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Plastic Free Living
Plastics products have only been in the home for a few generations and yet today's society has forgotten how to store food, clean our homes and live our lives without plastics and single use packaging. We will be discussing chemical components of plastics and how they may cause harm, how to transition away from single use items that are overwhelming our landfill, looking at classic reusable and sustainable products and newer innovations that help to avoid plastics in the home.
Instructor Bio:
After decades of living very sustainably at home, growing her own food, composting, collecting rain water, making all her own soaps and cosmetics from natural ingredients, participating in beach clean ups and other volunteer activities on her days off only to return to a corporate workplace that produced massive amounts of trash, Leanne Gallagher Allen decided she wanted to be more than just a "drop in the bucket" when it came to positively impacting the future of our environment. She realized that the best way to have a greater impact was to make it as easy and affordable as possible for other people in her community to live more sustainably too.
Dissatisfied with the overabundance of plastic packaging and the lack of product selection, Leanne searched for a way to provide simple and effective cleaning solutions without the worry of petrochemicals and excessive single use plastic packaging. In July 2017 Leanne opened the first Zero Waste focused shop on Vancouver Island which encouraged people to bring in their own clean empty bottles and containers to be filled by weight over and over again with all natural, Canadian made products. www.westcoastrefill.com/
Only current members in good standing are eligible to use the free ticket option as a part of their member benefits package.
Please pre-register for this event.
Customers can request a refund within 30 days of ticket purchase
The Compost Education Centre is located on unceded and occupied Indigenous territories, specifically the land of the Lekwungen speaking people—the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. These nations are two of many, made up of individuals who have lived within the porous boundaries of what is considered Coast Salish, Nuu-Chah-Nulth and Kwakwa'wakw Territory (Vancouver Island) since time immemorial. At the CEC we seek to respect, honour and continually grow our own understandings of Indigenous rights and history, and to fulfill our responsibilities as settlers, who live and work directly with the land and its complex, vital ecologies and our diverse, evolving communities.
Compost Education Centre memberships get you free workshops, discounts at garden centres around town and more great perks! Sign up or learn more on our website.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Be sure to check out all of the other posts in the How To Homeschool For Free series too!
If you like to do thematic units, this one is for you. Autumn in all of its glory is in full force here in Texas. It's the perfect time for nature walks, park days, and maybe even doing school work on the back porch. My kids love it when I tell them to take their reading outside to the big swing. I actually get cheers when I say it. So, here's to autumn and the freedom that comes with schooling at home with nature at your beck and call.
Fire Safety
It is almost the end of October, which is Fire Safety month. Field trips to your local fire station should be available to free of charge. To relate this to autumn, you could take that field trip and when you get home, discuss lessons from the Smokey Bear website. There is a section just for kids, with easy-to-understand information, activities and games. The teaching resources page has a variety of printable resources and lesson plan ideas.
Science (Photosynthesis)
Why Leaves Change Color is a great resource for around 3rd grade and up. It explains in Q & A format why and how leaves change colors.
Biology for Kids also has a page about photosynthesis, along with other activities about plants.
The US Parks has a page where you can find out which colors are dominant in your state and when you are most likely to see them in the fall.
The NeoK12 site also has a lot of videos, quizzes, and other fun information on photosynthesis.
Science (Equinox)
Learn about the rotation of the earth from EarthSky. This website has real-life pictures of how sunlight falls on the earth during the spring & autumn equinoxes and solstices. If you scroll down the page linked above, you will find videos taken from space & put on YouTube by NASA.
Science Zone has a page about the equinoxes as well as a page to teach about the solistices.
Geography and Science
Learner.org has Journey North. This program introduces the three sets of investigations that are featured in the Journey North program: Seasonal Migrations, Plants and the Seasons, and Sunlight and the Seasons. This is an interactive website where students observe nature's patters and report it to the database. Right now, students are tracking monarch butterflies and hummingbirds in their winter migration. Students will continue to check this site until spring, when they watch the migration change direction to the north.
Agriculture and Math
Find out what your local harvest foods are. Once you know, you can find recipes for your favorite foods!
SeasonalRecipes.com will also tell you what is in season as well as provide recipes for using them. Letting your kids weigh produce at the store and estimating the price is real-life math. In the kitchen, measuring amounts of recipe ingredients and is also math. One of our family's favorite fall recipes is Gluten Free Pumpkin Muffins. It uses canned pumpkin, but if you wanted to use a store-bought pie pumpkin, (get the smaller ones, not the ones used for Jack-o-Lanterns) you could make it into a memorable teaching unit. Here is a guide for using a fresh pumpkin in your recipes.
There are several autumn-themed math activities over at MathWire too!
Here are a few books that are great for the autumn theme and typically available to check out for FREE at your local library!
Top Secret by John Reynolds Gardiner
The story of a boy who decides to solve the mystery of photosynthesis for a school science project.
By Jacqueline Farmer
Here is a book that explains all about how apples are grown and harvested. Students can compare different varieties of apples, as well as learn health and nutrition tips.
How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?
By Margaret McNamara
This book is full of nifty facts about pumpkins with the story of a little boy who doesn't like being the smallest in his class.
Happy Autumn!


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Please note that this site represents my PERSONAL ramblings, perceptions and thoughts and NOT that of my family members or any other groups or organizations I am affiliated with :-)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
My fav Cyril stage magic Act
I love the fact that he is so cool on stage too. I can only dream of being 1% as cool :-(
I thought I'd look up his stage act on youtube as I really loved the way he choreographed his act to his selected music.
Sadly the original music has been removed due to some possible copyright concerns and another piece of something else dubbed in. Glad I downloaded the video with the original long ago.
Anyway I am sure you will still enjoy his act even without the extra beauty of the nuances of his moves to the original music.
I searched a little more to see if there might be another video of his award winning stage act with the original music and found this video entitled "Cyril vs. SG Cyril". It has Cyril's act with the orginal music but placed side by side with a copy cat act by a "Cyril wannabe" from Singapore.
Nice for a change that the butt of the jokes is not that of a "so called top" Malaysian magician. But for me it is educational to see the difference in quality and how low the standard is in Singapore and Malaysia and how so many fool themselves into thinking they are great magicians when they are really poor. Some of us Malaysian magicians in the club I belong to are currently discussing how low the standard of magic in Malaysia has dropped and how sub standard acts win "self proclaimed top level local competitions" with typical Malaysian overhype and then claim the titles proclaiming they are the "best in Malaysia" etc
Made me think of spiritual counterfeits and how easily we can allow ourselves to be deceived and accept as genuine and good junk. Look at the huge difference in Cyril's act and the Singapore copy cat (which is pretty unethical in the magic world) who won 2nd place in a Singapore competition.
Monday, March 30, 2009
only in NZ
Being a New Zealander is about driving in a European car to an Irish pub for a Belgian beer, whilst travelling home, grabbing an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab on the way, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American shows, on a Japanese TV, through a Chinese Sky decoder.
And the most NZ thing of all? Suspicion of all things foreign!
Only in NZ can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.
Only in NZ do supermarkets make sick people walk all the way to the back of the shop to get their panadol, lemsip etc while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.
Only in NZ do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries and a DIET coke.
Only in NZ do banks leave both doors open and chain the pens to the counters.
Only in NZ do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars on the drive and lock our junk and cheap lawn mower in the garage.
Only in NZ do we use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so we won't miss a call from someone we didn't want to talk to in the first place.
Only in NZ are there disabled parking places in front of a skating rink.
1 New Zealander dies each year testing if a 9v battery works on their tongue.
42 New Zealanders were injured in 1999 by not removing all pins from new shirts.
22 New Zealanders are injured each year by using sharp knives instead of screwdrivers.
5 New Zealanders have died since 1994 by watering their Christmas tree while the fairy lights were plugged in.
New Zealand Hospitals reported 2 broken or dislocated arms last year after Xmas cracker-pulling accidents.
Around 50 New Zealanders are burnt each year ironing their clothes while still wearing them
9 New Zealanders had serious burns in 2000 trying on a new top with a lit cigarette in their mouth.
A massive 143 New Zealanders were admitted to A&E in the last two years after trying to open bottles of beer with their teeth
And finally...
In 2003---14 New Zealanders were admitted to hospital with fractured skulls incurred whilst throwing up into the toilet.
If you're proud to be a Kiwi send this on!!!
Permanent residence permit - indefinite
Another milestone. ...
Yesterday I had the privilege of leading someone to Christ, supported by my wife and two church members. So another milestone! This one is not just permanent residence in the new heaven and earth but alos for heavenly citizenship. All glory to God!!
