text:
Elminster Aumar (pronounced: /ɛlˈmɪnstɛr/ el-MINN-ster[20]), also known as the "Sage of Shadowdale" and the "Old Mage", was one of the most famous and powerful wizards in all of Faerûn, as well as a fair fighter and thief.[21][18]
As a high-level wizard, Elminster was capable of taking on almost any appearance imaginable.[22]
In his natural state, Elminster was an old man with a gray beard, gruff voice, and weathered features but with alert eyes. His clothes were plain. He was rarely without his meerschaum pipe, usually smoking a vile blue or green smoke.[17]
Elminster's most distinguishing physical feature was his hawk-like nose.[citation needed]
Elminster was by turns serious, fearsome, and arrogant, and charming, clever, and good-humored. He was a natural raconteur and actor, and could present himself as a fatherly type, a trickster, a rake, or any other role or cliche required for a purpose or just to get a reaction from others. However, usually only close friends got to see the full range of his character.[17]
Elminster snored loudly while sleeping, although he muted this magically if it would disturb friends. It should be noted that as one of Mystra's Chosen, Elminster did not need to sleep.[23]
According to Lyra Sunrose, Elminster was skilled with a needle and thread, having sewn a blouse for her.[24]
Elminster was a poor horseman.[23]
Elminster was known to be capable of bypassing the wards of Blackstaff Tower and teleporting directly inside the structure unbidden, something Khelben believed him to be the lone individual capable of.[25]
Elminster owned a variety of powerful magic items, including an amulet of natural armor, bracers of armor, a mantle of spell resistance, a ring of protection, a ring of regeneration, a thundering longsword, and his famous Elminster's eversmoking pipe.[4]
Elminster was credited with the creation of the following spells:
Elminster penned a number of books in his time including Songs of the Wind: The Holdings of Windsong Tower,[27] Harping by Moonlight: Approaches to Life, and A Myth Drannan Amphigory.[28]
He famously compiled a nine-book series titled Elminster's Ecologies, in which a number of contributors wrote about the plants, animals, creatures, people and other natural phenomena they encountered throughout the Eastern Heartlands.[29]
Family TreeEdit
Elminster could count as allies his fellow Chosen of Mystra, and in particular his lover, the Simbul; the Harpers and many other good folk; Lhaeo, his scribe; and no less than the goddess Mystra herself.[21][17]
Elminster interacted regularly with the other Chosen of Mystra through a telepathic link. As well as once sharing a bed with the goddess herself, he conducted a relationship with the Simbul of the Seven Sisters. Elminster and Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun had something of a rivalry, whilst Volo sorely taxed the old mage's patience.[citation needed]
Though known to think very little of humans, Morgwais, the Lady of High Forest, liked Elminster a lot and had occasional flirtatious relations with him.[30]
The Old Mage was also friends with Mordenkainen of Oerth and was acquainted with Dalamar of Krynn. The three frequently met at Ed Greenwood's home on Earth to exchange spells and news of each other's worlds.[31][32]
Elminster once (briefly) had a Calishite apprentice named Raerlin, who stole the key to Elminster's closet in order to obtain a powerful spellbook (or possibly a phylactery). When Elminster retrieved the key in 1336 DR at a magefair with the help of Storm Silverhand and subsequently opened the closet, Raerlin appeared as a lich. He was defeated when Storm burnt the pages of the tome Raerlin was after.[33]
Early lifeEdit
Elminster was born in 212 DR[34] to Elthryn, who was the lord of the village of Heldon and a prince of Athalantar, and his wife Amrythale, in the kingdom of Athalantar.[35] However, they were slain by Undarl, a malaugrym and a magelord of Athalantar.[17][34] The only survivor, at the age of 12, Elminster took his father's broken sword, the Lion Sword, the symbol of the great king of the Stag Throne, Uthgrael Aumar, and became a brigand and thief.[35][17]
But with no desire for killing, the young El soon abandoned that trade and instead operated as a burglar in Hastarl, capital of Athalantar. He met and formed a bond of friendship with a young thief, Farl, who knew Elminster as "Eladar the Dark". They committed many acts of thievery together and lived life fully, later forming the gang the Velvet Hands in opposition to a rival gang, the Moonclaws, who were servants of the magelords. Later, during a burglary, Elminster met the Magister of the time, Dorgon "Stonecloak" Heamilolothtar. The Magister asked him if he desired to learn magic, but Elminster refused, as he hated all mages because of the magelords.[35][17]
Eventually, after a number of adventures when Elminster was a young adult, Mystra, the Goddess of All Magic, visited Elminster and spent time with him, persuading him to learn magic and revere her. Soon after, Mystra even turned him into a woman, to strengthen his bond with magic and to expand his understanding of the world, as well as to enable to pass unnoticed by his enemies. For a few years, "Elmara" was a priestess of Mystra. Later, an avatar of Mystra (who went by the name Myrjala Talithyn, or "Darkeyes") trained Elmara in the ways of a mage and brought her to an ancient Netherese archmage known as Ander who taught Elmara a spell that would transform her back into Elminster. Afterward, Myrjala taught Elminster a lot about magic, until he could at last get revenge against the magelords of Athalantar. The battle was terrible, but Elminster was victorious and finally claimed the kingdom's throne.[35][17]
But Elminster had no desire for kingship, and quickly abdicated in favor of a friend, Helm Stoneblade, a knight of Athalantar. However, as Elminster and Myrjala departed the kingdom, the Mage Royal, Undarl, attacked them, and the sorceress shed her guise, showing she was none other than Mystra. Mystra proposed that Elminster should be one of her Chosen, and he quickly agreed.[35][17]
Around 241 DR, Elminster traveled to the city of Cormanthor, where he continued his magical studies as an apprentice to a cruel and powerful wizard and living among the ancient elven society. Elminster remained in Cormanthor for over two decades, and was present when the mythal was raised and the city was renamed Myth Drannor.[36]
