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Yes, I was unceremoniously banned from a fanatic Facebook group called Global Warming Fact of the Day where environmentalist fanatics get their, perhaps, daily dose of global warming indoctrination and quotable quotes.
I was a member of that intolerant group for less than 10 minutes.
We know some fundamentalist, extremist religions that are extremely intolerant to other religions, cultures, science, beliefs, and infidels. This suggests that religion is about blind fanaticism and faith. And we're also aware that there are some religious fundamentalists who are willing and ready to kill in the name of their hateful god.
Now, is it possible for a seemingly secular movement or cause to embrace some of the aspects or attributes of religion?
The answer is: Yes. This doesn't mean we have to redefine "religion". We only need to properly understand this concept. Our traditional understanding of the concept of religion tells us that religion is all about belief in the supernatural. Some of the essential aspects or components of religion include the existence of god or supernatural beings, a church hierarchy, moral dogma, rituals, a last judgment, and life after death.
However, there are forms of religion that do not convey all of those basic components, such as animism, Shintoism, Buddhism to name a few. For example, Shintoism, a religion practiced in Japan, does not have a god, scriptures, commandments, or a founder. Animism, on the other hand, is a religious belief that natural physical entities, such as plants, animals, and even inanimate objects or phenomena, possess spirituality.
There are, of course, religions that preach the virtue of tolerance, forgiveness and acceptance of other cultures and beliefs. This means that there's no absolutist way to describe religion and to dictate or impose its basic tenets or components.
In my own opinion, the single most important component of religion is faith, which means blind acceptance of a certain ideational content. This acceptance is primarily induced by feeling in the absence of proof or evidence.
Faith is one aspect that is present in the man-made global warming religion. The global warming faithful value propaganda, junk science that suits political and ideological agenda, dishonest strategy and intolerance more than real science and facts. Part of their dishonest strategy to fool the public, particularly the media, and to shut down opponents they label as "skeptics" or "denialists" is to distort scientific facts. That is, they use distorted facts to destroy facts and science.
Global warming religionists are also extremely intolerant to opposing views, questions, and even new scientific discoveries that could potentially harm their political and ideological agenda.
I experienced extreme intolerance first hand from global warming fanatics of this Facebook group.
After they approved my membership request, I commented on this article that uses the term "climate change" rather than "global warming". The post's thumbnail title states: Group seeks carbon tax to combat climate change.
My very first comment on the post in question is as follows: "Wait. Is it MAN-CAUSED global warming or climate change? Why the sudden change of name?"
An active member named Rob Honeycutt made the following response: "They are two different sides of the same coin. There's been no "sudden change of name." AGW refers to the rise in globally averaged temperature. Climate change is the result of rising surface temperatures."
Since he's simply dodging my question, I replied:
I learned from real science that man-caused or anthropogenic global warming is caused by human activities, thus it can be prevented by human intervention and government policies. Climate change, on the other hand, is a naturally occurring phenomenon. There were countless of climate changes in the past that weren't caused by humans, such as the end of the glacial period, the medieval warming period, etc.
Furthermore, NATURAL climate change is something that cannot be prevented or mitigated by man.
Here's how this global warming fanatic rationalized his reply: "Yes, but in general, when people are discussing "climate change" today they are referring to Anthropogenic Climate Change."
Isn't that both absurd and hilarious? It's as if he's trying to say: "Yes, the right term is man-made global warming but we don't call it that way. We call it climate change to fool the people."
Then I said:
Anthropogenic Climate Change = human-caused global warming. Wouldn't that confuse the little-minded people, particularly those in the media?
Look how this Rob Honeycutt tried to evade the issue. This is part of their dishonest strategy. They use words very non-objectively and try to make their arguments more absurd and unclear as possible. The vaguer or more ambiguous it is, the better.
Rob Honeycutt said:
No one wants to (or can) stop natural climate variability. That's not the issue. The problem is that we are increasing CO2 levels at a rate some 10,000X faster than the natural rate. CO2 is a known greenhouse gas. We measure a radiative imbalance, with more energy coming in than going out. That means we are warming the planet at an unprecedented rate.
The potential repercussions are serious if we can't slow our use of carbon emitting forms of energy.
See? His emotion-filled response shows he's never interested in sticking to the issue and dealing only with facts.
Unfortunately, the group's thought-police, who wasn't part of the very fleeting discussion, thought it was time to kick me out.
I was supposed to say: "But are you saying human-caused GW and climate change are the same?"
Since I was unceremoniously banned from the group for merely questioning things, I just sent Rob Honeycutt this private message:
Mr. Rob Honeycutt the global warming religionist talked about "increasing CO2 levels at a rate some 10,000X faster than the natural rate"? Is there any scientific truth to this?
What this fanatic said is purely non-factual and not supported by science.
The truth is, humans added roughly 100 billion tonnes of carbon to the atmosphere between 2000 and 2010. That is equivalent to about a quarter of all CO2 emissions since 1750. Yet, the dreaded warming did not occur during that period. Also, it is now universally conceded that there has been no human-cased heating for 15 years.
As to his "CO2 is a known greenhouse gas", this merely shows he knows very little about real science. There are several types of greenhouse gases, and CO2 or carbon dioxide is just one of them. Water vapor is the principal greenhouse gas being the most important contributor to the greenhouse effect. Also, this fanatic doesn't know there is naturally occurring carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
You don't have to be rude or a war freak to get banned from global warming fanatic Facebook sites. The GW zealots will ban you for merely questioning very simple things.
The Conversation
Here's an excerpt of Michael Crichton's speech on environmentalism in 2003:
I studied anthropology in college, and one of the things I learned was that certain human social structures always reappear. They can't be eliminated from society. One of those structures is religion. Today it is said we live in a secular society in which many people—the best people, the most enlightened people—do not believe in any religion. But I think that you cannot eliminate religion from the psyche of mankind. If you suppress it in one form, it merely re-emerges in another form. You can not believe in God, but you still have to believe in something that gives meaning to your life, and shapes your sense of the world. Such a belief is religious.
Today, one of the most powerful religions in the Western World is environmentalism. Environmentalism seems to be the religion of choice for urban atheists. Why do I say it's a religion? Well, just look at the beliefs. If you look carefully, you see that environmentalism is in fact a perfect 21st century remapping of traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs and myths.
An excellent video for AGW fanatics/religionists


