanderers, and stylish survivors. This frame works best for heart and round shaped faces in small and medium sizes.
- Java Tortoise Handmade Zyl Acetate Matte Finish
- Ultramarine™ Polarized Aqua Blue Mirror Lenses
- Ships within 24-48 hours
- Size: 52-17-147
Superlative Optics
Maho Ultramarine™ Polarized Lens are the lightest, strongest lenses on the market -- made from cutting-edge polyamide nylon rather than outdated and underperforming materials like CR39. Every Ultramarine™ lens blocks glare and light reflection from front and back, enhances color saturation, protects eye health, and repels oil and water.
Handmade Zyl Frames
Maho Frames are built from sustainable, hypoallergenic Zyl Acetate, a plastic derived from cotton fiber and wood pulp rather than toxic petroleum. Why would you put anything but the highest quality on your face?
Stainless Steel Hinges and Hardware
Maho Frames are constructed with 316L stainless steel integrated hinges and hardware. With proper care our shades are built for a lifetime of good times outdoors.
Designed For Life on the Water
Maho Shades are designed and tested on the waters of the Virgin Islands and the Gulf Coast. Effortlessly cool style, meet uncompromising visual acuity.
Warranty Information
Our One-Year Warranty
If your Mahos are damaged due to a defect in material or a problem with workmanship* within one year of purchase, we will repair or replace them free of charge. Just email us at email@example.com and we will arrange for their return. Once returned, please allow 2-3 weeks after we receive your shades to fix them and mail them back.
*Examples of repairs that we cannot honor under our one-year warranty include but are not limited to: scratched lenses, Mahos run over by a car, lost Mahos, Mahos that have been stepped on or sat on and crushed, or Mahos dropped into a fire. You get the idea. If it's really bad, email us a picture, and we'll see what we can do.
Our Lifetime Warranty
We stand by our product as long as you, the original purchaser, have it. If your Mahos are ever damaged for any reason (such as sitting on them, crushing them, scratching the lenses, getting punched in the face on a golf course by a game show celebrity, etc.) we will replace them for a flat fee. Just contact us at email@example.com and we will take care of the rest.
Shipping Information
Maho Shades ship within 1-2 business days unless noted in the product description. Domestic shipments through USPS take 2-5 days to arrive, while international shipments through DHL take 3-14 days to arrive.
Inside the Box
Maho Travel Case, Microfiber Pouch, Warranty


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Street Fighter X Sanrio Plush
- Officially licensed Sanrio/Street Fighter mashup
- Choose Ryu, Chun-Li, or M. Bison
- 5-6.5 inches of butt-kicking cuteness
Hello Kitty is always doing something new and it's always totally adorable. (She's a bit like Barbie with her career-hopping, but less... pink.) What's Kitty up to today? She's dressed like your favorite characters from the classic video game Street Fighter!
Each of the Street Fighter x Sanrio Plush characters is as fearsome as she is adorable. Ryu Kitty wears a karate suit, complete with black belt and red accessories. Chun-Li Kitty is in her iconic blue outfit, complete with combat boots and ox-horn hairdo. And finally, M. Bison kitty is formidable in red military dudes, complete with shoulder plates. Soft kitty, warm kitty, yes. Nice kitty? Maybe... or maybe she'll kick your butt.
Product Specifications
- Hello Kitty is ready to kick some butt on the streets
- Officially licensed Sanrio x Street Fighter mashup
- Styles available: Ryu, Chun Li, M. Bison
- Materials: Polyester
- Care: Spot clean with a damp cloth and mild detergent
- Dimensions: 5" - 6.5" tall (depending on character)


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Neanderthals in a boat? Not such a far-fetched notion after all
McMaster University research bolsters theory that our primitive cousins were more sophisticated than previously thought.
See: https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016 ... r-all.html
Moderators: Minimalist, MichelleH
Minimalist wrote:Ah.......... boats.
Now we all know the anti-boat crowd will insist that the wind blew them to Naxos.
On a raft of seaweed...