Somewhere around the mid–7th century DR, Elminster entered a tomb and became trapped there in stasis for roughly a century. He emerged from the dusty tomb in 759 DR.[37]
By now, magic had become unreliable, and Elminster had to again learn to survive by his wits and the skills he'd picked up earlier in his life. The god Azuth soon came to him telling him that he mustn't rely on Mystra for aid like any other Chosen must with magic, this again being a test from Mystra. Soon he had to learn how to survive without constant divine aid. He later underwent further magical training under the tutelage of a wicked sorceress who sought to tempt him away from Mystra's path. Later, during a fake ritual for Bane, she revealed herself to be the goddess Mystra herself, once again testing him.[2]
Elminster later served as a foster parent to three other of Mystra's Chosen: Laeral Silverhand, Storm Silverhand, and Dove Falconhand.[2] Some believed he had a hand in the founding of the city Waterdeep, or just with setting up its system of lords.[17]
In 1336 DR, Elminster visited the Moonshae Isles.[38]
Elminster played a key part in establishing the Rangers Three. They helped him in continuing conflicts with the Shadowmasters.[17]
The Time of TroublesEdit
In 1358 DR, just before the Time of Troubles, Mystra gained some foreknowledge and backed up her power into Midnight, the human wizard, so it would not be lost. As Elminster, like most other wizards, received his power from Mystra, he was left powerless.[17]
During the Time of Troubles, Elminster defended Shadowdale against a Zhentarim army commanded by Bane himself. When Bane and Elminster battled inside his tower, Elminster used a spell to get rid of the avatar, but both of them were struck, and others believed Elminster was slain.[39][17] In fact, he was transported to another plane for a period of time, and later returned.[17]
However, while Elminster was absent, the other Chosen, the Knights of Myth Drannor, and the Rangers Three held off the forces of evil until his return to the world. However, the subsequent calm was soon broken, as the Shadowmasters had not stopped their plans for power. Elminster, the Rangers Three, and their allies, managed to stop their plans.[17]
In the Nine HellsEdit
After the floating city of Thultanthar returned to Faerûn in 1372 DR after its exile in the Plane of Shadow, the Shadovar came to Shadowdale to ambush Elminster. In the confrontation, spells were thrown, and Storm Silverhand blasted one of the shadow princes with a ball of silver fire. Since shadovar were living shadow magic, and silver fire was pure Weave magic, the collision between the two tore at the fabric of reality, creating a rift to the Nine Hells. Elminster realized that the only way to close the portal before legions of devils spilled forth into Toril was to close it from the other side.[40]
Elminster entered the portal and narrowly managed to close it, but at the expense of much of his magical strength. Once in Hell, he was abducted and enslaved by an outcast archdevil known as Nergal, who wished to discover the secret of Mystra's silver fire. Elminster was subject to brutal tortures, surviving only because of his exceptional endurance and ability to heal himself with silver fire. While the arch-fiend plundered Elminster's thoughts and memories, Mystra became aware of her favorite servant's plight and entered Hell herself to find him. Realizing that her presence in Hell was overly conspicuous, Mystra retreated and dispatched more subtle agents to find him, first Halaster Blackcloak the Mad Mage of Undermountain (who was defeated), and then the Simbul. After much searching, the Simbul found him, and together they defeated Nergal and returned home.[41]
In the 1370s DREdit
A few years later, Elminster discovered a daughter he had never known, Narnra Shalace, in Marsember. Because of her curiosity, Narnra quickly found herself involved not only in Elminster's activities but also in the intrigues of the Cormyrean nation.[42]
Elminster later secretly helped a small group of adventurers near Westgate at the village of Reddansyr, investigating the fate of a clone of Manshoon, and unmasking the real leader of Night Masks of Westgate, the Night King known as "The Faceless" (the Manshoon clone, now known as Orbakh), three years after the Manshoon Wars in the year of 1373 DR.[citation needed]
On Nightal 15 1374 DR, Sharran agents attempted to steal the Ebon Diadem from Elminster's tower. Due to the essence of the artifact and the sheer power of Elminster's wards, on whose power the artifact fed, the Sharrans defeated Elminster (though not without losing most of their number) and a contingency spell whisked Elminster away, while his tower itself was blasted into ruin and transported to another, unknown plane.[43]
Following the death of Mystra in 1385 DR and the collapse of the Weave in the Spellplague, Elminster was stripped of many of his abilities as one of the Chosen, though he still aged as slowly as he had for the previous millennium and was still quite powerful magically. However, every use of his magic drove him to—and sometimes over—the brink of insanity. When this happened, only Storm was able to bring his mind back, giving of her own essence to soothe Elminster's mind. Elminster could still cast minor cantrips at times—and had, on several occasions, cast minor illusions—without going mad, though this wasn't always the case.[9]
Despite these setbacks, Elminster and Storm continued with their campaign to save Faerûn, battling evil where they could. For years, the two of them pretended to be "Elgorn" and "Stornara Rhauligan", "repairers of ever-crumbling stone, plaster, tapestries, and wood" in the royal palace of Suzail, spying on and testing the loyalties of War Wizards and nobles alike. On one occasion, Elminster even stole into the bedchambers of King Foril Obarskyr and made changes to the Suzail Writ, while his majesty slept not a spear-length away.[9]