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I admit it, I am the kind of person who judges a book by it's cover. I know that's a bad thing, but it's so true! I somehow believe that a book with a pretty cover and nice artwork, and a good font means that what's inside is better than a book with a boring cover with bad artwork and a lame font.
This also applies to restaurants. To me, it seems like the food tastes way better in a restaurant with a nice atmosphere. Part of the whole experience of eating out for me is enjoying the surroundings.
Where am I going with this? Last weekend when we were away for our anniversary we stayed a night in Mackinaw City in a hotel. We all know that websites make the hotels look way better than they really are. We were surprised to find that the "hotel" was set up more like a "motel" with all the entrances to the rooms on the outside of the building. When we went into the lobby to register, the employees were wearing jeans & hoodies. The decor was 70's with a twist of "antique".
Then we get into our rooms and see that nothing's been updated for about 30 years. Oh boy. Did I mention that I also have a bit of an issue with hotel rooms? The first thing I do is rip the comforter off the bed (you know, since they only get washed about once a year and who knows who has done what on it!) but thankfully I decided from the start that I was going to have a good attitude about it and just make the most of it. One cool thing about the room was that there was a GIANT jet tub. It was the biggest bathtub I've ever seen. So we skipped the pool and just had a "swim" in our tub. :) Jaxon thought that was great.
It was close to supper time so we decided we'd check out the "buffet" restaurant that was right across the street from our hotel. We were excited about the thought of a buffet....we've been to some amazing buffets in Michigan that have just about every kind of food you can imagine and leave you extrememly full. Well as soon as we walked in I had to chuckle to myself. It pretty much matched the theme of our hotel room. Very dated and retro. Hickish would be a good way to describe it.
I was leary as I walked up to the buffet counter to get my food...as it was the most retro buffet counter I've ever seen....and it seemed as though the standards for cleanliness weren't quite as high as I was used to. At this point I was still disappointed about our choice of restaurants but I bravely scooped some stuff onto my plate. When I got back to our table Dan and I kinda laughed about it...how it was nothing like what we expected and how we were kinda scared to eat the food. Thankfully we both had good attitudes about it and just decided to have fun with it.
Throughout the meal we realized how surface we are, and how bad it is how much we base on appearance. The food was actually REALLY good. It was home country cooking and was delicious, it just wasn't presented the way we expected it to be. The host and waitress were SOOOO friendly and kind, and that made us feel a little guilty for the attitude we had coming in. We left the place satisfied and realizing that we need to work on not letting appearance affect us (especially me!) so much.
I pretended I was taking this picture of Jaxon but really I was taking a picture of the fancy buffet table behind him. :)

subset: commoncrawl


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Cystinuria is an inherited disorder caused by a defective transport of the amino acid cystine in the kidney tubules. Normally, cystine is filtered in the kidney and reabsorbed within the tubules, resulting in little cystine in the urine. Dogs with Cystinuria do not properly reabsorb the cystine (and a few other amino acids) in the kidney tubules, causing the urine to contain abnormally high levels of cystine. Cystine is insoluble in neutral pH or acidic urine, so excess urinary cystine results in the formation of crystals, which in turn can lead to formation of cystine calculi (stones) in the kidney and/or the bladder. Dogs suffering from Cystinuria suffer repeated urinary tract inflammations, and are at risk for urinary blockage, which can, if not treated promptly, lead to kidney failure, bladder rupture, and death. In Australian Cattle Dogs the disease is inherited as a dominant trait whereby homozygous affected dogs has more severe symptoms than heterozygous carriers.
Australian Cattle Dog, Labrador Retriever, Landseer, Miniature Pinscher and Newfoundland
Trait of inheritance
autosomal-recessive - Labrador Retriever, Landseer, Newfoundland
autosomal-dominant - Australian Cattle Dog, Miniature Pinscher
Test duration
3-5 days after arrival of the sample in the lab - Landseer, Newfoundland
1-2 weeks after arrival of the sample in the lab - Australian Cattle Dog, Labrador Retriever, Miniature Pinscher
The DNA test is performed out of EDTA blood or buccal swabs. Required swabs can be ordered free of charge. (Buccal swab order-form). If a swab is sent in, possibly the genetic material is not sufficient to run the test. In this case it would be best to send in an EDTA blood sample.
Testing procedure
Please send in your sample together with the lab order genetic. Results will be transmitted optionally via post, fax or email. After completion of the test you will receive a separate invoice. Payment can be made via credit card or bank transfer.
Breeding club discounts apply if a copy of the membership card is sent together with the respective samples. Due to administrative reasons the invoiced price can not be altered subsequently.
Please contact our molecular biology team for further questions.
LABOKLIN GmbH und Co.KG
Steubenstraße 4
D-97688 Bad Kissingen
Telefon: +49 (0)971 72020
Fax: +49 (0)971 68546
E-Mail: email@example.com
*) Partnerlaboratory


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Despite being considered among the most powerful cities in the world, and certainly the most powerful politically, when it comes to sports, DC has long been considered a city filled with lovable losers. Something is certainly shifting, as the Capitals and Wizards have both advanced to the second round of their respective playoffs, and the Redskins are finally showing sense in the front office. Logic would suggest that these positive experiences should be rubbing off on the Nationals, right? Well, not exactly, but for the most part, yes.
Nothing is perfect. At some point in every experience, there is a night of despair and darkness. Although the Nationals are barely a month into the season, one might argue that the point passed already, in the midsts of neon-green walls and fish tanks at Marlins Park. The Nationals, after a disappointing and uncharacteristic start to the season, were already below .500, the mark of decency in any sports team. When the team rolled into Miami, fresh off of two straight losses to St. Louis, they expected at least an easy series win. Instead, Miami, who has been considered a pushover for longer than the Nationals had been winners, served up a three game sweep to put the Nationals at a meager 7-12. They entered Atlanta, and were handed another loss, making it six in a row. To say the least, things looked pretty bleak.
Another blow had been dealt earlier in the week, as Max Scherzer, the million dollar man, had jammed his hand in a previous game, and wasn't available for his next start. The Nationals called up number 3 prospect A.J. Cole, in hopes that he'd stop the skid. The opposite happened. He made one error, and the wheels came off the car. By the end of the second inning, the Nationals found themselves in an 8 run hole, down 9-1. However, the roaring cry of "It's still early" finally prevailed in the most unlikely of situations. As color analyst F.P. Santangelo said, "The greatest comeback ever started with a leadoff double in the third." By the 9th inning, the score was 12-10, Braves. The Nationals proceeded to put two runners on base, and Dan Uggla sent one deep into the night, giving the Nationals a lead, and giving himself vengeance against his former club. An encore performance was put on the next night, where, once again, the Nationals scored 13 runs.
The momentum carried into New York, where the Nationals defeated the Mets and the typically lights-out Jacob DeGrom in an 8-2 showing of dominance. But, the ups and downs of the season presented another challenge, in the name of Matt Harvey, who silenced the Nationals hot bats, shutting them out completely. The bullpen faltered, giving up three runs and Jayson Werth couldn't figure things out on defense in left field. However, reassurance was provided; the last two games of the series were 1-0 victories for the Nationals. That's right. In the last three games of the series, the Nationals were held to 2 runs total. Yes, that was sarcasm.
But even with the horrendous batting with runners in scoring position, many positives came out from those two games. The bullpen, including closer Drew Storen finally has the confidence they needed so desperately earlier and the shutdown pitching they were expected to provide. The starting rotation, after a quietly bad start to the season excepting Max Scherzer's masterful performances, finally got their mojo back. Ian Desmond finally hit, breaking an 0-for-29 streak.
The Nationals finally caught (to an extent) onto the good vibes provided around the city. Did these wins come from subpar pitching in Atlanta and a bad bullpen in New York? Possibly. But could've they also come from hot Nats bats and a great pitching staff? Also a possibility. In all likelihood, it was a mixture of the two. But no matter what, they were wins. And they were what the team needed, no matter what. The Nationals finished the ten-game road trip 5-5, a .500 record, the mark of decency. The series got the job done. But it showed some glaring issues. Nats fans can walk away from this series feeling good about their team, but there are still certainly some kinks to work out.