And now I prepare to go out for lunch to celebrate the occasion and hopefully will get to share the gospel message with another person over lunch!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Have we become over PC? The "moustache controversy"
Interestingly while I was watching the show, I was thinking "does she know she has a very obvious moustache?" It was a bit distracting. But I doubt I would have made jokes about it. But I can't deny that I thought about it (not the joke part but the fact that she had a moustache).
Anyway the link has loads of comments both vilifying him and supporting him. Makes me wonder where the line is between "saying things as they are, and being sensitive to people's feelings". I guess that some people are more sensitve than others about their looks etc. I know that for some people going bald is nothing to worry about but for others it would be a major trauma.
The Bible reminds us to "speak the truth in love" . So how do we do this without being ridiculoulsy PC? Hmm....
Even the report below uses the term "implied she had a moustache." ....
Do you think Paul Henry's 'moustache' comments were amusing or offensive?
2:15PM Friday March 27, 2009
Updated: 8:32AM Saturday March 28, 2009
Paul Henry angered TVNZ viewers with his antics on Breakfast this week when he insulted a guest speaker and implied that she had a moustache.
Anti-nuclear campaigner Stephanie Mills appeared on the show to speak about the compensation awarded to victims of French nuclear testing in the Pacific.
Do you think Paul Henry's 'moustache' comments were amusing or offensive?
Some examples of contrasting comments :
What disturbed me was Paul's complete unwillingness to take advice from Ali Mau and others in the newsroom about sharing such insensitive comments. He didn't get it. Smacks of narcissism. Although Ali made strenuous efforts to curb Paul at the time, she unfortunately tried to rescue the situation the next day by saying that Paul was only repeating readers' e-mails. I found that disappointing.The clip shows that he added a few of his own.
Is there no place in our "modern" society for manners and respect? She made the effort to be a "guest" on the show and he humiliates her on national tv.
The "we're too pc brigade" bemoan the breakdown of core society values and then applauds this idiots insensitivity as humour. They obviously don't see anything wrong with being crass and rude to their house guests.
His trivial dismissal of PCOS, ovarian cancer as causes for excessive hair growth just shows his class.
No doubt he laughs at cancer sufferers with bald heads.
Save some money and close the show down.
i love paul henry for the fact he speaks his mind. most of us folks in the normal world would have probably thought what he said anyway - plus . didn't he read out a letter from somebody else regarding the matter?
Amusing. Yes, he's a bit of a pompous git, but he's the only thing 'Breakfast' has going for it, and TVNZ for that matter. Frankly, he makes a nice change from the everywhere of personality-free presenters and their humourless viewers, who have been rendered brain dead by the tripe that TVNZ passes off as "quality television".
We complain about NZ being too PC, yet when someone tells it like it is we're all up in arms. You can't have it both ways people.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
The power of a quick, simple question ...
It got me thinking of how "conversations" naturally develop and how a well thought question can change the "quality" or direction of a conversation. I thought about the the classic EE question that was so powerful in its heyday ... "If you were to die today and ....."
I also thought about the way preachers / evangelists end their messages / presentations with that one final question / challenge...
I thought about how some questions can be manipulative and am wondering about good honest, sincere and important questions that need to be asked but are often (?) not asked?
Then of course I began to think about how Jesus loved to ask questions ... and how insightful his questions were....
So now I have questions about questions! LOL ... and I am wondering what important question (s) I should be seeking to answer in 2009 (though the first quarter is almost over).
Anyway ... enough rambling, here's Julian's article ....
The other day I went into a fast food restaurant that will remain nameless just because some people will probably take this article the wrong way and I don't want a good business to suffer because of it.
I ordered a simple combo-meal that included a drink and fries. The clerk, who happened to be a manager named Julienne asked me "Medium or Large?" It was such a quick and innocent sounding question that I almost answered before thinking.
"No, a small will be fine, thank you". She completed my order and as she handed me my receipt and tray of food I asked her a question that she clearly didn't feel comfortable answering.
I asked her how many of the people accepted one of her two options and went with either medium or large. She said she didn't know. I pushed until she admitted that it was at least 85-90%.
This simple upsell adds either 59 or 99 cents to each meal ordered. As each combo normally runs about $5-6 that's a 10-20% markup on EACH meal sold. The best part is that it costs the restaurant almost NOTHING to fulfill delivery. A slightly larger soda costs them a penny or two in syrup and fractions of a cent for a larger cup. The difference between a small and medium sized fries is non-existent. Only the cardboard box changes size. Basically the same amount of product fits in each size box. The large holds a little more than the small but even then, you're talking about potatoes: just about the cheapest food product on the planet.
So for virtually no cost at all they are able to increase their revenue by 10-20% just by asking one single, very simple and almost automatic question. The secret is to ask the question systematically, to EVERYONE who orders a combo meal and to ask it EVERY single time.
I'm still trying to work out exactly how this principle can be applied in my business. There is something about the assumptive quality of the question and something also about the two-options format. But basically it is a simple question.
Do you do birthday parties? Are you willing to do Goodie bags? (I do the former, but not the latter). Maybe you could add a simple question like "Do you want us to handle the goodie bags for everyone or are you going to put all those together yourself?"
Not as clean as "Medium or Large?" but it gets that conversation started. I'll bet that's got to be worth a few thousand dollars a year for the right performers.
Or, if you do awards banquets you might ask "Do you want to include enough magic tricks for every seat at each table or just one trick per table and let everyone kind of share it?" Most event planners might not have even thought about the idea of including magic tricks for the guests, and when they find out that you can provide quality, PRE-SELECTED tricks for less than $2 per person you might just be able to bump up your revenue for the night by a pretty significant amount.
I welcome your thoughts on this. Remember, I'm not just talking about ways to increase revenue. There are countless thousands of ways to do that. I'm talking about doing it with a question. A single, very simple, question that is asked near the end of each transaction.
What is YOUR question for 2009?
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Fun magic workshop a blessing to children
Taken from Thestar Online.
A fun and fruitful break for kids
By OH ING YEEN
The youngsters took part in a three-day Young Ambassador programme that was organised by PJ Live Arts and held at its studio in Jaya One, Petaling Jaya. For the programme, the foundation collaborated with master illusionist Anslem Roy, actress Ida Mariana, volunteers from Palmspring Educentre and Elken Foundation, which was the sponsor.
In his speech during the graduation ceremony at the end of the three-day programme, PJ Live Arts artistic director Datuk Zahim Albakri said the aim was to build confidence and instil positive self-esteem in the children through creative activities such as acting, singing, social etiquette, as well as magic and illusion workshops.
"As an art practitioner, I understand the power of the arts on character development, especially in children. In fact, recent studies have shown that children exposed to drama, music and dance do a better job at mastering academics," he said.
Actor-performer-jazz singer Ida Mariana felt that the children had given her so much and that, instead of her teaching them, it was the other way around.
"It's not just about acting and opening up, but also teaching them things like how to receive a hug," she added.
Anslem Roy, who has been in the industry for 30 years, said that magic was one of the best hobbies for children.
"It forces you to be confident, think with your head, and learn about other things (related to performing magic), such as music, lights, and craftsmanship," he explained.
He was impressed that the kids were confident enough to present the magic and illusion tricks that they had learnt in the two-hour workshop, which he himself had taken more than two months to master.
The children roared with laughter as they watched a video presentation that featured interesting footages of the programme.
Nine-year-old David Danaraj's favourite session was the magic workshop and his favourite trick was the one linking two paper clips using a banknote as a prop.
On the other hand, 13-year-old Veronica loved the acting classes. "I love dancing," she said.
Both are from Rumah Kids.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
My 2 cents on the ban on non Muslims usage of Allah
My understanding is that basically "God"(Elohim) is translated TUHAN and "The LORD" (YHWH) is translated Allah.
The church in Malaysia is divided on this issue.
I think that Christians in Malaysia (in relation to this issue) fall into four main categories. (Hey these categories are not scientific ok? So cut me some slack on this) :-)
The first are those who are not sure what the big deal is. They are basically uninformed or misinformed. This is for you! :-)
The second are those who hold that we should just not use the word Allah, and instead use YHWH (Yahewh) as they either identify "Allah" as an incompatible / inappropriate word for God (due to its association with Islam)
The third are those who simply do not want to get involved and "rock the political boat". For them, this has nothing to do with "us".
The fourth (of which I belong) are those who feel strongly that we should not give way as first and foremost "Allah" is an Arabic word that has been used hundreds of years by Christians before Islam was founded. The fact is Allah is the only word used by Arabic Christians. Indonesian Christians too use no other word. I will give other reasons in a while.