In 1479 DR, after finally admitting that they needed help saving the Realms, and having run out of easy-to-steal magic items to feed to the Simbul, Elminster sought to gain access to artifacts known to contain the spirits of the Nine—objects powerful enough to pierce the wards surrounding the royal palace or, Elminster believed, to permanently restore the Simbul's sanity. He also sought to recruit the efforts of a descendant of his, Amarune Whitewave.[9]
During one of his excursions into the palace, Elminster's body was destroyed by Manshoon, who had secretly been peeling away the Old Mage's contingency spells over several years. However, Manshoon departed before he realized that Elminster had survived his body's destruction in a near-undead state. With the agreement of Amarune and the aid of Storm, Elminster's essence was placed in Amarune's body with the aid of a spell the ex-Chosen had discovered in a cache once belonging to Azuth. He then sought to train his great-granddaughter while attempting to defend the Forest Kingdom from Manshoon and traitorous nobles alike.[9] Later, thanks to the sacrifice of the Simbul, he regained his former body again and ruined for good Manshoon's claim to the throne of Suzail.[44]
In 1487 DR, Elminster (with the help of the Srinshee, Alustriel, and Laeral Silverhand) stopped Shar as well as Larloch from becoming the new deity of magic. He killed Telamont Tanthul and let Thultanthar fall upon Myth Drannor. Along the way, Mystra was completely restored.[45]
In 1491 DR, Elminster and Mirt the Moneylender returned to the city of Waterdeep, both aiding the newly appointed Open Lord of Waterdeep, Laeral Silverhand, uncover the culprits behind a string of murders of Masked Lords.[46]
Elminster on:
- Magic
|Whenever magic one doth weave
'Tis never ever wise to deceive
|— Elminster[citation needed]
|Magic creates, but it also destroys. Whatever ye use it for, it always, always transforms the user and that upon which it acts. Forget that at thy everlasting peril. Remember also that the mage who slays with Art carries the weight of every slain soul around with him from the moment of killing onward. It is not a burden to be lightly assumed.
|— Elminster, A Myth Drannan Amphigory[47]
- Elves
|Methinks ye shouldst take what is given when proffered by an elf. They have secrets aplenty, as well they should, and take care ye don't pry too hard. Inquisitiveness is admired by the People, but rude investigation is not, and ye'd crack the shell of a dragon turtle with your teeth sooner than gain secrets from a slighted elf.
|— Elminster[citation needed]
- Himself
|I am Elminster of Shadowdale, called by some the Old Sage, and called far worse things by others. I've walked these realms for over a thousand years. Yet, I am far from the oldest, wisest, or mightiest being to walk the ground of Faerûn with my well-worn boots—and that is truth. But if ye learn the long history of my deeds, ye'll know precisely what I stand for and what I am. And that's a rare and precious thing, knowing yourself. Do ye know exactly what ye stand for?
|— Elminster[citation needed]
|Adventurer, I am Elminster, and I say to ye that these forgotten realms are yours to discover, reforge, and defend, yours to make anew in winning your own crown. Go forth and take up arms against the perils that beset us!
|— Elminster[citation needed]
- Tolerance
|Ye, I, and all gathered here now, are dangerous. Should we then be destroyed out of hand because of what we might do? Nay! It is the right and the doom of all creatures who walk Faerûn to do as they will; it is why we of the art frown so at those who charm often, or in frivolous cause.
|— Elminster[citation needed]
|Not even the gods took unto themselves the power to control ye or me so tightly that we cannot walk or speak or breathe save at another's bidding! It is their will that we may be free to do as we may. Slay a foe, sure, or defend thyself against a raider - but to strike down one who may some day menace thee? That is as monstrous as the act of the usurper who slays all babies in a land, for fear of a rightful heir someday rising against him!
|— Elminster[48]
- Emotions
|Outrage? That's one of those overblown emotions reserved for fools who haven't been paying attention.
|— Elminster, Harping by Moonlight: Approaches To Life[49]
These notices could be found on the side of the path leading to Elminster's tower in Shadowdale:[citation needed]
- "Gone gathering spell components." (This sign at the base of the path is very old and weather beaten, and most pay it little heed.)[citation needed]
- "No trespassing. Violators should notify next of kin. Have a pleasant day."[citation needed]
- "An archmage often can react poorly to interruption. Please reconsider before it is too late."[citation needed]
- "Trespassers could die a quick and certain death or they could be invited in for stew. Thank you for thinking better of disturbing my privacy."[citation needed]
- "Rumors of spike-filled pits along this path are almost totally false. Thank you for your caution."[citation needed]
- "This ancient path
is cracked and paved
with the bones of those
who could not behave."[citation needed]
In addition to his residence on Toril, Elminster maintained a hideaway within a floating metal sphere that orbited the central earthmote of the planet Coliar.[50]
|This article is incomplete. You can help the Forgotten Realms Wiki by providing more information.
- Novels
- Azure Bonds
- Song of the Saurials
- Return of the Archwizards
- The Elminster series:
- The Avatar series
- Sage of Shadowdale
- The Sundering series
- The Herald ( #6)
- Short stories
- Realms of Valor: "Elminster at the Magefair"
- The Best of the Realms: "Elminster at the Magefair"
- Dragon #390: "Lord of the Darkways"
- Adventures
- Hellgate Keep (adventure) (mentioned)
- Card Games
- Comics
- Spelljammer #14: "Before there was Meredith … there was Nimone!"
- Converging Lines
- Video games
- Pools of Darkness
- Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor
- Baldur's Gate
- Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (under the pseudonym "Terminsel", an anagram for "Elminster")
- Baldur's Gate II: Throne Of Bhaal
- Neverwinter
Further readingEdit
- Andy Collins, Bruce R. Cordell (July 2002). Epic Level Handbook. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 291–292. ISBN 0-7869-2658-9.
- Ed Greenwood (June 1986). "All about Elminster". In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #110 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 31–36.