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Young Folks Doing Old Stuff Conference/
The 1st Young Folks Doing Old Stuff Conference is scheduled for Friday, May 13, 2016 at the Bishop Booth Conference Center in Burlington, Vermont!
The conference is a partnership between Young Tradition Vermont, the Vermont Folklife Center, and the Country Dance and Song Society and will feature presentations and workshops by educators and scholars from Québec and throughout New England, focusing on using traditional music and dance in educational settings.
Traditions presented may include, North American and English social dances (i.e. contra, square and country dances), family dances, singing and "play- party" games, songs for children, and those from other cultures e.g. African dance and song and Tibetan dance.
Sessions will be suitable for those working with children across the age range, with some sessions focusing specifically on early childhood, some on elementary aged children, and others on teens.
For registration and additional information visit Young Tradition Vermont.


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With the global enterprise cloud services market poised for explosive growth – CAGR of nearly 24 percent through 2020 – it's no surprise to see action in this arena heating up. Major players are claiming their seats at this "hot" table; Google (News - Alert) in particular is doubling down and with its chips on the table is ready to cash in.
This week, the Internet behemoth announced Tariq Shaukut as the new president of enterprise sales. Shaukut's responsibilities include driving sales for enterprise apps, cloud services and devices. Shaukut brings with him seven years of experience as a partner at McKinsey & Company (News - Alert), and most recently he served as head of sales, distribution, marketing, analytics, commerce and gaming for Caesars Entertainment Corp.
In addition to Shaukut, a couple weeks backs Google shuffled its enterprise deck with Amit Singh leaving his role as president of Google for Work, moving on to head business and operations for Google's growing virtual reality division.
While a few short years ago the cloud appeared as somewhat of a gamble, Google's recent addition is no roll of the dice. Over the past few months, we've witnessed it display its urgency to join the fray with a raft of acquisitions. As Google charges into the enterprise cloud, it continues to stack the deck in hopes of cashing in big.
The benefits of the cloud are widely known, as Research and Markets explains in its recent report, "The high demand for cloud computing services is attributed to their low costs and high reliability."
I'm not saying that Google is holding pocket aces, but it is certainly fair to say it has a strong hand. If I were a betting man – which I am – I know where my money would be. How about you?


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EVERETT — With placards and chants, protesters voiced their disgust for President Donald Trump as they marched from Everett's waterfront to downtown for a political rally Saturday.
They called it the "March to Impeach." By the time they gathered at noon outside the Snohomish County courthouse, the crowd had grown to roughly 150. It was a smaller counterpart to a march in Seattle that drew tens of thousands of participants, and similar events around the globe.
Like many marchers, Kathleen Sather, of Monroe, could rattle off a stream of concerns about the current political climate. Reproductive rights, equal pay for women and racial discrimination were among the top ones for her.
"There's a whole laundry list," the 66-year-old spa owner said in downtown Everett.
A sign elsewhere in the throng summed up the mood on the chilly morning, one year to the day since Trump's inauguration: "There's too much to protest to put on one sign."
Others clamored for universal health care, environmental protections and immigrant rights.
Some people from the area headed down I-5 to join the Seattle Women's March 2.0.
Paula Townsell, a land-use planner from Everett, felt the "the same incredible energy" as a year ago, with better organization and a slight change in focus.
"Last year felt global — this year it felt personal," she said.
Townsell was ready to organize politically like-minded people and to keep marching until Trump is gone.
"We're going to continue to march and continue to disturb the anniversary of his coming to office," she said. "We are going to continue to do this every January until he is out of office. We have to do this."
JoAnn Moffitt drove to Seattle from Marysville with four friends from her book club, all in their 50s and early 60s. They marveled at how many different people were represented, and how much they supported one another.
"It was very cross-generational," Moffitt said. "It was not just one ethnic group or one segment of the population."
For the whole group, the political outlook was brighter compared to a year ago.
"Last year, it was more emotional," Moffitt said. "This year I felt more hopeful."
Her friend, Debbie Whitfield, who did not participate last year, had a similar reaction: "I had more of a sense of hope from being part of the march, with a lot of really positive energy encouraging people to get out and vote."
The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Washington led Seattle's march in an effort to call attention to what it said is an epidemic of violence against indigenous women.
The Everett march began at the 10th Street boat landing, went to Legion Memorial Park, then headed south on Broadway.
Sather said some motorists honked, but others made lewd hand gestures.
"We just waved," she said.
During the Everett rally, speakers represented a spectrum of political groups: 350 Everett, which focuses on climate change; the local branch of the Democratic Socialists of America; the Green Party; and Whole Washington, a group that supports healthcare coverage for all Americans as a basic right.
There was no organized counterprotest in Everett to express support for Trump or his policies.
A different scene played out on the same streets in August 2016. Thousands of Trump supporters, and many protesters, swarmed downtown when then-candidate Trump held a campaign rally in Everett as part of his longshot, but ultimately successful, presidential bid.
While the outcome of the election left Trump's supporters cheering, his detractors seethed and soon hit the streets to protest — by the millions. More than 100,000 people joined the Women's March on Seattle on Jan. 21 of last year, a day after Trump's inauguration. It coincided with massive protests in Washington, D.C., and similar events throughout the world.
In the year since, the #metoo movement has focused attention on sexual harassment and assaults against women.
During Saturday's protests, Trump took to Twitter to defend his record.
"Unprecedented success for our Country, in so many ways, since the Election," he tweeted. "Record Stock Market, Strong on Military, Crime, Borders, & ISIS, Judicial Strength & Numbers, Lowest Unemployment for Women & ALL, Massive Tax Cuts, end of Individual Mandate — and so much more. Big 2018!"
The federal government remained closed, with congressional Republicans and Democrats deadlocked over spending and immigration.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; email@example.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.


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If you are new to watersports please do not be concerned. WakeupDocklands is host to an array of activities to suit everyones tastes and abilities, including beginners. Our dedicated team of knowledgable instructors will ensure you quickly feel like a seasoned local, cruising up and down the dock in the sunshine.
At the end of a regular beginner session almost all people are able to stand up and enjoy their 1st tentative rides, some even manage to look like they've been doing it for a while!
Wakeboarding is a thrilling surface watersport which involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water. It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snowboarding, and surfing techniques. Wakeupdocklands offers a simple cable towing system with 2 different levels of difficultly, Beginner and Intermediate/Advanced.
Wakeupdocklands uses the world's best-selling two-pole cable system developed by Sesitec. This System 2.0 technology makes it very easy to learn wakeboarding. The hight of the cable combined with precisely adjustable speeds bring beginners efficiently up to their feet in a safe and controlled manner. System 2.0 also helps advanced riders quickly master new tricks out of the water and on the rails and kickers.
After a restructuring of the business in preparation for the 2018 season we are proud to announce that WakeUP Docklands is now operated by a 100% rider owned and rider driven company: Riderr Ltd. Company Director, Jon and The Team are always eager to help, whatever your enquiry, so if you're wondering what session is right for you to book, learn some new tricks, or just want to chew the fat over the latest goings on, you'll find everyone at the park ready and willing!
**New for 2018** we have upgraded all the running cables in the wakepark and even added shiny new direct drive engine to our Gold Cable for stronger pull and bigger air tricks!
Please note: sessions start on the hour every hour, so please arrive at least 20 minutes before your booking to get ready to go on the water at the start of the hour.