I disagree with the second group of Christians but I do respect their position (I have good friends who are in this group) as they have their reasons and they are thinking of "alternatives".
I however do not think very highly of the third group of Christians because I think that they are simply being selfish. Sorry if I sound judgmental but read on and you might well agree with me. If not ... you can always boycott my blog :-)
To me this BN UMNO led government ban is not just related to taking away basic religious freedom but is being used for devious political purposes, among them to attempt to divide the opposition by creating religious and racial hatred among Malaysians.
Anyone following this "ban thingy" can see that the BN government keeps changing its ruling and rationale behind this "ban". It's a common and totally irresponsible political strategy to keep bringing up the racial and/or religious card to stir up fear and hatred. It angers me for example that they can even make this ruling under the ISA!! As if Christians have ever used the word "Allah" to incite violence and create instability in the country! I posted a response to this in Teresa Kok's blog.
And the latest (which I posted yesterday) is to openly hint that even to discuss this matter could result in violence.
Better and more knowledgeable people can give more details (just have to google) on the the constitution as well as the many inconsistencies etc. I won't get into that but rather bring up something more personal.
In Malaysia, many people (including Christians) forget or ignore the fact that a large number of Christians (perhaps the majority?) mainly or even only use Bahasa Malaysia as their primary language (which includes their church life). BTW, there are other key religious words that have been banned years ago but at least they gave the allowance that Christians were allowed to use these words. Now even this is being taken away. (If I remember correctly, that was in the 80's even words like "Wahyu" and "Firman" among other things were banned -can't recall now)
For any Malaysian Christian to say "it is not our concern and it has nothing to do with us" is to be pretty selfish. Especially to us English speaking Christians - do we actually think we are the majority? Have we forgotten the huge number of Christians in Sabah and Sarawak and the Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia and other people groups?
To ban the use of Allah is to effectively make illegal every single Bible and practically every Christian publication in the Malay and Indonesian languages. Have we ever thought what this ban implies?
I occasionally still sing (i.e. worship) and even pray in Bahasa Malaysia (or is it now known as Bahasa Melayu? - again another related political thing?) and I personally I can't divorce "Allah" from "THE LORD" my God. How much more the hundreds of thousands who only use Bahasa Malaysia? It's like telling me I now have to call my father or mother or wife by another name!
Check out these articles by The Nut Graph if you have the time.
The problem with the Allah ban.
The handling of the Allah usage disappointing
Monday, March 23, 2009
Non Muslims not allowed to discuss the usage of the word Allah?
It is amazing to me that Malaysia is the only country that has this ban ... and now again a "veiled" threat of violence? A very sad situation indeed.
Monday March 23, 2009
Zahid warns Bar to end 'unwise' online poll
KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has told the Bar Council to stop its online poll on the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims.
He said it was "unwise" to carry out such a survey, as the move was seen by some quarters as a challenge to Muslims.
"If they (Bar Council) continue to play up the issue, the Muslims may rise and if they do, the Bar should not be angry but be willing to accept the consequences.
"This is the final warning for the Bar Council. Islamic religious matters come under the jurisdiction of the Malay Rulers and if they continue to dispute the authority's decision on the issue (use of the word "Allah" in non-Islamic religious publications), it means they are disputing the power of the Rulers," he told reporters after launching the ground-breaking ceremony of Sekolah Menengah Imtiaz here.
"I hope that as lawyers, they respect what has been brought to court. In fact, the Cabinet has decided to put a stop to discussing this issue, and in Parliament, I have put a full stop in having this issue being debated," he said.
There is a pending judicial review challenging the ban on the use of the term "Allah" in non-Muslim publications.
On Alcohol consumption
On a side note, looks like NZ's legal drinking age is lower than US :-(
From CTi's Out of Ur blog.
March 17, 2009
Trouble Brewing
The shifting views about alcohol among clergy.
by Brandon O'Brien
In the upcoming issue of Leadership (in print mid April), we'll hear from a number of pastors—including Craig Gross, John Burke, and Matt Russell—who are committed to taking the gospel to people with addictions.
We're also featuring a couple of articles about how pastors can and should deal with their own addictions.
One article I suspect will get people talking is Eric Reed's report on clergy alcohol use. Here's a preview: Some younger pastors in traditionally teetotalling denominations are beginning to view bans on alcohol use as out of date. Is their so-called liberty in Christ simply an excuse for bad behavior? Or are the old timers adding laws to the gospel?
Mark Driscoll has thought the issue through (probably because the Pacific Northwest has more breweries than people) and argues that responsible alcohol use is thoroughly biblical.
John Piper disagrees. "I choose to oppose the carnage of alcohol abuse by boycotting the product. Is it really so prudish to renounce a highway killer, a home destroyer, and a business wrecker?"
No, I suppose not. But others see the issue as less cut-and-dried. More on that in April.
Our twin concerns of alcohol and addiction come together in a new online resource from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Rethinking Drinking is an interaction diagnostic tool that helps users determine whether they have a drinking problem. It presents lots of useful information in plain language and with pictures and graphs—information about the signs of alcohol abuse, resources for help, and even a "pros and cons" chart to help you decide whether to change your drinking habits. So if you're an imbiber, check it out here.
Brandon O'Brien is Leadership's assistant editor.
Posted by UrL Scaramanga on March 17, 2009
There is a link in the article to an interesting website: rethinking drinking. Lots of interesting information.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Puteri Gunung Ledang Musical interview with Anselm Roy
If you are not interested in magic, don't bother watching.
Church picnic - 8 March 09
I found some that Andrew took and most importantly, Jennifer remembered to ask someone to take a photo of us as a family. Finally ... a couple of photos of us together ...
We had it at one of the nearby local parks. This is one of many great things about living in New Zealand, the lovely wide open green space. Interested to see where we went, click... Cornwallis Park. It was a BYO lunch to share event which was great as there was so much variety of food and members friends and family who would normally not come for church events would join us for a time fo relaxation and some organized fun games. Did not go swimming though ... brrrr... am amazed how some of the children can take the cold water...
Games was fun as we had another "Youngies" versus "Oldies"competition - this tome a FEAR FACTOR style competition and the OLDIIES won!!
Nice to know that we were evenly matched till Lye Chye and myself won hands down with the goldfish in your mouth transfer. We Church Elders have got surprising skills :-)
Our first BBQ at our NZ home
Then after a couple of months of research we felt we should wait and not spend the money to build a pergola.... and finally after so much procrastinating, and lots of creative ideas and advice from friends as to how to do it with limited space and weather contingency plans we decided to just "DO IT!" ...And of course that was over a month ago and I am only now finally finding the time to look at the photos Andrew took and posting some up...
But with a nice overflow of younger ones hanging out in the rooms and the sitting room, and the older ones outside on the deck, using the dining and kitchen area as a walkway, it went well.
The weather especially nice and cooling so the back deck was ideal espe since it was shaed from the evening sun.
It was nice too to be able to celebrate Jin's birthday with a huge durian cake :-)
Friday, March 20, 2009
Magic duo's hilarious act
I love this duo's act.... I think it is destined to become a classic.
Lazy e-mail financial scams?
You have just been awarded,the sum of £950.000.00 GBP in the Global Online Promotion, held March. For Claims email your details to:edmund.clive2@btinternet.
Mrs Joan Thomas
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Marriage celebrant
Today it becomes official :-) May not be a big deal here in NZ ... but for me especially from Malaysia when the government makes it sooooo hard for church leaders to be an assistant registrar of marriage, it is a big deal.
Now who wants to get married? LOL!!
Coming Together in Poverty (Nouwen)
Coming Together in Poverty
There are many forms of poverty: economic poverty, physical poverty, emotional poverty, mental poverty, and spiritual poverty. As long as we relate primarily to each other's wealth, health, stability, intelligence, and soul strength, we cannot develop true community. Community is not a talent show in which we dazzle the world with our combined gifts. Community is the place where our poverty is acknowledged and accepted, not as something we have to learn to cope with as best as we can but as a true source of new life.
Living community in whatever form - family, parish, twelve-step program, or intentional community - challenges us to come together at the place of our poverty, believing that there we can reveal our richness.
2 legged dog "Faith"
This is 'Faith'
This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002. He was born with 3 legs - 2 healthy hind legs and 1 abnormal front leg which need to be amputated. He of course could not walk when he was born. Even his mother did not want him.
His first owner also did not think that he can survive. Therefore, he was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'. By this time, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted to take care of him.