External linksEdit
- Trusting in Lore, Part One
- Ed Greenwood (2005-06-08). The Legend of Tharnwood. Wizards of the Coast. Retrieved on 2010-10-24.
- Ed Greenwood (2005-06-08). The Legend of Tharnwood. Wizards of the Coast. Retrieved on 2010-10-24.
- ↑ BioWare (September 2000). Designed by James Ohlen, Kevin Martens. Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. Black Isle Studios.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ed Greenwood (November 1999). The Temptation of Elminster. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-1427-0.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (April 1996). "The Athalantan Campaign". In Pierce Watters ed. Dragon #228 (TSR, Inc.), p. 33.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 7. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood and Jeff Grubb (April 1998). Cormyr: A Novel (Paperback). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 76. ISBN ISBN 0-7869-0710-X.
- ↑ Troy Denning (Mar 2001). The Summoning. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 07-8691-801-2.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ed Greenwood (September 4, 2012). Elminster Enraged (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), loc. 3746. ISBN 0786960299.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). "Anauroch". In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 4. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Ed Greenwood (June 2011). Elminster Must Die (Mass Market Paperback). (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0786957996.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (2011). Bury Elminster Deep. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0786958154.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood and Karen S. Martin (1987). Forgotten Realms Campaign Set (DM's Sourcebook of the Realms). (TSR, Inc), p. 20. ISBN 0-8803-8472-7.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (May 2002). Elminster in Hell. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-2746-1.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (December 1998). Elminster in Myth Drannor. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-7869-1190-5.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Ed Greenwood (December 1995). Elminster: The Making of a Mage. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-7869-0203-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (April 1996). "The Athalantan Campaign". In Pierce Watters ed. Dragon #228 (TSR, Inc.), p. 27.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood and Karen S. Martin (1987). Forgotten Realms Campaign Set (DM's Sourcebook of the Realms). (TSR, Inc), p. 20. ISBN 0-8803-8472-7.
- ↑ 17.00 17.01 17.02 17.03 17.04 17.05 17.06 17.07 17.08 17.09 17.10 17.11 17.12 17.13 17.14 Dale Donovan, Paul Culotta (August 1996). Heroes' Lorebook. (TSR, Inc), pp. 48–50. ISBN 0-7869-0412-7.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Andy Collins, Bruce R. Cordell (July 2002). Epic Level Handbook. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 291–292. ISBN 0-7869-2658-9.
- ↑ Chris Sims (August 2010). "Campaign Workshop: Hero Battle: Elminster". In Steve Winter ed. Dungeon #181 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 40.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Julia Martin, Jeff Grubb (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition (revised), Running the Realms. (TSR, Inc), p. 33. ISBN 1-5607-6617-4.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 7. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (December 1995). Elminster: The Making of a Mage. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-7869-0203-5.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Ed Greenwood (November 2003). Elminster at the Magefair (The Best of the Realms). (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-3024-1.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). "Cormanthor". In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 2. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ Troy Denning (Mar 2001). The Summoning. (Wizards of the Coast), p. ?. ISBN 07-8691-801-2.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 Mark Middleton et al (January 1998). Wizard's Spell Compendium Volume Two. (TSR, Inc), pp. 303–305. ISBN 978-0786906642.
- ↑ Richard Baker, Eric L. Boyd, Thomas M. Reid (July 2007). Shadowdale: The Scouring of the Land. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 5. ISBN 07-8694-039-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (June 2000). "The New Adventures of Volo: Quotations of the Realms". In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #272 (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 94–97.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). "Explorer's Manual". In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), pp. 2–3. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ Troy Denning (Mar 2001). The Summoning. (Wizards of the Coast), p. ?. ISBN 07-8691-801-2.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (September 1992). "The Wizards Three: Magic in the Evening". In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #185 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 57–63.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (December 1992). "The Wizards Three: Sorcery from Three Worlds". In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #188 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 26–34.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (November 2003). Elminster at the Magefair (The Best of the Realms). (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-3024-1.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout (February 2005). Lost Empires of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 88. ISBN 0-7869-3654-1.
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 Ed Greenwood (December 1995). Elminster: The Making of a Mage. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-7869-0203-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (December 1998). Elminster in Myth Drannor. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-7869-1190-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (November 1999). The Temptation of Elminster. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 12. ISBN 0-7869-1427-0.
- ↑ Brian R. James (December 2007). "Grand History of the Realms: The Moonshaes". Dragon #362 (Wizards of the Coast).
- ↑ Scott Ciencin (May 2003). Shadowdale. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-3105-1.
- ↑ Troy Denning (Mar 2001). The Summoning. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 314–316. ISBN 07-8691-801-2.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (May 2002). Elminster in Hell. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-2746-1.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (May 2005). Elminster's Daughter. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0786937684.
- ↑ Richard Baker, Eric L. Boyd, Thomas M. Reid (July 2007). Shadowdale: The Scouring of the Land. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 4. ISBN 07-8694-039-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (May 2013). Elminster Enraged (Mass Market Paperback). (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0786963638.
- ↑ Warning: edition not specified for The Herald
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (2016-06-07). Death Masks. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-6593-2.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (June 2000). "The New Adventures of Volo: Quotations of the Realms". In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #272 (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 95–96.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (February 2005). Spellfire. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 205. ISBN 0-7869-3599-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (June 2000). "The New Adventures of Volo: Quotations of the Realms". In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #272 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 95.
- ↑ Dale "slade" Henson (April 1991). Realmspace. Edited by Gary L. Thomas, Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc), pp. 51–52. ISBN 1-56076-052-4.


text:
Brrrr! Temperatures dropped to 21° this morning in Draffenville, which is about what I expected! We'll likely remain in the 30s today despite partly cloudy skies.