Hmmm... I'm seeing a trend here... You're stupid & venal if you're an archaic human, a female and/or not white?
Users browsing this forum: Majestic-12 [Bot] and 2 guests


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The most complete production system available today, TriCaster TC1 represents the continued innovation of the iconic product that defined an industry. Designed with the way you work in mind and equipped with hundreds of advanced production capabilities, it has everything you need to do video your way today-and tomorrow.
Feel Invincible
When you're confident in what you're doing, it shows. With TriCaster TC1, you have the proven workflows you know and the future-proof production you covet. The bottom line is being able to do production the way you need to right now and the way you want to when you are ready.
Real 4K Ultra HD. No Compromise
Present your audience with an immersive viewing experience defined by amazing clarity and incredible detail. Produce programs, performances, events and live sports in true 4K UHD (Ultra High Definition) resolution with support for native 2160p video at 60 frames per second. Unlike other products that promise 4K UHD, only TriCaster TC1 allows you to switch, stream and record 4K UHD video without compromising the frame rate or the number of available inputs.
Built-In Video Servers
No decks needed-just add your files with two built-in video servers for on-demand and automated playback, including auto-advancing playlists, on-cue instant replay, live-edited highlight reels and much more. With responsive player controls, presets, real-time editing tools, selectable transitions and playlist effects, you have everything needed to make magic from your stored media.
Multi-Source Video Mixing
Viewers have their choice of devices. You should have options, too. With 36 source channels, including 16 external inputs, you can easily create compelling content using any combination of compatible video sources, including 3G-SDI, HD-SDI and PTZ cameras, mobile devices, Skype TX video calls, computers, gaming systems, streaming media, video files, graphics, images, animations and more.
Multi-Channel Skype
Conduct a live Skype video call with any remote guest, anywhere in the world. TriCaster TC1 is the only video production system to feature direct Skype TX software integration. The studio-grade version of the popular app, Skype TX enhances the real-time interaction with broadcast-quality video and balanced audio, allowing you to present production-ready conversations, interviews, reports and more-regardless of the caller's device.
Recording and Replay
Capture all the angles, record multiple channels of full-resolution video to QuickTime or H.264 files. From archiving the master cut for your content library, to ingesting the raw camera footage for post-production, to caching production extras and presentation materials for on-demand-even capturing real-time highlights for instant replay-TriCaster TC1 easily handles the work of multiple professional decks without the added expense.
Dual-Channel Live Streaming
Stream live to your choice of new media platforms, including user-friendly presets for Facebook Live, Microsoft Azure, Periscope, Twitch, YouTube Live and more. With two streaming encoders included, you can easily deliver platform-specific content, while opening up new sponsorship and revenue opportunities.
Social Media Integration
Share real-time updates and on-demand content across your social media accounts, uploading images and video directly to Facebook, Imgur, LinkedIn, Twitter, Vimeo, YouTube and more-complete with comments and hashtags. Plus, with integrated DataLink, you can add posts and photos from your social networks in on-screen graphics for a truly interactive experience.
Premium Performance. Choice Control
With precision software-based control, your choice of two companion control panels and optional Web-based interface, TriCaster TC1 is designed to suit the operator and environment for any production.
Live Sound Experience
Set the tone for your production with comprehensive audio integration, including a software-based audio mixer, support for digital, analog and USB audio devices, audio over IP networking with NDI, Dante and AES67, professional DSPs, fader control, VU metering, Talk Back communication and 4 x 4 x 4 channel routing to four audio mix outputs. Dante and AES67 require compatible virtual sound card licenses (sold separately).
Control in the Palm of Your Hand
NewTek LivePanel for TriCaster TC1, makes it easier for more people to have control of the live production process. Providing the ability to configure a custom user interface that delivers exactly the tools and functions you need, accessible through any Web browser or operating system.
Next-Level Automation
Experience new levels of efficiency and productivity with a comprehensive macro automation system that allows you to record, store, edit and automate your favorite settings and custom command sequences. You can even choose to run macros manually from any combination of compatible control interfaces-or set TriCaster TC1 to perform actions automatically.