She was determined to teach and train this dog to walk by himself. Therefore she named him 'Faith'.
In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfing board to let him feel the movements. Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure and reward for him to stand up and jump around. Even the other dog at home also helped to encourage him to walk. Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle, Faith learned to balance on his 2 hind legs and jumped to move forward. After further training in the snow, he now can walk like a human being.
Faith loves to walk around now. No matter where he goes, he just attracts all the people around him. He is now becoming famous on the international scene. He has appeared on various newspapers and TV shows.
There is even one book entitled 'With a little faith' being published about him. He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies.
His present owner Jude Stringfellew has given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world to preach that even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul'.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
"Backsliders" have a "network"? "What?!"
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Christian 'Bounty Hunters' Generate Income by Exposing Backsliders
By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
IRVINE, CA (ANS) -- For many years churches around the world have been drained morally, spiritually and financially from the internal decays caused by backsliders lurking within their congregations. (Backsliders are 'believers' who have lost their initial zeal for the more sanctified lifestyle, have perhaps fallen back into some old sinful behaviors or maybe have even gone so far as to renounce their faith altogether.)
Fred Popke
But now, there's a unique opportunity for Christians to actually benefit financially from exposing backsliders - whether those backsliders reside within their congregations or not.
For numerous years, investigative journalist, Fred Popke, went under-cover to understand the heart and the mind of the backslider. To his astonishment, he discovered that most backsliders actually belong to a very well-organized network.
"They are considered the fastest growing 'religious' sect out there right now," Mr. Popke noted. "They even regularly share their insights, tips and techniques with one another on how to become, and continue to live as, 'efficient' backsliders."
His "exposé", entitled My Utmost for Mediocrity - The Backslider's Devotional Handbook (available at www.Amazon.com, www.AbeBooks.com, www.Alibris.com and other retail channels), is a collection of the "devotionals", or hidden secrets and strategies, that backsliders use to thwart the good intentions of any loved ones trying to bring the backslider "back into the fold".
"I initially published this work so that Christians could understand what's taking place in the hearts and minds of the backsliders," Popke added. "I also meant for it to be a tool for those interested in reaching out to someone who was backsliding. Maybe a reason or a justification contained in the Backslider's Handbook, shared with a wayward son, daughter, husband or friend would spark some dialogue and ultimately lead to some significantly positive results."
However, he claimed, as soon as the "Backsliding Community" (www.BackslidingInfo.com)
Cover of Popke's book
As a result of arbitration/mediation, Mr. Popke has been instructed to publish ongoing versions/releases of the work and incorporate new submissions from additional contributors. He has also agreed to enable contributing authors to receive compensation from future edition book sales.
"And therein lies the opportunity for Christians," Mr. Popke pointed out. "I don't believe that 'backsliders' are really going to make significant contributions to future editions of this work. So, any church, or Christian individual, who can write a paragraph or two, capturing an insight or a tactic that backsliders use, can earn a 'bounty' by 'turning in' these backsliders' stories."
Anyone wishing to contribute to the next edition, already being compiled, can find all of the pertinent information at www.MyUtmostForMediocrity.com.
|Dan Wooding, 68, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma of 45 years. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS); and US Bureau Chief for the Missionaries News Service (www.missionariesnews.tv) and Safe Worlds IPTV's Faith, Hope and Charity channel. He was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC., and now hosts the weekly "Front Page Radio" show on KWVE in Southern California and which is also carried on the Calvary Radio Network throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on UCB UK and Calvary Chapel Radio UK. Wooding is the author of some 42 books, the latest of which is his autobiography, "From Tabloid to Truth", which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, go to www.fromtabloid totruth.com. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Gout attack!!
The good part of course is, its my left foot so I still can drive :-) And I can worknow barefoot :-) Wonderful advantage of having my own office. it is still not full blown so I am hopeful my flooding my system with lots of fluids might still work.
What is gout?
Gout is a common type of arthritis (joint inflammation). It causes sudden bouts of pain and swelling, usually in just one or two joints (the ball of the foot is commonly involved), and which, left untreated, last from days to weeks. These bouts of acute gouty arthritis are also called gout attacks.
Gout affects men (middle-aged generally) much more often than women. Gout is closely linked with the body's level of uric acid - a normal breakdown product of digesting certain foods. High uric acid levels and gout attacks can be treated by your doctor. ....
Table 1: High or low purine food sources
|Food Sources of Purine
Total purine content
(mg of purine/100 g food)
|lamb, roasted, chop
|Pork, roasted, chop
|Fish, white, fresh
|Mushroom, fresh
|Bread, crusted
|Bread, white
|Wheat flour
|Cottage cheese
|Plain yogurt
|Rice, cooked
Table 2: Purine content in meat organs, seafoods (fresh and canned), and vegetables (legumes).
|Purine food sources
|Total purine content (mg/100 gram food)
|Organ meats
|Total purines
|Pork liver
|Chicken liver
|Chicken heart
|Beef kidney
|Beef liver
|Beef heart
|Lamb heart
|Beef brain
|Lamb liver
|Fresh seafoods
|Canned seafoods
|Dried legumes
|Blackeye peas
|Great northern bean
|Small white bean
|Split peas
|Pinto bean
|Red bean
|Large lima bean
|Baby lima bean
|Cranberry bean
|Garbanza bean
According to a study that compared free and total purine bases content in meat products (steak, beef liver and haddock fillets) before and after cooking, cooking appears to increase the level of free and total purine bases in a diet. Total purine content is based on the sum of all the four purine bases.
Table 3: Purine content in raw and cooked foods.
|Meat products
Total purine content
(mg of purine/food)
|Liver, raw
|liver, boiled
|liver, broiled
|Steak, raw
|Steak, boiled
|Steak, broiled
|Haddock, raw
|Haddock, boiled
|Haddock, broiled
Table 4: Purine content in chicken parts (listed high to low).
|Purine sources
Total purine content
(mg of purine/food)
|Liver, chicken
|Drumstick, chicken
|Breast, chicken
|Gizzard, chicken
|Thigh, chicken
|Skin, chicken
Alcohol drinks also contain purines. There is strong association between high consumption of alcoholic drinks and uric acid levels in the blood, and consequently gout. Below are estimates of purine content in alcoholic drinks analysed by British researchers.
Table 5: Purine content in alcoholic drinks (beer).
|Alcohol drink
Total purine content
(mg of purine/Litre)
|Traditional British beers
|20.3 - 27.5
|Lager beer
|Home-brewed beer
"A burning bush" - some reflections and "ramblings"
One book I am currently reading (about a chapter a week) is "Spiritual Formation on the Run" by Dr. Alex Tang. The reason for the "slow reading" is deliberate. It is to help me learn to apply an ancient spiritual discipline practiced in the early church called "Lectio divina". It is basically something that comprises four parts or movements.
1. Reading / listening (lectio)
2. Meditating (meditatio)
3. Praying (oration)
4. Contemplation (contemplatio)
Here's an interesting chapter that has been a challenge and blessing to me. I have only ever so slightly "Kiwinized"a few words. (Note to Dr. Alex - I have put in bold the two "changed words" :-) ) Why not take your time with this "devotion" and try the "lectio divina" approach?
A Burning Bush
If you are driving along the motorway and see a bush that is burning, yet is not consumed by the fire, what would you do?
1. Whip out your mobile and call the fire department;
2. Ignore it and drive by to your next appointment;
3. Slow down, get out of the car, join the rest of the crowd to see the spectacular free show;
4. Recognise the presence of God?
While knowing our civic duty to call the fire department, most of us will not do so. We do not want to get "involved." Someone else will call, that is our justification. However, that may not stop us from calling our friends to tell them about the fire. Many of us will ignore the burning bush and just drive on. We are always in a hurry, and there is so much to do and so little time to do it. Some will get out to look at the burning bush. "How do they create this special effect?" — they may wonder. "Are they making a movie?" Very few will recognize the presence of God and even fewer will move close enough to hear the voice of God, as Moses did (Exodus 3:4).
What we choose to do is a reflection of our spirituality. Many of us have the "do not get involved" attitude. Let someone else do it. We know we are to love our neighbours (Mark 12:31), but let us not get too involved. Many too suffer from the "hurry" syndrome. We spend our days rushing from one task to another, filling our lives with stressful hurry. We forget the one thing needful (Luke 10:41). There are also those among us who love the spectacular and like to be entertained. A burning bush. Wow. What a spectacular pyrotechnic show. Very few of us will notice the presence of God. Why? Because we are so attuned to the natural world, so centered on our own lives, that we are not open to the presence of God around us. What the mind does not think of, the eyes do not see. That is why Paul urged us to train our minds (Romans 12:2).