Southwest surface winds will move in overnight. This will make conditions not quite as cold as last night, leading to lows around 25° under partly cloudy skies.
Saturday Snow Showers
Snow showers and flurries can still be expected Saturday as a clipper system moves to the northeast of the region. Afternoon highs will likely top out around 36°, so I'm not expecting much accumulation, if any at all. Most of the accumulations will be confined to the northeast.
The clipper system will usher in another shot of cold temperatures. Lows on Saturday night could drop into the low 20s once again. The Hi-Res NAM shows a low of 22°.
Southwest flow ahead of another disturbance on Sunday may be enough to bring temperatures to around 40°. Seems balmy, doesn't it?
Low temperatures will drop back into the mid to upper 20s with southerly winds on Sunday night.
Looking Ahead
Our next shot of some snow showers or flurries could be Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning. However, this doesn't look major at all and could be the same outcome as tomorrow brings. The European Model shows a rain/snow mix just east of us Tuesday evening.
Another precipitation event will likely unfold around the 16th and 17th. Too early to call whether it will be rain or snow, but I'm leaning toward a rain event.
That should wrap up this forecast. Be sure to follow along on Facebook and Twitter. Have a great day!
-Meteorologist Jacob Wilkins

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Turkey looks to Iraq to help end Kurdish conflictComments
The leader of Iraq's Kurdish population has promised to do what he can to stop Kurdish rebels attacking Turkey.
Massoud Barzani and the Turkish Foreign Minister said they would build on trade ties that have become stronger in recent years.
Barzani is the president of Iraqi Kurdistan, an autonomous region along the Turkish border which is used as a base by Kurdish separatists involved in a 26-year armed conflict with Turkey.
He said in Ankara yesterday that his government is "against the continued violence" and would "expend all efforts" to end it.
PKK Kurdish rebels claim they are fighting for Turkey to give greater cultural and political rights to Kurds, who are in a majority in a region covering not just south-east Turkey, but also parts of Iraq, Iran and Syria.
Turkish military attacks on PKK targets on Iraqi soil have been a source of friction between Ankara and Iraq's Kurdish government.
The PKK's imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, said from his jail cell last week that he was abandoning efforts towards a negotiated solution with the Turkish government.
A recent series of PKK attacks against the Turkish military targets have killed at least a dozen soldiers and policemen.


text:
Going Global in your math class with Skype
October 8, 2018
9:30 - 10:20
Room B110
In this session, participants will learn new ways to turn their math class into a global learning environment. Participants will hear stories of Skype in the Classroom experiences, learn easy ways to connect Skype in the Classroom with their math class and content, and gain ideas for virtual field trips, guest speakers, and collaborative projects.
Session Category : 2nd-3rd Grades 4th-5th Grades 6th-8th Grades 8 Math Practices Administrators College High School K-1st Grades Literacy Connections STEM/STEAM Technology


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During the month of April, of the AD 2013, Mars will be in a so-called "Conjunction" relative to the Planet Earth. This means that the Sun is exactly in the line-of-(direct) sight between the two aforementioned Celestial Bodies, such as our Home Planet Earth and the Red Planet. In this Spatial Configuration, as you can easily understand, the communications between the two Planets are - in fact - almost impossible; however, during the Conjunction Period, the Rovers operating on the Surface of Mars and the Spacecrafts orbiting around it, will continue to operate, but without sending all the collected data to Earth. This data, which are all recorded and stored, will be sent to Earth when the Conjunction is over, Mars shall have moved away from behind the Sun (of course, only from our Terrestrial point of view) and therefore the line-of-(direct) sight between Earth and Mars is re-established.
During the Conjunction Period, the "NASA - THEMIS Image of the Day" will be a visual tour of Gale Crater, such as the location of the newest Mars Exploration Rover (and Laboratory) Curiosity. The image of Gale Crater that we propose you on today's APOD (image that was taken about three and an half years ago, by the NASA - Mars Odyssey Orbiter, during its 34.540th orbit around the Red Planet) shows us (once again) the Final Destination of the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) and Mars Laboratory "Curiosity", such as Mount Sharp, just East of the highest Peak of the Deposit. The Dark Material near the top of the image is likely Sand and this frame shows its presence both on the Floor of Gale Crater as well as on some part of Mount Sharp itself. Just out of curiosity, you may want to notice that the subtle orange-gray color of almost all the Surface Features visible here, as well as the definition of the smaller Surface Details, tell us that, at the time (where and when) this picture was taken, the Atmospheric Opacity (or "TAU") at Mount Sharp and its surroundings (and, most likely, all over Gale Crater) was quite high.
Latitude (centered): 4,85635° South Longitude (centered): 138,09900° East Instrument: VIS Captured: September, 27th, 2009
This frame (which is an Original Mars Odyssey Orbiter b/w frame published on the NASA - Planetary Photojournal with the ID n. PIA 16964) has been additionally processed and then colorized in Absolute Natural Colors (such as the colors that a human eye would actually perceive if someone were onboard the NASA - Mars Odyssey Orbiter and then looked down, towards the Surface of Mars), by using an original technique created - and, in time, dramatically improved - by the Lunar Explorer Italia Team.


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Just recently, I've had the amazing opportunity to review Kristin Robertson's e-book "A Forgiveness Journal" wherein she talks about her journey from anger to forgiveness in the face of "betrayals and abandonment".
And how forgiveness changed her life for the better, as it can yours.
I was particularly struck by "Forgiveness is like letting yourself out of a prison".
Indeed, when you can't forgive someone, guess who suffers? Often, the other person's moved on, while days, months and sometime, even years later, you're still carrying the burden.