Phenomenal Creative Elements
With TriCaster TC1, you have the tools to turn every frame of video into an artistic masterpiece. Consider the screen a blank canvas and unleash your inner artist with multi-bus mix effects, zero-latency video re-entry, real-time animated titles, data-driven graphics, custom animated transitions, a full-motion composition engine and more. Let your imagination run wild.
Real-Time Monitoring and Multiviewers
>See everything happening during your production with fully adjustable single-screen or multi-screen monitoring. With three customizable multiviewers, configurable windows and workspace layouts, operator confidence monitors, visual indicators, scopes and more, you can easily personalize the TriCaster TC1 environment to your preference.
Studio-Grade Video Tools
Perfect your presentation with configurable color correction tools, 3D object positioning and smooth-edge cropping. Apply picture-in-picture effects with optional borders. Use key and fill to produce new composite scenes from different foreground and background elements. Even map live video to moving props and set pieces with real-time motion tracking. And so much more.
Spectacular Live Chroma keying
Think outside the box with real-time keying so crisp and clean, your viewers will never believe it's green screen. With NewTek's powerful Live Matte technology built into every source channel and M/E, you have 40 fully configurable keyers to create composite scenes from live video, graphics and virtual sets for reports, presentations, demonstrations and more.
World-Class Live Virtual Sets
Save on studio and set expenses without sacrificing production value. With integrated LiveSet technology, TriCaster TC1 can transport your talent into professionally-designed virtual environments, complete with multiple angles, virtual camera movements, real-time reflections, specular highlights, animated lens flares and stunning augmented reality effects that blur the line between virtual and reality. Select from more than 30 included virtual sets, purchase your choice of premium ready-made sets or create endless custom environments with the optional Virtual Set Editor software (sold separately).
Your Workflow. Interconnected
You don't work in a silo. Neither should your equipment. With native integration of NDI, NewTek's innovative Network Device Interface technology, TriCaster TC1 connects to the most prolific IP-based workflow in the industry right out of the box, networking seamlessly with compatible products from hundreds of manufacturers and developers.
Store and Serve
Complete your workflow with NewTek Remote Storage - Powered by SNS. Powerful, scalable, shared storage solutions with optional chassis and network connectivity expansion, NewTek Remote Storage systems are designed to meet the high-capacity, high-performance demands of today's live production environments and readily adaptable to your media needs.
Professional Services
From systems and workflow engineering, to operator training and technical support, NewTek's industry expertise will help ensure your success from design to installation to production. With NewTek Professional Services optimizing your purchase, you can invest in TriCaster TC1 with confidence.
Control Panel
Professional control for modern production
With TriCaster TC1, you have your choice of companion control panels to suit your workflow, environment and budget. The TriCaster TC1LP and TC1SP control panels are expertly engineered to combine the comprehensive functionality, precision controls, premium hardware mechanics and ergonomic design that operators need, with modern styling that appeals to clients and executives.


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Clove Bean (Mookuthi kaai - Tamil,nithyavazhuthana - Malayalam): This vegetable can be cooked like brinjal. Tastes like greens stem.
A forgotten vegetable that is an ever green grower. Pests hardly attack this vine.
Germination: 60%
Home grown: Yes
Organic nature: 100%
Share this product:
Crazy gardener's assurance: Crazy gardener would like to personally assure you the quality of the seeds generated. The major cost is primarily for the time invested in extracting and organic methods applied in preserving the seeds. Compared to other sellers the cost is still low.
FAQ:Seed preservation: Crazy gardener uses only traditional seed preservation methods passed to him by his ancestors. No chemicals or other boosters added. Post preserving the seeds are stored in cool, dark and dry storage boxes. Because of this preserving methods seeds have been proven to germinate even after few years under right conditions.
Seed generating cycle: Each seed being shared is first grown for minimum 3 plant generations organically.