There is a story of two fish in an ocean. They set off on a quest to find water, which is said to have special qualities. Water gives life and can exist in three states: liquid, solid and vapour. The fish spent many years searching, yet they could not find this water. One day, they asked a wise fish, "Where can we find water?" The wise fish replied, "Water? It is everywhere. You are swimming in it!" Are we like these two fish? We are living in the presence of God, yet we are not aware of him. We see a burning bush and disregard it, not realizing God wants to speak to us. Let us be mindful of the presence of God in our everyday lives and not miss "a burning bush."
Okay ... additional reflections and ramblings ...
I have been listening over the last couple of week's Juwita Suwito's CD, "Brand New World". I really like the music and some of the songs in particular have no overt Christian terminology. But they have been a blessing to me. I find that "interesting". Does a song have to be "Christian" to be "spiritual"?....
I think too of how strange it is that on Saturday I was "jamming" and "harmonizing" with a friend (2 guitars) and singing some "oldies" with some friends and someone I had just met (half of them non Christians) and there was so much "soul" in our simple singing. There was a strange connection among a group of people whose relationships range from close friends, friends, acquaintances and practically strangers! In a weird way it was almost a "holy moment" where it was as if God was helping me connect with others through "secular music".... Makes sense in a way as it was a natural way to connect and build friendships ...
And I think too of how some "secular songs" (even some with not so great themes) bring about in me an awareness of God and some of the pains in the world so much greater than most "worship songs".
I think in particular of two "suicide songs" that never fail to move me and make me reflect on life and my calling, always ending with a prayer to God - (and it makes me think of Markus too as we both love these 2 songs) - "Vincent" and "Alone again (naturally)". How strange ... but then again God is always present and is very real in the least expected places ....
Anyway, I had better end here ... maybe more reflections next time ... this chapter is taking a very long time .... :-)
But here's the lyrics of the above mentioned songs (Do note that is so much more meaningful when listened to or sung). AND I MUST ADD THAT I FIND THAT THE ANSWER TO LIFE'S SADNESS IS THE REALITY OF KNOWING THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST!!
The raindrops fall incessantly / Each time I think the sky's letting up / There seems to be another cloud / Bringing the dark / Coming right at me
So often I can't see the road ahead / The blinding headlights loom then go out again / But suddenly I find that I don't need to strife /'Cause I realize I am rising, I'm flying and...
Chorus: Only in the dark when I can't seem to see / Ilearn to hear Your whisper that's been guiding me / Reach out for the hand that bears the light / So my step is right / Only in the dark
Now each day's a step that's lighted up / And the ' questions asked won't make me stop / 'Cause I know no matter how I feel / That this is real / And I'm slowly getting to a place where its not...
Bridge: So let the shadows come / And let me run into Your arms where / I can feel the warmth of Your touch - unmistakable / Leading me on, loving me on, turning me on / Though now it seems to be that...
Starry starry night
paint your palette blue and grey
look out on a summer's day
with eyes that know the darkness in my soul.
Shadows on the hills sketch the trees and the daffodils
catch the breeze and the winter chills
in colors on the snowy linen land.
And now I understand what you tried to say to me
how you suffered for your sanity
how you tried to set them free.
They would not listen they did not know how
perhaps they'll listen now.
Starry starry night
flaming fllowers that brightly blaze
swirling clouds in violet haze reflect in
Vincent's eyes of China blue.
Colors changing hue
morning fields of amber grain
weathered faces lined in pain
are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand.
And now I understand what you tried to say to me
how you suffered for your sanity
how you tried to set them free.
perhaps they'll listen now.
For they could not love you
but still your love was true
and when no hope was left in sight on that starry starry night.
You took your life as lovers often do;
But I could have told you Vincent
this world was never meant for one
as beautiful as you.
Starry starry night
portraits hung in empty halls
frameless heads on nameless walls
with eyes that watch the world and can't forget.
Like the stranger that you've met
the ragged men in ragged clothes
the silver thorn of bloddy rose
lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow.
And now I think I know what you tried to say to me
how you suffered for your sanity
how you tried to set them free.
They would not listen they're not list'ning still
perhaps they never will.
In a little while from now
If I'm not feeling any less sour
I promise myself to treat myself
And visit a nearby tower
And climbing to the top will throw myself off
In an effort to make it clear to who
Ever what it's like when you're shattered
Left standing in the lurch at a church
Where people saying: "My God, that's tough She's stood him up"
No point in us remaining
We may as well go home As I did on my own
Alone again, naturally
To think that only yesterday
I was cheerful, bright and gay
Looking forward to well wouldn't do
The role I was about to play
But as if to knock me down
Reality came around
And without so much, as a mere touch
Cut me into little pieces
Leaving me to doubt
Talk about God and His mercy
Or if He really does exist
Why did He desert me in my hour of need
I truly am indeed Alone again, naturally
It seems to me that there are more hearts
broken in the world that can't be mended
Left unattended
What do we do? What do we do?
Alone again, naturally
Now looking back over the years
And whatever else that appears
I remember I cried when my father died
Never wishing to hide the tears
And at sixty-five years old
My mother, God rest her soul,
Couldn't understand why the only man
She had ever loved had been taken
Leaving her to start with a heart so badly broken
Despite encouragement from me
No words were ever spoken
And when she passed away
I cried and cried all day
Alone again, naturally
Alone again, naturally
Monday, March 16, 2009
Baptism photos 15 March 09
Baptism service on Sunday 15th march. Photos are all mixed up and in the wrong order :-) I guess next time I need to upload the last photos first ...
Thanks to Ken who took these great photos and lots more.
Matt gave a special item / dedication. Max preached a very insightful sermon on baptism.
Jamie read Scripture in public for the first time after his baptism.
Jin Guo gave a very moving testimony of her journey towards baptism.
Aalekha sang a beatiful song on being born again as a testimony, accompanied by her father Gladwyn.
Various parents and friends gave testimonies, insights into the candidates and prayed for them before they entered the pool.
The technical and support team prepared the sound systems /special video feed, got the pool water nice and warm, organized the smooth changing out of wet clothes into dry clothes in super time ... and practically everyone chipped in with great food for the occasion.
And I had the joy of being the baptizer!


text:
Dennis Barker has written a hard-hitting expose of the erosion of standards and values in the media world of newspapers, TV and radio over the past twenty years, in particular those of integrity, independence of thought and accuracy. He was prompted to start work on his book by the low standing of journalists - at the bottom near estate-agents and politicians - in recent opinion polls on the esteem in which the public holds those in different professions. He takes the reader through a whole gamut of journalistic 'tricks', which pinpoint the failings of the media, in over fifty short chapters, including 'the death of the reporter', 'prejudicial words', 'shovel it all in', 'the sub's role', 'my beautiful career', 'same old celebrities', 'money worship' and 'headlines and fib-lines'. In 'snubbing', we see how a colourfully dramatic conflict or a cauldron of ill-will can be created where possibly none exists. The general public is becoming increasingly aware of the unsatisfactory state of affairs in media journalism, which is highlighted by the periodic distortions caused by the political ambitions of chief executives and tycoons, misleading headlines, and its extraordinary obsession with celebrity culture. "Tricks Journalists Play" is essential reading for the majority of us who care about the pernicious effects of spin, misrepresentation and deception and social and international prejudice, the purveying of half-truths in relation to crucial issues that affect our future, and the failure to report fully and accurately on matters that have a bearing on freedom and democracy in this country. An experienced journalist himself, Dennis Barker has worked for the "Guardian" since the 1960s in many roles, from feature writer and media correspondent to general columnist, and at the moment is a contributor of obituaries, mainly in the media and entertainment spheres.
Dennis Barker is an experienced journalist who has worked for the Guardian in many different roles, from reporter, feature writer and media correspondent to general columnist, since the 1960s, and at the moment is a contributor of obituaries, mainly in the media and entertainment spheres. He is the author of many books, including The Craft of the Media Interview, How to Deal with the Media: a Practical Guide, the People of the Forces trilogy: Soldiering On, Ruling the Waves and Guarding the Skies, and One Man's Estate and three novels. He also broadcast regularly with the BBC in the 1970s.