Sound familiar at all? This was definitely true for me till a few years ago!
Another point she makes is that holding grudges can also make you physically sick.
I'm thinking back to one of my mentors and how she developed (and subsequently cured herself of) breast cancer TWICE in her life.
Each time, it was the result of anger and unexpressed feelings she harbored around the 2 main men in her life (death of her brother and the end of a major love relationship) and forgiveness / self healing played a big part in her recovery.
So WHY forgive and how can one get to the point of peace? The main points (and challenges) have been described early on:
- Forgiveness is not an easy path to choose
- You develop the ability to forgive at your own pace
- Forgiveness is a decision and a process (you can CHOOSE to forgive – sense the freedom in that?)
- The cost of not forgiving is compromised health, unhappiness, and an attachment to the past
- The path to happiness is forgiveness (Boy, can I ever relate to this one! The hardest part for me has been letting go of my righteous anger in the past. And the subconscious desire to play victim.. )
This isn't just another book on forgiveness; it's a 7 step process using exercises and journaling to help you work through this healing process.
1) Identify Your Feelings
– What are you really feeling? Anger is the expression of other feelings like betrayal, abandonment, fear, frustration, resentment, guilt, anxiety, unworthiness etc that lie beneath. A sign that your basic needs like integrity, safety, security, love and acceptance are not being met. Acknowledge these feelings.
2) Talk it Out
– Next, you need to talk about these feelings to help process them (there's an exercise in the journal you can use to share your story). The best part? She advocates sharing your story no more than three times, after that it's time to move on. Excellent advice borrowed from Native American traditions.
3) Change Your Viewpoint
– Try to put yourself in the other person's shoes. In some cases this may be extremely hard so a lot of patience and time may be required. Look at any part you may have played in the situation and be watchful of mind self-pity, anger, revenge, and victim thinking.
4) Gain Perspective
– This step is especially helpful to those who need to forgive themselves for past actions that they regret. At this stage of the process, the heart chakra represents the transition from ego-based energy centers in the human body to spirit-based energy centers.
5) Let Go
– You might be clinging to several reasons not to let go. For example, perhaps you are receiving sympathy from others when you talk about your pain or have tied your self-image and self-worth to being the victim in your grievance story. In other words, what are the payoffs keeping you stuck?
Reminds me of a story my dad told me about 2 monks who'd taken the vow of celibacy and were at a river bank when they saw a young woman struggling to cross.
Without a word, one of the monks lifted her in his arms and crossed the river, putting her down on the other side. The 2nd monk was silent for the next 5 miles and then couldn't stop himself any longer.
"Why did you touch her?!", he cried out. "We're not supposed to look at or touch women!". Said the 1st monk "My friend, I put her down 5 miles ago, you're the one who is still carrying her in your mind.."
6) Take Action
– The previous step was about clearing the energy around your hurt and anger. This next step is about deciding if any action needs to be taken – eg: a letter to be written, talk to be had. Whatever you feel is needed to truly let go and move on.
7) Bless the Other
– Possibly the hardest of all. You may be thinking "I'm no Mother Teresa, I can forgive but I can't wish them well". And yet, you can. One day. If you choose.
Completing this step will give you the biggest gift you could get – freedom and peace of mind. The book ends with a healing prayer of peace and more exercises to help you process your feelings.


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IOTA and Avalanche
The full article was originally published by Serguei Popov on Medium. Read the full article here.
People have told me recently of claims that "IOTA cloned Avalanche", which are being expressed since the release of Shimmer. Initially, I thought "Ah, it must be those 'Twitter experts'… not worth even a second of attention", and went back to work. However, to my great sadness and dismay, I have learned that among these people, there are some which enjoyed great respect (including mine) in the DLT community.
Please understand me: I have devoted my whole life to the Academy. I can't unfortunately claim to have made any globally important contributions, but still there are some papers about which I can perhaps be proud. I have learned to respect the work of other people, even when I could see imperfections and flaws in it. I really, really, hate to speak badly about others' work. However, in the present situation, and in view of the statements which are so blatantly untrue, I am unfortunately forced to respond.
OK, so, let's first go back to the 70s. That period was marked by the beginning of rigorous mathematical treatment of the so-called "Interacting Particle Systems", which include the so-called "Voter Model" (Clifford and Sudbury, 1973; Holley and Liggett, 1975). This last model (in fact, a class of models) can be roughly described in the following way: there is a graph, each site of which has an "opinion", 0 or 1. At random moments, each site consults some neighbor(s), and adopts his (their) opinion (using a majority rule, in case it consults several). A very important observation is that, in most cases, voter models have only two extremal invariant measures: one concentrated on the "all-0" configuration, and the other one concentrated on the "all-1" — we can naturally call these two configurations "consensus states". Since then, there has been an enormous amount of work on all kinds of voter models (see for example http://summit.sfu.ca/item/17718 and references therein) for specific applications of voter-type models for reaching consensus; or just google for "probabilistic consensus", to see what I mean.
A year ago, I learned about the "Avalanche" paper and quickly skimmed through it. My impressions were the following:
- The authors (who preferred to remain anonymous) are happily reinventing the wheel — see above.
- For some reason, they like using words of which they don't know the meaning, such as "metastability". If I remember correctly, they call it a "tool" (metastability is a phenomenon rather than a tool). They call "metastable" a model named "slush" (which is a random walk on a concave potential, which therefore doesn't have any potential wells, those that give rise to metastability). And they apparently think that "metastability" (which indeed manifests itself in the presence of Byzantine actors) is something cool, while in reality, it is completely the opposite — in this context, if the system is in a metastable state, it means that it is stuck in an "away-from-consensus" regime for a very long time, which obviously can't be a good thing.