Organic Methods: Crazy gardener believes in soil culture. All plants are grown in soil which are specially prepared as described in his Blog (Click to read). Crazy gardener only uses organic products such as vermicompost (VC), well treated Cow Dung Manure (CDM), well treated Goat Manure, Asafoetida, Organic Neem Oil, Organic Pungam Oil etc to fertilize and treat plants against pest and other diseases.
Packing methods: All seeds are extracted treated and packed fresh. None of the seeds on sale are more than 8 months old.
Seed germination: All are quality seeds under right conditions you would get a 100% germination.
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Industrialized Building (IB)
|Program Contacts
|Eric Leatherby
The Board of Housing and Community Development at the Department of Housing and Community Development promulgates regulations for industrialized buildings (IB), often referred to as modular buildings, through the Industrialized Building Safety Regulations (IBSR). The IBSR provides for the administration and enforcement of uniform statewide standards and includes the model codes and standards the IBs must meet. IBs are built in a factory and may contain concealed components, such as structural systems, wiring, plumbing and mechanical ductwork to mention a few. The State Building Codes Office (SBCO) is the building official for IBs. The SBCO accredits third-party Compliance Assurance Agencies (CAA) to review designs, inspect construction and certify the buildings through the application of a Virginia Registration Seal. The performance of the CAA is monitored by DHCD. Local code officials handle the permits, site inspections and issuance of the certificate of occupancy for the installation and related site work for the IBs under the authority granted to them by the Virginia Construction Code. The local code officials must accept the registered IB without requiring disassembly of the components that were inspected and concealed at the factory.
An industrialized building must meet the following requirements in order to be registered for the Virginia registration seal:
- The Compliance Assurance Agency (CAA) has reviewed and approved the design/plans and has conducted the necessary testing and evaluation of the building and/or components.
- The CAA has provided inspections and quality assurance services in the factory to assure compliance with the applicable building codes.
- The Virginia registration seal has been applied to the building.
There are two separate and distinct registration seals, one for structures complying with the Virginia Construction Code (VCC) and the other for structures complying with the Virginia Residential Code (VRC). All structures require one seal for each manufactured section or module. The cost of a VCC or VRC seal is $75.


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IPL 2019, RCB vs CSK: Chennai Super Kings aim to seal play-off berth against Royal Challengers Bangalore
IPL 2019, KKR vs RCB: Virat Kohli's ton overpowers Russell-Rana show as Bangalore beat Kolkata by 10 runs
IPL 2019: Bairstow, Warner fifties help Hyderabad thrash MS Dhoni-less Chennai
IPL 2019: KL Rahul, R Ashwin star as Punjab beat Rajasthan by 12 runs
Kurukshetra: Is Sadhvi Pragya symbol of safform terror or police torture?
Kurukshetra: Did Rahul Gandhi term all Modi's thieves or all thieves Modi?
Kurukshetra | Are political parties relying too much on Muslim votes in Lok Sabha Election 2019?
Kurukshetra: Polling in first phase of Lok Sabha Election concludes
Today's Horoscope, Daily Astrology, Zodiac Sign for Monday, April 22, 2019
Reporter: Cylinder blast causes fire at Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj
Special Report: Is Pakistan heading towards political turmoil?
Political row erupts over IT raids on two aides of Congress CM in Madhya Pradesh
IPL 2019, Match 37: Dhawan, Iyer lead show as DC beat KXIP by 5 wickets
Jain monk accused of kidnapping girl, CCTV footage goes viral
Trishool: Reality Check of Major News Of The Day | July 25, 2018
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai: Kartik, Naira expose Puru mama via sting operation
Recommended Video
Top News
Latest News


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Sudden Death, Round Two: The 'American Idol' recap
American Idol's women gave the guys a lot to live up to Thursday night. A few of them measured up to the challenge, while others fell apart.
Song choice presented a problem all night, and proved the undoing of promising singers like Chris Watson, whose neo-Hendrix garb and pedestrian cover of (Sitting On) The Dock of the Bay made him look like a bad oldies act.
Some of the singers survived questionable song choices, though. For Paul Jolley, it was a close call. The judges split over his performance of judge Keith Urban's hit Tonight I Wanna Cry, forcing record executive Jimmy Iovine into his tie-breaking role.