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Happy Friday friends. Today's card features a fun background stamp from The Ton. They have some beautiful images. I started by heat embossing the Peony Garden stamp and then did some ink blending with a couple colors of Distress ink. I added a die cut sentiment and some sequins and the card is finished.
I hope everyone is having a fabulous week and has a wonderful weekend. Crafty hugs!


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Do people find all of your wedding talk to be excruciatingly painful? None of us wants to be that person - the annoyingly engaged friend whose incessant chatter about floral centerpieces, favors, bridal party drama, and wallet woes can clear a room out like bad gas can. But some of us are.
Folks, I have recently been accused of being a bridal babbler. I know, I know. Me? A wedding blogger who talks/ blogs too much about weddings? Is that even possible? Well, according to one of my friends it is.
- He/ She is unsatisfied with their own marriage or wedding.
- They don't like you for other reasons unrelated to your bridal babble, and they wish that your funeral were being planned instead of your wedding.
- You are marrying their best friend and they feel like you're taking him/ her away
- They secretly wish that they themselves were happy, in love, and engaged.
- Their lifestyle choices, values and taste differ from yours and they are judgmental of ways that are not their own. (They have probably experienced intolerance from others throughout life, which is where they learned it from.)
- They're mad about something you've done in the past and the bridal babble is just the final straw that broke the camel's back.
- He/ She is feeling pressured in their own relationship to get married and are generally skeeved out by wedding talk.
- They wish they had a few thousand bucks to throw their own party.
- She/ He is a just very irritable person in general. (But you love them anyway.)
- Your are one of this person's many friends who are engaged to be married. You bridal babble isn't too bad, but combined with everyone else's it's too much!*
PS. If your partner is the one who thinks you're a bridal babbler, check out this post.
Image from Masterpiece Weddings
*Thanks, anonymous commenter #2, for this late addition to the list.


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living in the moment
I just read this blog post by Mia Freedman, and it expertly articulated how I feel about social media:
"We're a generation constantly living just outside ourselves, not experiencing moments but coolly packaging them up to share on Facebook."
You could replace Facebook with Twitter, or Instagram, or all of the above, because we can't just have experiences anymore. They have to be captured, edited, polished and shared, or they're simply not worth having.
Being "in the moment" is something I struggle with. Apparently, a 2010 Harvard University study found that people spend nearly half their time thinking about something other than what they're doing. That's me: having a shower, but thinking about what work I have on today. Checking my emails, but thinking about what to make for lunch. Eating lunch, but thinking about my credit card bill.
Lila has helped. When I'm with her, I try really hard to just be there without letting my mind wander. I love to listen to her lisp when she says "dancing", or notice her brow furrow when she's concentrating on learning something new, like where her toes are. And most of the time, it works... as long as my iPhone is out of reach :)
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Hi! I'm Sarah. I am a 30-year-old writer, mum, traveller, animal-lover, quasi-vegetarian, lip gloss fiend, movie buff and property addict living in Sydney, Australia. I love the smell of newly-printed magazines and books, a cup of tea and a treat at the end of the day, and packing for holidays.. the anticipation is half the fun! Thanks for visiting :)


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In this 4-week small group study and stewardship campaign, pastor and author Tom Berlin explores what is required to sustain a vibrant life, what we need versus what we want, and what we can do to avoid being pulled into the orbit of materialism. This accompanying video sessions feature Tom at various locations, including Cape Canaveral and the Smithsonian Institution, guiding us step-by-step through this stewardship program in his warm, inviting, inspiring style
In session 3 - Tethered to God - In this video Tony tells about his journey from wealth through financial hardship to generosity. He shares his joy at discovering that even a little generosity can go a long way in helping someone else.
Run Time: 8:52
Instructions: To stream a purchased video, login with your cokesbury.com user account, click on My Cokesbury.com, and select Downloads/Subscriptions.


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Start the new year in charge of your finances and monthly budget with Mint.
Mint is free online money management software that takes your banking information and compiles a financial profile so you can keep track of your spending, saving and more. The site also gives advice on getting a new credit card, negotiating lower interest rates, allocating your investment portfolio and other money matters.
Over 1 million people already use Mint's online money management and budgeting software today, and they're adding over 3,000 users every day!