- The academical level of that paper is low. Besides not mentioning the previous relevant work, when the authors try to write any serious math, the result is, to put it gently, unconvincing. I recall my impression that, what they called a "proof", was simply not.
- Most importantly, their system was very likely unsafe. This is because an adversary is able to maintain the system in an "undecided" (metastable) state for a very long time, and during this very long time, by the force of chance, some nodes may finalize their opinions while the others still stay undecided — then the adversary may even sway the system to the other side to make others adopt a different opinion. By the way, this intuition was recently confirmed. So, I've just forgot about all that, and moved on.
Now, back to IOTA. As you may know, in the beginning we were trying to embed everything (security, incentives to behave correctly, etc.) into the tip-selection algorithm. This gave rise to interesting theoretical and practical developments, but we were never completely satisfied with it. Most probably, it would have worked without the Coo but with a few additional protective mechanisms (see the 2018 "Coordicide" blog series, e.g. "stars"), but we were looking for more. Then, one member of our research group (you can probably guess who it was :) — and no, it was not me) had the following idea: Since IOTA is about freedom, the nodes are also free to communicate between themselves proactively, to decide which transactions are valid, and which are not. Great, but how should they communicate?
The problem with the voter-type models ("rediscovered" in the Avalanche paper) is that those are typically not resilient to a significant number of Byzantine nodes. They can usually admit no more than the square root of N adversarial nodes, where N is the total number of nodes; otherwise the adversary would be able to prevent the consensus from occurring, for at least some initial conditions. While the known (probabilistic) BFT-algorithms normally have high communicational complexity (in each round, any node has to query at least a fixed proportion of all other nodes) and therefore scale poorly.
After many discussions with other researchers in our research department (I take this occasion to express my gratitude to all of them) I had an idea of the "randomly moving threshold" which avoids the metastable behavior altogether — see https://arxiv.org/pdf/1905.10895.pdf. An important note: I do not consider it a very major development. Rather, it is a small brick laid upon a huge body of previous work. However now I am forced to stress that the "Avalanche" paper is not a part of that work. As a simple mental exercise though, try to think why these thresholds must be global (i.e. it is not enough if each node chooses its own random thresholds independently).
In parallel, we are also exploring other approaches (specifically, the CA one). Of course, as is the case of any serious scientific work, they also stand on other's shoulders while adding a bit of new insight. We, the researchers of the IOTA Foundation, firmly believe that the scientific advances are always fruits of collective efforts and should belong to everyone. In particular, we will be of course happy if our contributions find their way to be used in other projects (including, obviously, Avalanche).
Well, hopefully this clarifies the question. As hinted to in the very beginning, I really did not enjoy writing the above text, so please permit me to end it here.


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Issaquah Christian Counseling
Serving the Issaquah community
Looking for a Christian counselor in Issaquah?
Welcome to Issaquah Christian Counseling. We're so glad you found us! The professional Christian counselors in Issaquah are trained and equipped to help you overcome the challenges you face.
Whether you're looking for counseling for anxiety, depression, relationship issues, marriage problems, family concerns, addiction, trauma or abuse recovery, or some other concern, we are here to help.
By using proven therapeutic techniques combined with faith-based counsel, your counselor will guide you on the path toward healing and hope. We offer a safe, judgment-free environment where you can share your burdens and find the peace and relief you seek.
Browse our counselor directory to find the right counselor for you. We offer a risk-free initial session to make sure your therapist is the best fit for your needs.
Our office is located in Issaquah at the East end of Gilman Boulevard. Here you will enjoy a quiet, peaceful setting across the street from the East Fork Issaquah Creek. This office location offers free covered parking.
You'll find us up the stairs on the main floor, in Office #106. Have a seat in the calm waiting room and your counselor will meet you there at your scheduled appointment time.
After your session, enjoy journaling by the creek or at one of the many nice coffee shops nearby. There are also several restaurants and shops close by to explore.
Please don't hesitate to call us with general inquiries or to schedule your first appointment.
Issaquah Christian Counseling
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Issaquah, WA 98027
(206) 384-4489


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Santa Cruz del Sur ready to begin Summertime 2011
Santa Cruz del Sur, Jun 30. –The Local Recreation Committee that was in session at the Local Government Headquarters ratified the begining of the Summer 2011 for this Sunday July 3rd at 9:am at Las Brisas area, right in front of the sea.
The activities planned for this day will start with the boats parade, followed by a cultural gala organized by the Olga Alonso Culture House, which will work together with the sport activities.
It was released that there wil be a bus to facilitate people trasportation to the beach area. This bus will depart from central park and to the coast area since early morning and until twilight.
It was also informed that on July 1st it will be develop the Book Afternoon at the park, with the launch of some copies that people will be able to buy in this fair.
On Saturday, the activities will be held on Central Street, where the sports fan clubs Camaroneros y Langosteros will play an important role. (Rolando Canaura Sánchez/ Radio Santa Cruz)


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Welcome to Indonesian Danone Institute Foundation
Indonesian Danone Institute Foundation (IDIF) was legally established on May 4th, 2007 as Yayasan Institut DANONE Indonesia. IDIF is a non-profit foundation, independent from DANONE business units. Our objectives are to encourage the established research institutions pursuing new scientific findings, to reduce funding barriers for talented scholars in pursuing graduate studies and to encourage good quality research, and to promote publications of quality research in relevant international peer-reviewed journals.
Several activities had been done in 2015, the achievement gained by the Foundation are: First, Workshop on Lactose Nutrition: the Diagnostic and Health Policy Legitimacy of Lactose Intolerance in Jakarta, Indonesia. In this workshop, the Foundation gathered the national and international experts and stakeholders to identify solutions to various food and nutritional issues in Indonesia, such as dairy lactose consumption. The proceeding of this workshop was published in Special Issue of the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition. This activity aligned with Danone International new initiative which is The Yogurt in Nutrition.