Iovine told Jolley he sounded like he was singing a Keith Urban song while auditioning for Phantom of the Opera, then explained to him all the ways that contestants who over-sing fail on the show. Then he put him through anyway. Sure hope Jolley's a fast learner.
Curtis Finch Jr. and Devin Velez didn't have any of those problems, though. They gave the two most accomplished performances of the night. Finch's gospel-infused rendition of Superstar floored the judges to the point that Minaj told him, "You know damn well you're going through." And Velez gave a perfectly paced performance of Beyonce's Listen, beginning it in English, then switching to Spanish, then changing keys.
LIVE BLOG: Las Vegas as it happened
Elijah Liu, an 18-year-old singer of Mexican and Chinese descent, isn't nearly the singer those two are, but he was easily the most contemporary act of the night, singing Bruno Mars'
Talking to the Moon
. He had his shaky moments, especially when he tried to sing involved falsetto passages, but the judges weren't about to let him go.
They didn't feel those same compunctions about J'DA, who came out in high heels singing Adele's Rumor Has It without switching any of the song's gender-specific pronouns. J'DA, who told Nicki Minaj he was there to "represent for the gays," gave an audience-rousing performance but still didn't make the cut. That's too bad, because he wasn't one of the night's worst singer, and he was its most accomplished entertainer. It would've been interesting to see what happened to J'DA once he got in front of a voting audience, but a lot of Idol's more conservative viewers are probably breathing a sigh of relief that he didn't make it.
If anybody took J'DA's spot, it was probably Charlie Askew, who continues to be one of Season 12's more interesting cases. Though he seemed completely assured on stage when viewers last saw him, he seemed scared to death Thursday -- though the tremble in his voice only served to help him sing Elton John's Rocket Man, with its lines about being "lonely out in space." Askew was wearing a belt picked out by J'DA, and he probably also picked up a few lessons in showmanship. Askew's got good instincts and tons of raw potential. He also seems to be a fast learner, which Idol viewers tend to reward. And once he gets lost in a song, he's completely fearless, to the point that Urban likened him to "Freddie Mercury [having] a love child out at Woodstock somewhere.
Also eliminated Thursday: Jimmy Smith, Johnny Keyser and Kevin Harris.


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New York, New York! One Helluva Town!
As someone who is deathly afraid of flying, I will always begin my con reports with details of my flight experience because the amount of agony and stress over flying equals the same amount of time and energy trying to plan for a comics show in another city.
The San Francisco airport had an amusing exhibition on classic board games at my gate that did its best to calm my nerves before I had to board the plane. And, okay, the flight was fine, thanks to watching episodes of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and a ridiculous reality show about the glamorous life of young people in the Silicon Valley which according to this show is based only in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco (Ai yi yi).
Here's the view over the majestic island of Manhattan. You can't help but overcome your fears and fall in love. Anyway, right after I got off the plane, I got a nice welcoming text from Annie Koyama. It made my heart melt because I was dreading the thought being all alone in Manhattan which is silly because, hello, 10 gazillion billion people live in Manhattan and it's definitely true what Ol' Blue Eyes says: New York is a "city that NEVER sleeps." Driving from the airport through Long Island, I could see a few signs of damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. Trees were knocked down, taking huge chunks of the sidewalk with them. Flags and signs were ripped apart. However people were still out and about which was comforting to see.
I met up with Lark Pien and her sister Jane who were hanging out near my hotel in the Garment District. They were looking for buttons. Jane had suggested going to the nearby Korean fast-food joint, Bon Chon. I enthusiastically accepted because it was one of the food suggestions that my friend Annie Yee told me about the day before, and, um, HOLY CRAP, the chicken there is amazing. Talk about CHICKEN JOY (Jollibee reference)! Anyway, it was nice seeing the Pien sisters together. They told me that they had volunteered the day before, giving away food and supplies to people in Red Hook. Really cool that they did that. Lark showed me the war wounds on her arm that she got from some National Guardsman trying to fling a bag of potatoes or something over her head, or wait, I think it was from a fist fight with one of the guards. Wow, Lark.