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We have all heard the phrase, "Garbage in, garbage out", most of the time referring to what we either put into our mind or put into our body. It was a phrase repeated to me numerous times as a kid to get me to think about what I was listening to and what I was watching. It has to do with flow, the progression of how thoughts, faith, ideas, emotions, and wisdom move through us.
I recently experienced an interesting, but expensive, illustration of this truth. We were having some plumbing problems in our house, popping in the lines, sudden dripping in some faucets, so we called our local, friendly, and did I mention expensive, plumber. He walked in the house and took a quick listen to what our aliments were and immediately said, "I know what your problem is…".
"It's your PRV valve, where is your main water cut off in the house?'
"Wait, a what valve?"
"You got me, what is PRV?… and is it expensive?"
"It is your pressure reducing valve"
"You got me again, what is a pressure reducing valve?… and is it expensive?"
"The PRV regulates the water pressure coming in from the street, it really shouldn't be higher than 70-75psi. Yours is probably too high, it is why you are having these sudden leaks, there is too much pressure pushing against the faucets and hoses."
"Oh, Ok… and is it expensive?"
The problem I was having with the "outflow" in my faucets was that my "inflow" was too strong… and after the repair, I needed more "inflow" into my bank account because my "outflow" was more than I expected!
The spiritual flow in a church is similar. As church leaders, as shepherds and servants in our congregations, we need to be aware of the "flows". In the beginning the Bible says that the Spirit was "hovering over the face of the deep". That imagery is powerful, the awesome Spirit of God not sitting or relaxing, but hovering, waiting to move in power at the Word of the Father. The flow begins as the Father says, "let there be light", now there is movement, an outflow of power and might and wisdom as the universe comes into being. Flow can be a powerful thing, sometimes it is gentle like a creek, sometimes it is powerful like the images we have seen from the Japanese tsunami. We can feel flow, we can hear flow, we can see flow, because we as people can sense movements, even slight ones. You could call spiritual flow the feel of a church- energized, tired, worn out, a servant's heart, stagnated, lethargic… all describe an issue with spiritual flow.
Spiritual flow however has more to do with the idea of discipleship than anything else. It is opening ourselves up to allow God to pour into our spirit and our mind and then allowing that flow to go through us to others. In a church setting sometimes we can get really tangled up with how to understand if God is working in our midst, are we making an impact?, are we making progress?… lots of questions that can be hard to discern. Grabbing a hold of the idea of flow can help us understand the nature of what is happening spiritually.
Here are several truths about spiritual flow that we need to get:
1) Flow is movement- there is no more simple truth than that, you cannot have flow without movement (verb- to move along in a stream, to circulate, to proceed continuously and smoothly)
2) Flow has to have a force- there is no movement, no spiritual flow without a force acting upon our Spirit. Newton's first law of motion tells us a body at rest tends to stay at rest unless it is acted upon by an outside force. To create flow, we need a flow creator, a force to put our Spirit in motion. God is the flow creator!
3) Flow has to be nurtured- flow cannot remain constant without action to keep it going. Spiritual flow runs into all kinds of obstacles that seek to block it and slow it down. Sin, circumstances, the world, pain, suffering, disappointments, conflict, and many other things seek to block spiritual flow. You have probably encountered many of these kinds of things. Sometimes we call them joy killers, faith stealers, but the idea is that they are obstacles to God having full access to work through us. Because we inevitably run into these things, the spiritual flow in our lives and in the life of our church needs to be nurtured. Hebrews 11 tells us that faith has to be nurtured,
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Despite all circumstances we must believe that God is, He still exists, is there even when we don't necessarily see Him and that He is still in the blessing and working business by rewarding those who diligently seek Him. In Transformational Church, the writers share about our bent toward allowing life or circumstances to make us think otherwise:
"But sometimes the tendency is to focus so much on the negative that we essentially act as if God no longer exists" (Transformational Church, p. 21)
4) Flow is fluid- spiritual life is not mapped out in blocks, it cannot be programmed or timed nor is it stiff and rigid. Like a river, spiritual flow has to rise, fall, turn, move, go over and around things. Spiritual flow changes and moves to fit the place it is given. Like liquid takes the shape of the vessel it is put in, so we to have to make a proper place for spiritual flow in our life. Romans 12 tells us that if we are not to be like the world, but to allow ourselves to be open to God changing us into the image of Christ, the flow of the Spirit changing us as it moves through us.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
5) Flow can be stopped- God intends for the flow to continue, our lives are to be more like rivers of spiritual life, yet often they more imitate reservoirs. A reservoir is a place where flow stops, is backed up and is not allowed to move at its' own pace. Reservoirs are tightly controlled places and flow can't happen in tightly controlled places. Flow can be stopped by unbelief, rebellion, a lack of following, a hard heart, a stubborn selfishness, or too tight a control on our spiritual life, an unwillingness to allow God to change us, a fear of growth into the unknown….any way in which we purposefully resist God's work in us.
6) Flow is meant to be a blessing- Early civilizations understood that the flow of water was a life-giving place. Early societies and towns often popped up next to rivers, canals, coastlines. These were places that allowed them fresh drinking water, a way of movement, abundant sources of food. Spiritual flow is like that- it is meant to be life-giving as God works through us.
Let's take a look at inflow in our spiritual lives and the life of the church. We could haggle about the order of which is most important, but the important part of inflow is that these things are moving into our lives.
1) Worship- Some would say that worship is outflow, something that pours out of us toward God, and I would absolutely agree. In fact there are several things that work in cycle. But in the life of the church, the community of believers, there is not much else that pumps Spiritual life and excitement into the body like worship. Think about the meaning of corporate worship versus private worship. In corporate worship there is a joining of voices, hearts, focus and intent. What flows in as people encounter the pleasure of God at His people worshiping Him is affirmation, joy, encouragement and hope. The connection to God in worship give us a reminder that God is real, alive and well, worthy of our worship. Our private worship, those times of loving God that come in our private times are more intensely personal, but the result is the same- we are open to God, with our hearts focused on God allowing Him to shine brightly into our hearts. But corporate worship adds one key element, the secure feeling of being among those who are like-minded, believing and verbally and visibly showing their faith through worship. There is that extra bit of encouragement that comes by being together with others who are loving God as well. It is the "cord of three strands" concept from Ecclesiastes. Look at passage below and think about how it applies to corporate worship…
9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
The spiritual inflow of worship stops when we believe that corporate worship is meant for our pleasure or entertainment rather than connection with God. It is hard for the Spirit of God to flow when our heart is focused on self rather than on the object of worship which is God. He alone is worthy of worship and when we give Him the honor that is due His name, we bless Him.
2 Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. 3 Say to God, "How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. 4 All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name." … 8 Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard Psalm 66
God flows through that kind of praise. If your corporate or private worship is anything other than an offering to God, then it can be seen as nothing more than a self-help exercise to make yourself happy. Those may seem like harsh words, but God will not share His honor, or His worship, with anyone else. As church leaders, how are we presenting the discipline of worship to people… as a meeting, as entertainment, or as a sacrifice, an offering that is given to the Lord? How are we helping people to get outside of themselves to focus on God rather than on self? How are we challenging people to slow down and take the time to, in a heart-felt way, truly honor and bless the Lord?
2) Prayer- again to some this may seem like something that we dish out, but prayer in its' most basic form is connection with God. Jesus Christ gives us bold and confident access to the Father, He intercedes for us and that connection brings life into us… at least it should. Prayer is the place that we can bear our souls, not to complain or gripe about our life, but so that we can truly encounter God, be honest with God and allow Him to bring us help, healing, guidance and hope. That kind of inflow energizes a believer, it fills them with the good things of God, no matter what their circumstances are on the outside.
Prayer becomes ineffective when it is dialog, us talking to God, but not listening for Him to speak to us. Really, you can no longer classify it as prayer, since the essence of prayer of the desire to connect with God through the sacrifice of Christ. If we don't allow God to talk we cut ourselves off from everything that is good in prayer. Yes we may be able to get things off our chest for a moment, but nothing ever departs because we don't allow God to replace it with any of His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, healing…. And unfortunately this is the case all too often. Lots of talking, but no inflow in prayer. Make sure that prayer, whether personal or corporate takes time for inflow, intentionally taking time to listen and hear God. That is healthy spiritual inflow.
3) Bible study-There are times I believe that we have so overemphasized Bible study that we have made it the "first and greatest commandment". Bible study is both driven by and has the goal of loving God. We love God and want to discover more about who He is, how He works and how we are to live through His Spirit. It also has the goal of making us more like Christ, and more pleasing to Him, and as we learn more, falling deeper in love with God. That is the flow of Bible study, more than just learning facts, words and concepts. When we open our Bible we open ourselves to experience an inflow of truth, of righteousness, of conviction, of challenge, of hope and promise.
What inhibits spiritual inflow in Bible study is what I call dry knowledge. I have met many people over the years that are full of Bible knowledge, but very little of Jesus. They have a knowledge of Bible words, can tell you the order of the kings of the Southern Kingdom, but display no fruit of the Spirit. As leaders if we encourage people to study the Bible, we also have to share with them the goal of Bible study. As people we will naturally default to the easiest way to satisfy a standard or goal, left to our own devices, we believe the goal of Bible study is knowledge rather than life change. For many that is what we have set as the bar, "know your Bible". But knowing our Bible does us little good unless we see and take the next step of allowing truth to flow into our lives and shape our heart into the image of Christ.
4) Fellowship- Spiritual inflow occurs as we live our Christianity out in community. Many people see their Christianity as private, but it is meant to be anything but private, personal yes, but private no. The Bible is full of references to the corporate nature of our faith. Acts tells us that the church worshiped together, shared together, ate together, and generally supported one another, prayed for one another and ministered to one another. Inflow comes as we allow others to be an important part of our spiritual lives. God has equipped the body with a "diversity of gifts, but the same Spirit" (I Cor 12:4). These differing gifts are meant to be a blessing to all, a way for each of us to minister to others, and when we allow others to use their gifts to bless us and help us, there is an inflow of the Spirit.
There are no self-sufficient Christians, and the belief that we don't need others is a sign of pride. The Scriptures tell us that "God resists the proud" (James 4:6), that is another way of saying that there is no spiritual inflow for the proud! As leaders are we encouraging the practice of fellowship, the use of spiritual gifts or are we promoting only an individualistic form of Christianity where everything is about being blessed, being fulfilled and going to heaven? Here is another thought that constantly challenges me, as leaders are we modeling the need for others or are we trying to be completely self-sufficient? Do you ever confess your need for others in the body of Christ? Do you ever learn from other people in the church? Do you acknowledge the gifts of others?
If we desire our churches to have a great outflow in ministry and outreach, we have to monitor and promote the inflow into the life of the body. I love Jesus' words in John 7 that speak to flow…
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
There is an expectation that believers will have a great outflow, a river of living water pouring out of each believer. The Spirit overflowing and not just spilling out of our life, but flowing, moving like a river. What a beautiful picture of the life-giving Spirit flowing out of us and into others, blessing them with all the awesome things that God can accomplish in their lives. But we have to nurture the inflow, the filling of the Spirit into our lives. I pray for Jesus' words to be fulfilled in every believer, every person with the Spirit flowing out of their heart, blessing this world with the presence and power of Jesus Christ.