More books by Dennis Barker
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Dental podcast hosted by Dr. Phil Klein: This Viva Podcast will discuss both the challenges and opportunities associated with bioactive and biomimetic dentistry. We will also consider clinical techniques, relevant scientific research, and future developments in bioactive and biomimetic materials. Our guest is Larry Clark, Director of Clinical Affairs and Marketing at Pulpdent. Larry has authored publications and lectured extensively on dental materials and was the first non-dentist, non-dental lab member inducted into the American Society for Dental Aesthetics.
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What maintenance do decorative concrete overlays require?
Decorative concrete overlays need a bit of maintenance to protect their beauty and investment. This isn't difficult maintenance, so there is no need to put it off. For starters, seal decorative concrete overlays once a year to protect them. The sealant is available at any home improvement center and should be applied by manufacturers directions. To keep the overlay clean, regularly hose it down using medium pressure on a pressure washer or hose. If the overlay is dirty, use a mild household cleaning soap and a bristle mop to scrub it down. Be sure to rinse completely clean with clear water.


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"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
–Albert Einstein
Want $5 free for shopping? Sign up for Swagbucks.
You want to start a blog but you're not sure if it'll ever make money, right? Well, it certainly can and it doesn't have to take years to happen if you've got the right strategies in place! But it takes a lot of learning and unpaid, invested time upfront to really make it work.
But man, when you get that first check…*fireworks*
I started this blog in April 2013 and earned my first $328.25 in May 2015 from ad income (Sovrn). It's rather small when you think of actually depending on that income but it quickly accelerated into a full-time, passive income less than a year later!
Let's talk about how you can do the same.
First things first, make sure you have a backup plan if you have financial obligations that need to be met. None of this blogging for profit stuff happens overnight. I personally worked as a Virtual Assistant and freelancer before I made the plunge into full-time blogging.
Okay, let's get into the details!
There were so many factors to getting to that first check but here are the main ones that really made a difference.
1. I prepared my mindset for business
While I haven't always had the perfect strategies, Frugal on the Prairie has always been a business to me. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty or weird about trying to monetize from Day 1 because you're just playing a different type of ball game from them. It's okay to have profit on the mind!
My blog started producing a full-time passive income (this does not count my freelancing) less than a six months after starting it. I credit that to a lot of things but mostly to having my eye on the ball before I even hit Publish.
2. I determined my main niche then listened to my audience
Your readers know what they want.
It can be hard deciding what you really want to write about. I think I had almost 5 different categories at first. I wrote about what I really love (I still do- follow your passions!) but I also listened closely to my readers and analyzed their responses to my content.
- What posts did they really like?
- What did they sign up for (i.e. which subscriber incentive)?
- What are they not interested in?
- What are their pain points?
- How can I help solve their problems?
3. I actually started the darn blog
If you're interested in starting a blog, I have a step-by-step tutorial for setting up your domain and hosting here, which can be a headache to figure out if you've never done it before! I highly recommend and use Bluehost for my hosting!
"Fear of failure."
That's the #1 reason my blogging students say they waited too long or still haven't actually done much with their blog.
Let's just take a moment and talk about how brave you're being, putting yourself out there online for other people to see. Depending on your content, you could also have very controversial topics and open the door for mixed feelings about the blogosphere.
Yes, you will probably run into a few meanies. But you'd run into them even if you weren't blogging because this beautiful world is just really messy sometimes. Embrace the fear and go start your blog so you can make a difference.
4. I connected with other bloggers
Bloggers help bloggers. We may have our fair share of copycats and high school moments but we are primarily composed of driven, passionate people who just want to help each other and their readers.
Reach out to a blogger you admire and give them a genuine compliment. Ask them if they'd like to have a Google Hangouts or phone call brainstorm session. Connect with these people because in a lot of cases, they're the only socialization we get as work-from-home entrepreneurs.
5. I wrote a good collection of posts
I believe I started promoting and inviting when I had somewhere around 20-30 posts written. As you write more, you'll have more to promote which means you may get more traffic. It all goes hand in hand.
6. I changed strategies when what was working for the crowd just wasn't working for me
Oh, Google AdSense, how you disappointed me. I obviously wanted to monetize early on but nothing ever seemed to click with them. Either the ads weren't showing properly or there was a glitch somewhere (human error, I'm sure…). Eventually I threw in the towel and said, "This is working for everyone else but not for me. Time to try something new."
Enter Sovrn! Sovrn is an ad company that doesn't have a minimum pageview requirement. It's a Godsend for newbie bloggers because we're still just trying to get our ducks in order and don't have anywhere near 100k pageviews/month yet (which is what a lot of larger ad companies require).
If something isn't working for you or your business, try something else. Don't worry too much about everyone else's tactics. You are your own rockstar.
Because you absolutely can. There is a lot of sweat and tears (I've lost count of how many times I've been rejected from a business or crashed my site) but it is so worth it once you hit your stride.


text:
Imperial Oil IMO recently released second-quarter 2018 results, wherein it delivered a comprehensive beat. The company reported second-quarter 2019 earnings per share of 66 cents, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 60 cents. The outperformance can be attributed to stronger contribution from its upstream and downstream segments. The Canadian integrated oil and gas player's bottom line also surged from the year-ago figure of 19 cents.
Meanwhile, Canadian integrated peers like Cenovus Energy CVE and Suncor Energy SU lagged earnings estimates in the latest quarterly release.
Imperial Oil generated second-quarter revenues of $6,924 million, surpassing the Zacks Estimate of $6,660 million. However, the top line plunged from the year-ago figure of $7,396 million.
Imperial Oil Limited Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Imperial Oil Limited price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Imperial Oil Limited Quote
Segmental Information
Upstream: Revenues from the segment came in at C$3,707 million, increasing from second-quarter 2018's C$2,971 on higher output levels. As such, the segment swung to a profit of C$985 million against C$6 million loss in the year-ago period. Favorable tax impacts to the extent of C$689 million aided the results.
Net production volumes during the quarter under review averaged 354,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (Boe/d) compared with 296,000 Boe/d in the year-ago period. Total oil and NGL output amounted to 331,000 barrels per day (BPD) versus 276,000 BPD in second-quarter 2018. Net oil and NGL output from Kearl and Cold Lake totaled 140,000 bpd and 1108,000 bpd, respectively. Syncrude output averaged 69,000 BPD, rising 50% from the year-ago quarter on stronger asset reliability. Net natural gas production came in at 139 million cubic feet per day (Mcf/d), higher than 122 Mcf/d in the prior-year quarter.
Bitumen (accounting for 75% of output) price realizations totaled 57.19 a barrel, up from $48.90 in the year-ago quarter. The company received average realized price of C$79.96 per barrel of synthetic oil compared with the year-ago quarter's C$86.31. For conventional crude oil, it received C$58.20 per barrel compared with the year-ago figure of C$74.55. Prices of NGL and gas declined on a y/y basis to C$16.78 a barrel and C$1.94 per thousand cubic feet, respectively.
Downstream: Revenues from the downstream segment totaled C$6,881 million, declining from $7,221 million in second-quarter 2018. The segmental net income totaled C$258 million, increasing from C$201 million owing to lower net turnaround impacts.
Refinery throughput in second-quarter 2019 averaged 344,000 BPD, depicting a decline from the prior-year level of 363,000 BPD. Capacity utilization came in at 81% versus 86% in the corresponding quarter of the last year. Petroleum product sales were 477,000 BPD compared with the prior-year level of 510,000 BPD.
Chemical: The segment generated revenues of C$314 million versus C$402 million in second-quarter 2018. Net income from the segment was recorded at C$38 million compared with the year-ago figure of C$78 million. The decline came on the back of lower industry margins.
Total Costs & Capex
Total expenses during the quarter were C$8,532 million, lower than the year-ago level of C$9,279 million.
In the quarter under review, the company's total capital and exploration expenditures were C$429 million, higher than the year-ago level of C$284 million. Of the total expenditure in second-quarter 2019, 70% was allotted to the upstream segment.
Financial Performance
Imperial Oil generated cash flow from operating activities of C$1,029 million in the quarter under review. The figure improved from the year-ago level of C$859 million.
Importantly, in the quarter under review, it paid back C$515 million to its shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. The company paid 19 Canadian cents as dividend per share in the reported quarter compared with 16 Canadian cents in the year-ago period. Imperial Oil bought back around 9.8 million shares in the quarter for C$368 million, including those bought from Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM.
As of Jun 30, the company held C$1,087 million in cash and cash equivalents. Its long-term debt amounted to C$5,168 million, representing a debt-to-capital ratio of around 17.1%.