Later on, because we are pigs, the three of us met up with Annie Koyama, Robin and Dan Nishio for MORE chicken at Torishin, a yakatoriya that Robin suggested. Robin's food suggestions are always A++ and this was no different! My favorite was the pork belly and the crispy skin, and I did manage to eat one or two pieces of vegetable because I'm on a diet. What?
The next day, I ventured over to Williamsburg for the big show. I was there a little early and there was a funeral happening at Our Lady of Mount Carmel church, next to the show venue so I strolled around the neighborhood a bit. I stumbled upon Desert Island Comics! Cool! I eventually high-tailed it back to the show, and met up with Tim Hensley upstairs in the gymnasium who was already setting up the Yam Books table. What a guy! If you meet Tim on the street somewhere, ask him to show you his watch which is a LCD screen that scrolls out the time and the words "Ticket Stub". Here's the pic of the venue during the calm before the storm:
The first official purchaser of Tim's book, "Ticket Stub" was Dan Nadel, Picturebox boss-man and co-organizer of BCGF. He managed to sneak over before the show opened and the crowds would be rolling in. And boy did they ever roll in! Hoards of people! Masses! Mobs! There was some talk before the show, that the aftermath from the hurricane and storm would keep people away, but that sentiment was quashed right from the start. I'm not sure if the show is always that crowded, but after such a crazy natural disaster, it was really uplifting to see. The BCGF Tumblr site's photo of the show demonstrates so accurately how crazy it was the ENTIRE day:
I kept looking around in amazement. The sea of people made me really happy! Lots of people compared the feeling of this show to this year's SPX which I did not go to. BCGF was just a great morale booster for the comics scene. I was physically hurting from the lack of ventilation due to the crowds (I'm really bad with hot weather, that's why I moved to the Bay Area), but the happiness of seeing so many people in one space, weaving through immense aisle traffic for comics made me forget how dehydrated and sweaty I was. (Also I really shouldn't have worn a sweater!). I do have one regret though which was not being able to venture out to see cartoonist heroes like Roz Chast and Richard MaGuire, or to get to purchase the awesome books from Bill Kartalopoulos' Rebus Books or Lilli Carre's debut book "Heads or Tails" -- or basically everyone's book because people who would visit our table would always be carrying something amazing. Luckily though, many were nice enough to come around to visit our table.
It was a great honor to have Matt Groening stop by to pick up a Ticket Stub. He talked to Tim about his contribution to the Treehouse of Horror, Issue #15.
This is a great pic taken by Lark of Charles Burns with Tim. I swore I saw Charles at Torishin the night before and when I asked him about his dining experience, he assured me that he wasn't actually there and that he has doppelgangers all over the world. One time, he found himself face to face with THREE doppelgangers or I guess that would be a dreimalganger? Anyway, I told him that "he" ate a lot of chicken skewers like a champ.
It was great to finally see some of the NYC dudes that rarely come to the West Coast shows, like cartoonist, photographer, book designer Jonathan Bennett! He has been working on some strips in The Believer, but he promised that he was in the process of making more comics hopefully for next year. I can't wait!
Here's Matthew Thurber and Dash Shaw. Dash expressed his thanks for having a collection of Ticket Stub published. I remembered him writing about the minicomic on the ole Comics Comics blog and I was really glad to hear that many people shared the same love of the Ticket Stub minis as I did. Lots of people were never able to actually see them since Tim only printed about 20 copies of each issue.
And, oh lord, Gary Panter! He and Tom Kaczynski were signing at the Fantagraphics table. I've been a major fan of Mr. Panter forever, especially because he says great things like this. I also got to see Tom K's new book with Fanta, "Beta Testing the Apocalypse". The colors look great and there is new stuff in there, folks! Got to get that and his latest offerings through Uncivilized Books. Post York and True Swamp, GEEZ!!