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Artist's description:
Oil on canvas paper. Learn the esoteric meaning behind this piece, and learn more about Multidimensional Fine Art at
Materials used:
oil, acrylic
ceres 5. (2017)
Mixed-media painting by Jason Lincoln Jeffers
- Mixed-media painting on Paper
- One of a kind artwork
- Size: 22 x 28 x 0.3 in (unframed) / 22 x 28 in (actual image size)
- Signed on the front
- Style: Abstract
- Subject: Abstract and non-figurative
This artwork is sold by Jason Lincoln Jeffers from United States


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Latest Free GCHD Diabetes Management Program Kicks off August 16
GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas – Empowering people to better manage their diabetes remains the focus of a free educational program hosted by the Galveston County Health District (GCHD). The next 7-week Wisdom, Power, Control program begins August 16.
The program, for adults over the age of 18 with type 2 diabetes, focuses on increasing physical activity, improving eating habits, preventing complications, identifying cards, developing self-care skills and improving quality of life.
The weekly two-hour sessions will be held Wednesdays from 3-5 p.m. at the Galveston County Health District WIC training room (9850-B Emmett F Lowry Expressway in Texas City) on August 16, 23, 30 and September 6, 13, 20, 27.
Wisdom, Power, Control is a collaboration with TAMU Agrilife Extension.
Participants must register before August 16 by contacting email@example.com or 409-938-2293.
WHAT: FREE Wisdom, Power, Control diabetes self-management program
WHEN: Wednesdays from 3-5 p.m. on August 16, 23, 30 and September 6, 13, 20, 27
WHERE: Galveston County Health District WIC classroom (B101.1), located at 9850-B Emmett F. Lowry Expressway in
Texas City (Enter entrance B, immediately turn right, enter the second door on the left)
WHO: Adults over the age of 18 with type 2 diabetes (family members also welcome)


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Zhang Keqi
Professor, Department of Earth and Environment and International Hurricane Research Center
MARC 360, Florida International University
Miami, FL 33199
Research Interests
Dr. Zhang's research focuses on coastal response to sea level rise and storm impact, airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) remote sensing, storm surge modeling, and mapping coastal hazards using geographic information systems (GIS). He has authored and coauthored about 80 journal papers, book chapters, conference proceedings, and other publications. Specific areas of research include:


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Something happened last week and every night just disappeared. So a quick recap:
I made sock yarn! Freakishly excited about this. It'll be washed and dried tonight and hopefully I can start some socks with it next weekend.
I am much closer to being done with the new-favorite-sweater, which I was avoiding for two reasons. The first was I discovered I was a moron and while I noted how much the knit swatch grew in the stitch direction, I didn't note this in the row direction. By the time I sorted this out, I was done with the body and had arm scythes that went down about 4 inches too far. Which is most certainly not fashionable. (Along with skirts that make you look stumpy. But I digress.) This meant I either had to be fancy, or rip out the whole top. I decided to be fancy and have a post ready for later this week with photos of how you too can be fancy if you somehow screw up and make a sweater for someone about 3 feet taller than you are. The second was I'm on the sleeves and while I'm magic looping two at once, which I will admit is making it better, it's still sleeve knitting and still boring and I was afraid to get to the caps because then I'd have to deal with the fancy thing with the arm scythes and somehow that stalled me for a whole week.
I fixed it this weekend, though, so progress has commenced again.
And it snowed. Not welcome. That's all, back to work again.