For full-year 2019, the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company's total capital expenditure is now expected in the range of C$1.8-C$1.9. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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text:
Odds and Ends
March 28, 2007
Volume 13 of EMA's free sampler, Shinkan, is now available for download on their site. Part four (pages 120-150, but remember: Japanese direction!) includes a number of pages from Musouka, a boys love story by Diana Liesaus, and Gott Gauss, by Viviane & Bruno Cotting; both are new German manga, and soon to be released! Gott Gauss is listed as being a single volume, while Musouka will be continued in later volumes. There are also a few pin-ups from Independent volume 3, by DuO, so be sure to check it out!
Want more previews? Kappa Maki volume 1 has one up! For those unaware of it, Kappa Maki is a new anthology of "German doujinshi" (this volume's theme: comedy) which is only sold at cons and on the publisher's site. Anike Hage (Gothic Sports) did the cover of volume one, and eleven short stories fill the anthology, including one by Nam & Tram Nguyen (Delilah's Mystery).
We've updated the Master List of German Manga with quite a few new additions, and gave the Licensed Abroad page a make-over, with lots of new info… but there's still lots we're missing! Let us know if you have any idea who the publishers that have licensed these works are.
EMA – Shinkan 12 – 2/2
November 30, 2006
EMA recently released Shinkan 12, which covers their fall/winter of 2006/2007 line-up.
EMA on Tour!
The big EMA-roadshow happened from May 29 til June 3. We sent our German manga artists, Alexandra Voelker (Catwalk), Asu and Reami of DuO (Mon-Star Attack), Gina Wetzel (Orcus Star), Lenka Buschova (Freaky Angel), and Ying Zhou-Cheng (Shanghai Passion), on a big signing tour through Germany.
The tour was a big success, and fans and book-traders were equally enthusiastic. No surprise: after all, the six lively manga-girls kept everyone entertained with colorful costumes, a great program, and lots of fun!
EMA – Shinkan 12 – 1/2
November 29, 2006
EMA recently released Shinkan 12, which covers their fall/winter of 2006/2007 line-up.
Shopping-crazed mafia-daughter…
…on the run! Epice's money worries are history, but now she has a lot of other worries. While she's chased by the robbed-thief, the highly-motivated police, and her "mafioso" brother, she still finds enough time to provide entertainment for her best friend- by kidnapping her favorite popstar! Fortunately, he isn't too opposed to a little kidnapping. Being a popstar is normally so boring…
Killer babes, cute guys, and absurd ideas – and the first volume comes with a free INDEPENDENT-STABILO-highlighter! The hellish DuO strikes again!
Author: DuO
3 volumes, ongoing
From wallflower to supermodel
Catwalk tells the story of the shy student Blanche, who's loaded with complexes, and who takes the once-in-a-lifetime chance to become a supermodel.
In the second and final volume of the short series, Blanche experiences the dark sides of the fashion world and the balance between school and life on the catwalk becomes more and more troubled. Her pushy colleague Kei doesn't make life any easier either. Will Blanche be broken by the stress of the hard model business?
Catwalk is the first manga series by the 20 year old artist Alexandra Voelker from Hamm, who won second place at the Connichi 2004 doujinshi contest.
2 volumes, finished
Author: Alexandra Voelker
"If you look into an abyss long enough…
…the abyss also looks into you." – F. Nietzsche
Sascha Schaetzchen, a German exceptional-mangaka with a fondness for skimpily-clad, full-breasted heroines, sends his protagonist onto a Tour de Force through the abysses of human flaws.
What is really behind the pretty facades of Dandelion, Naomi, Autumn, and Celestine?
Is it divine intervention that led them together, or a more devilish plan that will climax in the destruction of mankind?
Sascha Schaetzchen's refined graphics were improved even more for the second volume of the series, and the language of the images can stand equally with his Japanese rolemodels. The story is superficially built on eroticism, action, and gore, but in its completeness it develops a deep level of understanding of the human condition.
A must for all fans of complex manga!
Author: Sascha Schaetzchen
3 volumes – ongoing
New Series from Carlsen & EMA
November 18, 2006
SplashComics notes that EMA has released the titles of two new series that should be coming out next summer.
Gott Gauss, by Viviane, a Swiss artist. The series apparently used to be posted as an online comic at SplashComics, so stop by if you're interested in some sample images.
Musouka, by Diana Liesaus. The 19 year old from Dresden recently won the Connichi doujinshi contest, and had her short BL story Puppet 175 published in the Shinkan Special 2005. The story was later republished in Lime Law v1, by Fireangels Verlag. She's on both Animexx & Y-Gallery.
In similar news, AnimeY reports that Carlsen Comics' new Manga Preview has a sample from a new pair of mangaka, more of whose work we'll see in spring of next year. Franziska Leviathan and Tina Lindhorst had a short story in Manga Preview, titled The Same Pleasure as Every Year.
EMA Shinkan 11 – Freaky Angel & Ema on Tour
September 29, 2006
A few of the pages that focus on global manga from Shinkan 11… Translations of the pages can be found below. Click the thumbnails for the full images.
Manga Made in Germany
Love gives you wings!
New short stories at two chapters each about Hikari (the "Freaky Angel"), who wants to help people with love problems.
In volume two, there's more about Hikaru and Hugo. What kind of relationship do they have in real life, and what is their real task?
The characters from the first volume also make reappearances, as Hugo tries to ruin Hikari's "achievements".
Lenka Buschova, the winner of the Connichi 2003 doujinshi drawing contest presents her second manga with romantic comedy plots and convincing artwork.
Author – Lenka Buschova
Two volumes – finished.
German Mangaka from EMA!
Gina Wetzel
Alexandra Voelker
Lenka Buschova
Sascha Shaetzchen
Ying Zhou Cheng
Manga Made in Germany
Catwalk – Alexandra Voelker
Mon-Star Attack – DuO
Orcus Star – Gina Wetzel
Freaky Angel – Lenka Buschova
Shanghai Passion – Ying Zhou Cheng
More information on the EMA-Roadshow and the particular locations can be found online at http://www.manganet.de
Meet your manga-stars on the roadshow from May 29 – June 3, 2006
The manga-summer now begins! Let us sweeten the first sunbeams of the year 2006 for you – with the big EMA-Roadshow!
Witness our german mangaka on the big signing tour in the branded EMA-tourbus, as they travel through Germany's biggest metropolises: six manga gals, six days, seven cities. Alexandra Voelker (Catwalk), the DuO (Mon-Star Attack), Gina Wetel (Orcus Star), Lenka Buschova (Freaky Angel), and Ying Zhou Cheng (Shanghai Passion) come to you – live and in color. Other than autographed copies of their manga, make sure you get useful tips and tricks about drawing manga. And, of course, numerous surprises, extras, and highlights await you. Just let yourself be surprised – EMA is coming to you…
Be a manga artist!
…and the fun continues! For 2006, Egmont Manga & Anime (EMA) and the international writing utensil-producer STABILO once again call for the big COMIC CAMPUS drawing contest. This is where Germany's rising mangaka can submit their self-drawn manga stories.
The best submissions will once again be rewarded with great material and monetary prizes, as well as publication in the EMA special volume Shinkan-Special! Our German mangaka demonstrated how to do it – now it's your turn!
So: Ready, set, DRAW!
Both detailed information about the contest and submission guidelines can be found online at:
EMA: http://www.manganet.de
STABILO: http://www.stabilo.com
EMA Shinkan 11 – Indépendent
September 26, 2006
The cover and a few of the pages that focus on global manga from Shinkan 11… A summary and a few preview pages of Indépendent. Translations of the pages can be found below. Click the thumbnails for the full images.
Manga Made in Germany
They are young, wild, and indépendent…
…at least, as long as Daddy pays. But hip girl Épicé can't be that dependent anymore; after all, she's the daughter of a true mafioso. So she decides to up her budget, which suffers strongly from her shopping sprees. Mafia-style, of course…
In the newest work from our DuO is filled with juicy bishies and tough manga-babes! Of course, the two always have a little fun with such stereotypes.
It would be a pity if they didn't; after all, a Shingo with an accounting compulsion is twice as cute! [we don't know what they mean by this…]
The writing utensil-producers of the nation agreed, and hence you will soon find Epice & Co. on five shiny highlighters from STABILO… available all over Europe! Those who can wait (*harhar*) will get the cute pens for free with the manga (volume one, limited first edition)!
*heavenly beauty*
I am young, cute, self-confident, loved by all, cool and stylish…
…and have everything a hip girl needs.
And that would be…
The DuO-Trend-News-Exclusive-Special-Fashion-Magazine for Independent Girls™!
Thanks to it, every hip girl knows what she needs.
And that's why it appears daily.