Here's a blurry Chris Ware with a Ticket Stub! I kept hearing that his panel with Art Spiegelman and Richard MacGuire was off the charts. I hope to see video of it soon! I told Chris that it was refreshing to hear at his talk with Dan Clowes at the Oakland Museum of California that he can be self-depricating about his work and talent even though he is a complete and utter genius.
It was nice to see Chris Cilla's face all the way from Portland. He had these great silkscreened t-shirts at his table. Just a great guy all around! Other Portland folks like Julia Gfrorer, Zack Soto, Aron Steinke and Jason Levian were also in attendance!
Adrian Tomine was able to take a break from signing at the D+Q table to get a copy of Ticket Stub. I'm still trying to figure out what Tim drew in Adrian's copy.
As I was walking around, scrounging to break a 20 dollar bill for some ones or fives like a character in Walking Dead looking for food or a first aid kit, I ran into one of my favorite people, Tom Spurgeon. We talked first about sports, social media and then comics. We know our priorities. It was nice to finally meet him as it has been over 12 years since I've only known him through Comics Reporter, one of the best comics websites out there today. Tom moderated a panel with Tim, Charles Burns and Anouk Ricard. I can't wait to see video of that too!
I was so happy to finally meet Nick Abadzis in person too, whose book collection of his "Hugo Tate" comic just came out last Spring. We're going to have him on the Comix Claptrap soon, so make sure you stay tuned. Yes, Thien and I are still podcasting. Sorry.
Also nice to see another West cartoonist, John Pham make it the show. John had these gorgeous video game zines printed on the Risograph, as well as stunning paintings that he exhibited at Giant Robot recently. The show had a really nice mix of cartoonists in this show! Veronica Graham, from Oakland-based Most Ancient, had a table and came over to say hi! She had these insane books made out of vellum! It was also a welcomed surprise to see Damien Jay, who traveled from LA to visit his family in New York. Chris Diaz from San Francisco showed us all the drawings he got from Gary Panter, Adrian Tomine and Charles Burns. He walked away with a nice piece of original art by Tim. I got to talk to Warren Bernard, Executive Director of the SPX show about the amazing guests he had at the show two months ago. Also, I was very honored to have Nine Antico, one of the featured guests of the show, pay us a visit. In general, BCGF was a huge success for Yam Books. I can't think of a better way to end the convention season. We sold a lot of Lollygags, and Ticket Stub did really well which made both Tim and I very happy especially since the show marked the end of his Transcontinental Ticket Stub Tour.
After the show, Tim and I got to stop by Desert Island. They have the latest issue of Smoke Signals which Tim has a full page spread of Alfred Hitchcock strips. You need to definitely check that out! We dropped off some books and then met up for Thai food with the ole Artist With Problems (AWP) crew: Alex Holden, Karen Snider, Jon Lewis, Tom K, Robyn Chapman, Robin Enrico, and Sam Henderson. They are always so much fun and so welcoming. It was hard to leave those guys, and hard to leave NYC in general.
I could go on and on about how the next day I visited the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum with my high school friend Becky and her family, and being mesmorized by Pierpoint Morgan's amazing library, but I will save you the trouble. I will say though that New York was really great to me. I'm still crushing on the city big time.
Thank you to all the people who visited and supported Yam Books at the show! Thank you to Robyn Chapman for helping and hanging out with us at our table. Huge props (can we still say that?) to Gabe Fowler, Bill Kartaupolos, Dan Nadel enough for putting together a well-curated show in the midst of chaos the past couple of weeks. And lastly thank you to Lark Pien and to Tim Hensley for making each show that Yam Books has attended this year such a success. We'll see ya guys soon at a show near you in 2013!


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NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- Laurie Lawrence, 57, of New Rochelle, died on Sunday, April 30.
Lawrence graduated from New Rochelle High School in 1977 and went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Ithaca College in 1981. She returned to New York to pursue her acting career appearing in a segment of the "Late Show With David Letterman" doing a "Stupid Human Trick." That appearance enabled her to earn her SAG-AFTA card allowing her to perform in many movies, TV, and theater. She also wrote, produced and performed in several one-woman shows.