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Best Article I've Read on DP Review in Years. A debunking of some MF mythology. A nod to current full frame camera tech.
I'm so used to seeing advertorial writing on DPReview that I was a bit amazed to see this reasonably well written article that calls into question whether the investment(?) in a (smaller than) medium format camera, such as the new Fuji, is really going to deliver the things you might think are exclusive to the larger format.
It would be nice to see more writing like this and less gushing about sponsored Canon topics. Give it a read and see if you agree.
14 comments:
I read it. A good read, well written.ReplyDelete
The article basically highlights the fact that the relative lack of appropriate lenses to really exploit the merits of the format is the issue. Whats more, it says this about a system which is 3 months old when being compared to a system which is decades old.
So while accurate, it seems a bit harsh to me. MF has its benefits but it is no panacea as you would know, given than 1' sensors can do a great job for the tasks you put them to.
Fuji launching MF is a wise move. Camera sales are plunging. This is Fuji's way of making fewer cameras for niche purposes and selling them for a lot more money. Makes sense to me. And sales of the camera suggests it will work for Fuji.
Good point, Rufus. It remains to be seen whether or not the Fuji will sell. Hasselblad made MF cameras for years and rarely made fast lenses. Let's see if Fuji takes a different road.ReplyDelete
I'm not competent to question the author's accuracy in explanation. The problem I have is that the samples (way clever, that test shot with moveable selection and changeable settings) seem to contradict the point being made. Each comparison, to my eye via iPad, appears to show the larger sensor providing a visibly better image.ReplyDelete
I think his points are well made and well demonstrated. Certainly I can see the FF beating the MF in the setups presented.ReplyDelete
But (as an amusing aside) is the article saying that if I buy a 5DS *and* a D810 *and* an A7rII, *and* three sets of fast FF glass from 28 to 90mm, I can beat one Fuji MF? ;)
- AnonymousMarch 21, 2017 at 4:29 PM
Yes, it is all about the lenses! Which is why Olympus was spot on when they introduced the 25mm F1.2 lens.ReplyDelete
If you use that lens on an Olympus Pen F at ISO 80 the resulting image should be very similar to using the Fuji GFX at ISO 640 with the 63mm lens!
so you can get the look of medium format even on micro four thirds!
Hey Kirk,ReplyDelete
I chimed in on that post as I see this type of writing a lot on equipment...
SO he basically says the Sony 42mp sensor has similar noise... while showing a grey square. If you look a an area of fine detail you can see that not only is the fuji showing less chroma noise, but it is also showing more detail...
He then moves onto Nikon to say, and see the Nikon has as much DR... It might have a fraction less... but there is is... beaten for DR.
Then we move onto Canon and he talks about detail... and see he states, Canon has as much detail.
He then talks about lenses for a bit.
Then I ask myself... Okay, that was the most cherry picked set of comparisons I have ever seen.
Another way of looking at this is that the fuji has ALL of the best sensor characteristics of the three leading FF technologies.
It has more detail and less noise then the highest resolution (canon)
It has more detail and less noise than the second highest resolution (sony)
It has more detail and less resolution than the third highest resolution (nikon).
It beats or matches all three for DR
You lose a stop or so in aperture size in a few focal lengths.
His conclusion, you might not want to buy this because the lenses just are not there... but... It has just been released, and if Fuji's Xmount is anything to go by, they are not going to rest on their lens laurels but will push out to maintain an advantage with new lenses.
Of course, having said all that... I am not about to spend 10K on a body and 2 lenses :) I just dont like these rediculous cross mount comparisons as if FF is one brand or mount.
- AndrewWMarch 22, 2017 at 4:01 AM
One other point, and one you have made Kirk, is that the larger format with a longer lens for the same field of view generally gives a faster ('better'?) falloff in the transition from focus to out of focus. So the 'equivalent' depth of field is not the full picture.ReplyDelete
I read the article before you post. The only thing I took issue with dealt with fixation on having huge apertures f1.4 & f1.8 which would make medium format lenses both bigger more expensive and more expensive. All of this is true. What I see when looking at YouTube is how much of the fashion and commercial imaging industry is looking for more depth of field and will shoot at f8 and above not lower! Part of the argument is that full frame and those sports shooter f1.4 lenses are needed and not available. This smacks of the bright aperture sports journalism requirements and marketing hype camera companies push on the market.ReplyDelete
Well, I essentially feel the same way about these MF cameras as the author of the article. You end up paying a lot more for an incomplete system, with no secondhand market, for dubious real world improvement. I think the trend, if anything,is towards smaller sensors, and these so-called MF cameras are not much larger than 35mm anyway. I predict they will remain specialist products, so they do not warrant the amount of coverage and apparent excitement by keen amateurs. If you need it then you know it, but as an aspiration for the keen amateur: I see them as a money sink for marginal benefit.ReplyDelete
I think his analysis of DoF relative to aperture is wrong. He's fixated on the idea that it scales with the crop factor, and I don't think it does. DoF drops off (at equivalent blah blah) more quickly as the format goes up than simply the crop factor.ReplyDelete
At these numbers the difference isn't *that* great, but a basic mistake like that definitely creates a little bit of an odor about the rest of the piece.
But in general, I agree, and more generally there's just *never* been that much daylight between 645 and 35mm formats, and the Sony 50mp sensor is only half of a 645. So, yeah. Digital "MF" has always been a bit of a scam.
Maybe get the GFX if what you really want is Fuji handling, service, whatever, mated to a lot of of megapixels? That's a rationale that actually makes sense.
- AnonymousMarch 22, 2017 at 12:19 PM
I'm a bit bemused by the sensor size obsession on photography forums. On the odd occasion that I've queried what has been holding back people from getting the results they're after with their existing kit there's been a consistent response that I'm missing the point. It seems that the theoretical limits of the equipment is more important than what it's used for.ReplyDelete
Anyway, I welcome the fuji mf direction and hope it is successful. I'd love to use my bronica lenses on an affordable 6*6 sensor back.
In the meantime I'll stick with film.
And my olympus pen. Hopefully the sensor size turf war will migrate to ff vs mf and leave the m43 stuff in relative peace for a while.
- AnonymousMarch 22, 2017 at 5:56 PM
Anyone else had enough of the bought and paid for Fuji endorsees?
The Fuji GFX and Hasselblad X1D strike me as both being 'aspirational' cameras. Rather as Leica cameras, (sadly), have become.ReplyDelete
Fuji probably aren't too worried about sales as the parent company is massive and the photographic offshoot minor. Hasselblad probably are worried as it is only a camera company with some poor decision making over the last decade or so.
Maybe just my limited understanding, but the article seems to be confused.ReplyDelete
It is the size of the photocells that determines shot noise from photons (and having developed photomultipliers for single photon counting, shot noise is something I used to know about).
A photograph made at f4, does not care if the lens has a maximum aperture of f0.95 or 2.8. the light hitting the sensor is the same.
Comments. If you disagree do so civilly. Be nice or see your comments fly into the void. Anonymous posters are not given special privileges or dispensation. If technology alone requires you to be anonymous your comments will likely pass through moderation if you "sign" them. A new note: Don't tell me how to write or how to blog!


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Mumford and Sons performed at the Brits tonight, their live performances are excellent and back to basics. See the awesome Mumford and sons on tour in October.
Mumford & Sons Tickets are on sale now for their extended October UK tour with an additional London date.The band will now play Hammersmith Apollo on October 9, as well as their previously announced sold-out date the day before.West London quartet Mumford & Sons create classic, bluegrass-inspired folkster songs, that has quickly created a buzz across the British media. As peers of Laura Marling and Noah and The Whale, vocalist Marcus Mumford is a wonderfully wise and weathered songwriter in his own right.
Mumford & Sons are a Folk / Bluegrass group formed in London in September of 2007. Having received critical acclaim from the Guardian on their "Band of the Day" online forum and resounding praise from nearly everyone who has witnessed them supporting Laura Marling, Mumford & Sons continue to turn heads in London's growing folk scene.
Mumford & Sons have shared a common purpose: to make music that matters, without taking themselves too seriously. Four young men from West London in their early twenties, they have fire in their bellies, romance in their hearts, and rapture in their masterful, melancholy voices.
The line up consists of Marcus Mumford (Drums, Guitar, Vocals) – Country Winston (Banjo, Slide Guitar, Vocals) – Ted Dwayne – Ben Lovett (Keys, Vocals).


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Will Pa. change its fireworks law?
Will Pa. change its fireworks law?
HARRISBURG, Pa. —
A hearing will be held Wednesday at the state Capitol to discuss a bill that could change the way fireworks are sold in Pennsylvania.
The bill would further legalize the sale and use of consumer fireworks in the state.
Currently, consumer fireworks can only be sold to out-of-state residents and not to Pennsylvanians without a permit.
The hearing is set to start at 9 a.m.


text: The University of British Columbia invites applications for a full-time faculty position at the rank of Instructor (tenure track) commencing July 1, 2018. This position is based in the Food, Nutrition and Health (FNH) program in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems (www.landfood.ubc.ca). The successful candidate will be expected to instruct up to 18 credits of courses, including the existing food science laboratory courses (FNH 325, FNH 326, and FNH 425). Additional duties include supervising undergraduate student research projects, and responsibility for the annual Food Science program accreditation. The Instructor will also be required to demonstrate educational leadership related to teaching and curriculum development for the Food Science Majors and provide service to the Program, Faculty, and University.