Other than ten pages of ads, horoscopes, DuO-propaganda, and for special occasions, bonus glitter stickers, the absolute highlight is the In/Out-List with constantly changing trends.
Of course, I have the absolute musts of the day!
Fruit hairclips (even though I find vegetables to be cooler)
T-shirt instead of a blouse
Tie (actually, two) in the color of the month, which is determined by the school principal via choosing lots
Way too short a skirt (for safety, with petticoat)
Tights (and socks, because I like 'em)
Two-striped loose socks
Sports bag
Mega-long cell-phone straps
Platform shoes
It can't be true!
EMA Shinkan 10 – Shanghai Passion (boys love)
September 25, 2006
These are some of the pages that focus on global manga from Shinkan 10… A summary and a few preview pages of Shanghai Passion, a single volume BL work. Translations of the pages can be found below. Click the thumbnails for the full images.
Manga Made in Germany/Shounen Ai adult
Travel and see the world…
Shanghai, 1933: The German businessman Vincent Sebastian von Kretsch has traveled to China to forge trading connections and to escape marriage to his fiancée, whom he believes he cannot truly love.
In Shangai, he meets Bai Li, the son of a powerful Chinese mafia family which has big plans for him and his half-brother Lei…who oddly attracts the conservative foreigner!
Ying Zhou Cheng is the winner of the Connichi doujinshi contest 2004. With her short story "CHOU", she enchanted the jury and readers alike. With "Shanghai Passion", the Chinese-born passionate cosplayer has her impressive manga debut.
(right to left)
I was just kidding.
Phew… hehe…
Would you like to rest, or dine right away?
Dine. I want to be punctual…
…proper, and…
You are so distracted. Should I carry you to your room…
…Mr. von Solms?
Uh… no, I'm just… distracted by the city…
Would you like me to show you "my city" later?
I am practically married, miss.
Well… voila.
EMA Shinkan 10 – Freaky Angel
September 24, 2006
These are some of the pages that focus on global manga from Shinkan 10… A summary and a few preview pages of Freaky Angel. Translations of the pages can be found below. Click the thumbnails for the full images.
Manga Made in Germany/Comedy
An angel for love.
Whether in love, friendship, or carrier: angel Hikari helps in every type of situation. Her clients, however, are a little crazy – and that fits perfectly for the Freaky Angel, who accomplishes her tasks in very unique ways. That her first client's best friend is a mop doesn't throw off Hikari's stride at all. She wants to act as a matchmaker between the shy Satoshi and his secret love, Ren. After that, she's supposed to fix the friendship between Raya and Karin – or find them new friends/boyfriends. And finally, there is still the singer Kyumin, who wants to quit her job…
Three stand-alone short stories, each with two chapters, tell the story of the Freaky Angel. After every case, she disappears, and all memories of her go with her. But for the readers, Hikari will certainly be unforgettable!
Lenka Buschova, the winner of the Connichi 2003 drawing contest, presents herself as a new talent with her romantic comedy plots and impressive layout and artwork.
(right to left)
What's with the ridiculous wings?
Thanks, now I can go back to sweeping.
But you know, not like it matters that I have to clean it up.
What do you want?
To help you with love, since you really suck.
And I already have an idea.
Don't bother, no one can help me there.
Just leave it to me!
After all, I'm a real neotenshi.
So will you be my love slave?
Waah! Mr. Mop!
Kyaa, what are you doing?!
Jumping after it…
Lemme go!
Hmm, comfy bed. I can imagine staying here…
Thanks for letting me stay here in exchange for my help.
But somehow, you're pretty naïve.
After all, I could be a homicidal psychopath…
If you want me to throw you out, keep acting like you are.
Damn, cut myself.
EMA Shinkan 10 – Catwalk
September 23, 2006
These are the pages that focus on global manga from Shinkan 10… A summary and a few preview pages of Catwalk. Translations of the pages can be found below. Click the thumbnails for the full images.
Catwalk- a fashion manga
Xela City is THE fashion-city. Here, the creative minds of the world gather, here trends are set and dream-like model careers become possible. It is in these surroundings that the shy and complex-laden girl Blanche finds herself discovered by a model agency and gets the incredible opportunity to become "Model of the Year". But Blanche's past is filled with just as many secrets as that of her new manager, Merry…
Catwalk is the first manga from the 18 year old mangaka Alexandra Voelker, from Hamm. She won second place at the Connichi 2004 doujinshi drawing contest.
(right to left)
Well, for my standards, there is way too much going on here.
Huge masses of people…
How am I supposed to find this "Merry" here?
I can't imagine I'll just happen to run into her.
Didn't the guy at the entrance say something about friendly helpers?
Well great, I don't see any helpers.
Especially not a friendly one.
Oh well, guess I'll have to ask around…
There's my first potential victim…!
Ichigo, ichigooo *sing*
Excuse me, do you happen to know a "Merry"…? No…?
She has glasses, and is… *blahblah*
Ooh, I get directions? That's really not necessary!
What the…?
An autograph…?
At this rate, I'll be searching for hours…
The agency is ten times larger than the new school, and I already had a hard time getting around there…
Ooh? What have we here?
Shirt: FRIENDLY HELPER
Damsel in distress!!!!
God, why did I accept this stupid job?!
I really urgently need information about a "Merry".
You know, I was ordered here and am supposed to-
I'm not deaf!
It's probably one of those retarded models…
Yes, yes, you're one of Merry's girls.
The conference started without you… first door on your left.
EMA Shinkan 10 – Anthology & Manga Contest
September 18, 2006
These are the pages that focus on global manga from Shinkan 10… Info about Manga Twister (a manga anthology), and also info about Comic Campus, EMA's version of RSOM. Translations of the pages can be found below. Click the thumbnails for the full images.
Manga Magazine
Germany's thickest manga-mag is…
not only an impressive stack of printed pages, but also something really special: Because our whirlwind offers something that not even the Japanese know: manga for boys and girls in one magazine, shounen and shoujo joined peacefully and only a little "twist" away from each other.
Its bimonthly publishing is new, and there are also some new fledgling series in both sides. For example, Dream Kiss, by Kazumi Ohya: a manga that looks at the topic of gender switching from the female point of view, as the cute heroine finds herself to be a member of a boy-band! The new shounen-hit is named Midori no Hibi, and also promises a lot of reading fun!
Apart from that, as always, everything about manga is there, as well as great reading material (480 pages!), super prizes, and (this time for sure) a teeny-tiny preview of the new DuO series.
Manga Made in Germany
Be a Manga Artist: Comic Campus 2005
It's being shouted from the rooftops, and the cover of this Shinkan informs the reader as well: EMA is celebrating its fifth birthday! Five years of EMA – that means five years of reading fun from Japan, Korea… and Germany!
Of course, supporting the German newcomer mangaka is at the top of our to-do list for our anniversary year too. After all, the drawing of Japanese and Korean comics has long-ceased to be the business just of well-known professional artists from Japan and Korea; by now there are numerous German talents that draw in the manga style – and who really don't have to be afraid of being compared to their famous role models!
This is proven once more by our doujinshi contest; this year it's been organized under the name Comic Campus, together with Animexx and the writing-utensil supplier STABILO. Around 800 submissions from Germany, Austria and Switzerland make it obvious once again that the manga-art has long-since found a way into central European culture. We give a heart-felt thank you to all participants!
You can certainly imagine that with such a high number of submissions and a high level of quality of many of the entries the selection of the winners wasn't easy. Nevertheless, we had to make a decision and after an exhausting reading marathon by the judges, the three best submissions to Comic Campus 2005 were finally determined.
And here they are:
First prize:
Diana Liesaus (Dresden)
Title: "Puppet 175"
Second prize:
Alina and Alesja Wagner (Wackersdorf)
Title: "Trip2Ehon"
Third prize:
Luisa Velontrova (Luckenwalde)
Title: "Paradise is Nowhere"
The submitted manga short stories of all three winners will be published by EMA in a special issue – the Shinkan Special 2005, which will, as always, come out for Connichi (September 16-18). Apart from the three winners, there are also runners up from other Comic Campus participants who didn't manage to make it into the very top, but whose work still impressed us so much that we had to include them in this doujinshi volume. Who are they? Just check online.
The winners of Comic Campus 2005 are listed there with their submissions. And by the way- the Shinkan Special 2005 will be available for download starting in October on the listed internet sites!
Many newcomer artists manage the jump into publishing via our doujinshi contest and get a much-desired EMA contract. In the following pages, you can see a few that already made it and have stories that are already out in paperback, published by EMA. Have fun reading!