In addition to acting, Lawrence was also deeply dedicated to community service including Best Friends Animal Society, New York Cares, Safe Horizon Domestic Violence Shelter and Active Minds among many others. In 2012 she was named the New Yorker of the Week by NY1 News because of her dedication as a coach for the Special Olympics for over 20 years. In 2015, she was selected as the Corporate Big of the Year by Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC for her commitment as a role model for young people.
In addition to her parents Elaine D Lawrence-Krass and Edgar Krass of New Rochelle, Lawrence is survived by countless friends, relatives, animals, fans and strangers who have been touched by her lifetime of generosity.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Big Brothers Big Sister.
A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
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Mohindra is a reputed Grocery Bag Making Machine manufacturer in India. We offer the good quality and high performance Grocery Bag Making Machine to clients at affordable prices. Our main goal is to satisfy the customers by availing fine quality machines at best prices.
We are the best supplier and exporter of Grocery Bag Making Machine in Delhi, India. Mohindra offers different models of Grocery Bag Making Machine like Baby 12 inch, Medium 20 inch, and Standard 34 inch. All machines are availed with different specifications such as size of paper, bags in CM, GSM of paper, paper roll width maximum, production per minute, drive motor AC etc. Paper roll width maximum of Baby 12 inch model is 35cm or 14 inch Max, Paper roll width maximum of Medium 20 inch model is 60cm or 24 inch Max, Paper roll width maximum of Standard 34 inch model is 90cm or 36 inch Max.
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Welcome to Maestro's on the Beach website.
Maestro's on the Beach was opened in January 2000. It is situated on the dunes at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean next to the lighthouse at Milnerton Beach on Woodbridge Island. We have 180° unsurpassed views of Cape Rown, Table Mountain, Robben Island and all the way up the West Coast to Blouberg.
The restaurant seats a total of +- 220 people inside and a further +- 150 on our terraced deck outside. The restaurant is fully airconditioned and is a constant 23°C throughout summer and winter. We offer a popular a la carte dining blend of South African and Italian cuisine resulting in the restaurant being extensively supported by the locals and tourists.
The restaurant is also used extensively as a function venue and we have a lovely selection of set menu's, buffet menu's and cocktail menu's. For further details on functions / events / parties / conferences / weddings etc please refer to the Function section on this website.
Our deck area is open daily - weather permitting. This area is very popular as one gets the feeling of being on the deck of a cruise ship as the waves of the Atlantic Ocean literally break at your feet. We love children that are well behaved. We respectfully ask parents to prevent their children from running around and playing inside the restaurant. Should children be in a playful mood they are more than welcome to run around and play on our outside patios away from the other diners.
Prices, menu & website content subject to change at anytime without written or verbal notification at management's discretion.
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Being IT Solutions


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At 1 Stop Weddings, we don't sub-contract your special day to unknown acts, we do everything in-house. Our Wedding entertainers are experienced live entertainers from Ireland's finest Abba Tribute, The Bjorn Identity to Michael Samuels, The voice of Riverdance.
Although a proper wardrobe selection and the correct choice of venue are all critical components to a successful wedding, live wedding acts are certainly not to be overlooked. A well-chosen band or wedding singer can allow guests to relax, break up any tension and provide an excellent means by which strangers can otherwise interact with one another. Also, live music will help to take the spotlight off of the bride and groom; allowing them to enjoy their singular moment in a bit of privacy while the other participants "unwind" after the wedding ceremony.
When choosing live music for a wedding, it is important to opt for musicians with a proven track record and if possible, those that are willing to provide wedding-related testimonials in regards to their past performances. Therefore, the bride and groom will be able to rest assured in the knowledge that they are receiving only the best services possible. Offering a wide range of musical genres combined with some of the most popular contemporary pieces, live wedding music is an excellent means to celebrate the event while allowing memories to be created that will live on for years to come. (Adding video to your wedding is a perfect addon.) Thankfully, the numerous musical providers across Northern Ireland, England & Ireland are willing to address even the most demanding of needs during this truly unforgettable celebration.


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