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I'm trying to lose myself in a book. This way I can forget all the bad shit and focus on something good...this other world. I totally made the wrong choice. The Birthing House by Christopher Ransom was in the supernatural section at the library (it's one of my favourite areas...apologies if you now think less of me) and so I was hoping for something leisurely but interesting. People are so excited about this book, or at least Ransom's publishers are, that it has a website.
Oh no. Now I find out it's supposed to be scarier than The Shining. What now? Stop that. Scary dolls, mystery virgin pregnancies and all sorts of strange goings on leave me sat here, typing this, with the book next to me taunting me to open it. Well I can't Mr Ransom or I won't sleep. Again. It could be scarier I think but nevertheless I carry on reading in an attempt to reach a point where it's alright to stop reading. I think I reach it then something happens.
Dear Lord. I'll let you know when I finish how good exactly it is. If I ever finish it.
Oooooh and another point related to "birthing" or birth at least....today my wonderfully brave cousin, who is a soldier in the Army, became a dad today. Congratulations.


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Posted by Laurie in Uncategorized | 1 Comment
MEDITATION: When our lives are being placed on hold
A few years ago during a flight to the Netherlands we had to circle for quite a while above Schiphol airport before we were allowed to land.
Thick mist made it almost impossible to see the landing strip so that a landing under these circumstances had become risky and dangerous. The pilot however assured and consoled us that mist during that time of the year was not unusual for the Netherlands and that it will eventually clear up. As passengers we only had to wait and be patient.
For some this was more difficult than for others. They were anxious and restless. They wanted to feel the safety of firm ground under their feet as quickly as possible. Which eventually did happen after about half an hour.
I recall this incident because it reminds me of similar experiences on our journey in life.
Like this delayed landing we are also at times asked to wait and exercise patience – to wait, for example, until trust has been restored; or until the results of the tests are known, or the illness has passed, or I have heard what happened to my application for work, or whether my child will survive and come through the crisis that he or she is currently experiencing, or whether I, after a traumatic experience, shall regain the confidence to face the outside world again etc. etc.
The list of cases or instances where we are asked to be patient and to wait is endless.
Thus it remains an art, if not a special gift to keep waiting when it feels as if, just like the aeroplane above Schiphol, our lives are temporarily being placed on hold. Nobody really enjoys this prolonged waiting time. It often feels, in the words of James 1:2-3, like an (unnecessary?) testing of our faith so that like the psalmist we often want to cry out: "How long still, o Lord, how long?"
But this is often the way of faith.
Carel Anthonissen
Thank you for the post.When I read the title of the post I laughed beacause that what is going on in my life right now.


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Isothermal Gas-liquid Flow Using the Lattice Boltzmann Method
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As the operating conditions of the pressurized water reactor (PWR) have been increased towards the thermal limits of the core for economics, the subcooled boiling heat transfer performance of the rod bundles under normal operating conditions has become an increasingly important design focus. Effective field models such as two-fluid model, on which most previous numerical studies in the nuclear fields have focused, cannot predict detailed phenomenon of subcooled boiling because it involves complex multiphase dynamics, such as nucleation, growth, detachment bubbles from a wall, deformation, break-up, coalescence, and condensation. It also requires numerous, additional closure relations. On the other hand, direct numerical simulations with interfacial tracking enable us to capture specific two-phase flow and do not require additional empirical closure relations. In this thesis, we simulate isothermal, two-dimensional bubble dynamics as a starting point toward direct simulation of the subcooled boiling. We adopt a lattice Boltzmann method with the phase-field model. The lattice Boltzmann method is a mesoscopic approach well-adapted to the simulation of complex fluids and is simple to implement. The phase field model can capture complex topological deformation, such as coalescence and break-up, with better numerical stability than other interfacial tracking methods like Volume of Fluid (VOF) and level set methods. We validate the present method for stationary and moving two-phase interfaces by comparing with theoretical solutions for a single static bubble in a stationary liquid and a capillary wave, respectively. In addition, the capability of the current method to simulate the coalescence of two bubbles and droplets is validated by comparing with experimental data. To see the applicability of the method to problems involving complex bubble behaviors and interactions with a high-density ratio as in subcooled boiling water, we simulate rising single and double bubbles in a viscous fluid. For a single bubble problem, the bubble shapes and terminal velocity agreed well with the experimental results for different fluid dynamic conditions. For a double bubble case, the current method can capture the interaction and dynamics of the bubbles. Thus, it is expected that this study can serve as a stepping-stone extension to convective subcooled boiling heat transfer in the nuclear reactor core.
Kim, Donghoon (2011). Isothermal Gas-liquid Flow Using the Lattice Boltzmann Method. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from http : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -2011 -08 -9776.


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Bevyn Jarrott and Matthew Hammond
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Picture this: a perfect Cleveland spring day….HA! And by that, I mean that we start out the morning with a winter coat, brace for rain/snow/mix, and go coatless by mid-afternoon with that sunshine glow! You know, the usual. Because the high was predicted to be 70 degrees today, I had decided to wake up early and go for a walk at my favorite place–Brunswick Lake. The sun was just peeking over the top of Giant Eagle and the avid morning dog-walkers were in full swing. Nothing out of the ordinary.
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The New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) has proposed regulations that require all financial services businesses operating in New York to develop and maintain a comprehensive cybersecurity program. The regulations impose significant, yet minimum cybersecurity requirements, and mandate board of director involvement and accountability.
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Had Bennett made a decision to retire after the season - as he said he might in a seemingly out-of-nowhere social media post during the bye week - the club likely would have gone after the $4.2 million unamortized portion of the $6.3 million guaranteed signing bonus Bennett received.
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Bennett returned with the rest of the team on October 31 and took part in practice that day. He endured a shoulder injury that kept him out of Monday's game against the Detroit Lions.
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It's beginning some online deals Thursday and plans to offer most of its Black Friday deals online starting at 12:01 a.m. Walmart is doing away with its rolling door-buster deals, so all in-store deals will be available at 6 p.m.
LSU stays ranked in College Football Playoff poll after loss at Alabama
The final rankings that will determine the participants in the College Football Playoff semifinals come out December 3. Michigan State Spartans mascot Sparty during the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium.
U.S. administration publishes new Cuba travel restrictions
Wednesday his administration released its new Cuba regulations - and ironically, private Cuban entrepreneurs may get hit worst. Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin laid out the new rules , which will take effect on Thursday.
New 2018 iPad Pro concept imagines Face ID & bezel-less design
The new iPad will apparently not have a new OLED display, which is on the iPhone X and is more colorful than other displays. Today's details from Bloomberg shared that next year's iPad Pros will adopt Face ID, which KGI also recently predicted .


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