The second achievement had been done by the Foundation was Strategic Planning. This is the first Strategic Planning since the Foundation was established. The Strategic Planning is needed as a guide for the management to signify the contribution of the Foundation on the improvement of national nutrition profiles.
Based on audit report year 2014, there is an issue about the number of outstanding grantees in 2009 - 2012. Until 2015, the numbers of outstanding grantees during 2009 - 2012 were still high because they did not complete their research and/or publication. Most of them happened due to the difficulties to publish their manuscripts to the International Journal. Therefore, in 2015, the Foundation gave more focus on finalizing the contract agreement of the outstanding grantees by proposing an addendum and statement letter to extend their time to continue the completion of the responsibilities of the grantees to finalize their research findings in international peer-reviewed journals.
Thus, for the grantees 2014 onward we used Microsoft Project Pro 2013 to give more detailed results in order to monitor the progress report of research and to avoid such cases in the previous year.


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Mykhailo Dorohovych - romantic loner, lover of mountains
The name of Mykhailo Dorohovych - well known in not too narrow circles of Transcarpathian artists - has been spread all over the Interenet after his voyage to a remote, romantic and mysterious Kamchatka. Photos, taken and published by the master made him even more respected. Here is the hero, who can overcome both horizontal and vertical kilometers, refuting myths about the inaccessibility of lands and dreams. The conversation with Mykhailo confirmed the presence of mystical quality in his personality and proved that modern heroes are not without romance. And, perhaps, thanks to it, they get stronger, harder and more attractive.
About the mountains
Kamchatka is my childhood dream. Since being a child, I have loved geography and been interested in other countries, everything related to travels. Thank God, the time has come when I can make my intentions and dreams true.
I thoroughly prepare to each journey for almost a year: lay a route, study terrain and culture, work out... The fact is that only in the mountains I feel really happy, receive powerful energy that helps me realize next endeavours.
About the profession and... the mountains
Actually, I began to study photography in Uzhgorod College of Arts. There, among the required courses, they taught us the basics of photography. However, I learned the profession by myself.
Of course for ambitious people, the capital city has much more potential for development, fulfillment. I had really good offers, but I realized that the rhythm, the crowd, the stress, and ultimately, the environment of the big city is not for me.
Today I don't keep in touch with colleagues much, if you talk about a kind of guild club, although I have good relationships with almost everyone. I'm not interested in abusive comments, which the colleagues exchange in social networks.
My current profession is too dependent on technology. Once, it was enough to invest, say, one thousand dollars and use the equipment for several years. Now, in order to be in the trend, you need to fill up "inventory" almost every month. I'm tired of chasing the technology! To me it ceases to be interesting...
Once, at the beginning (and I've been doing photography for over 15 years), I started with portraits, genre sketches ... But at this point I'm interested only in mountains: only there I can find the greatness, the power and true beauty ...
About the well-being... and the mountains
The issue of money is relative, because for everyone it is important to have as much money as he or she needs. I need as much as is necessary for the next trip. Of course, it is important that the work would not take too much time, because it is needed for preparation. That's the answer.
It has become more difficult now. You see, almost everyone has cheap camera. Perhaps because of this, modern photography became amateurish, there are too many amateurs and too few professionals.
I have always been lucky to do what I want to do. Whether a client was cooperative, or I was able to convince them. Of course, it is not easy to work with people, but it is not worth to satisfy all their whims, which they actually do not even need! Commercial photography interests me less and less.
About the people and... the mountains
Actually, the mountains are very various... For example, the Caucasus is power! The colossal grandeur of glaciers that slide right to the outskirts of the village! And people have dignity, without the fuss and pettiness of the plain...
Altai is cleanliness and space! Local people live on the gifts of the forest, rivers and mountains.Believe me, at the Altai you can drink water from any lake or river, it is that clean. People do not allow themselves to litter, spoil the nature, because it feeds them. And they themselves are clean and bright!
Kamchatka is rigor and generosity at the same time! There, I was struck by the generosity of local people. Interestingly, he who is the richest, is the most generous. Perhaps, the severity of the natural environment causes people to be more humane, who knows ... but there, it is so!
But in our Ukrainian Carpathians, I can travel only in winter. Felling, dirt, debris - only snow can cover or at least slightly disguise these scars...
About dreams and... the mountains
Of course, all trips leave a mark in my heart... But I always live for the next journey. I have many virtual mountain routes: they are literally planned step by step. But now the most desirable is a trip to the Andes. I really hope that it will become true.
In the mountains I hate the crowd! First of all, it is very inconvenient. Imagine a group of people with shoulder pads, luggage! Few people are happy when such group get on the bus. And you can not hitch-hike with a group...
I live for emotions, for today and for future travels. Perhaps it is not right, but that is how I am, I'm interested in today and I do not know what will happen tomorrow!
Every person is happy when he or she is loved! In that I am sure, despite the necessity to be a loner in the mountains! Now, only the mountains give me a real enthusiasm, inspiration and energy! I have to be ambitious to implement my plans, but I think that when introducing yourself to others you should only say your name and surname. Only this should characterize a person!
Photos by Mykhailo Dorohovych
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Bath Vanity and Mirror
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Scheduling meetings and appointments can be a time-consuming affair, due to conflicting schedules, changes in plans or when taking time zones into consideration.
Busy executives outsource this administrative work to their personal assistants, but that is a luxury most workers cannot afford.
This was shat plagued former Yahoo employees Praveen Velu and Lee Jin Hian, who that found the time spent setting up meetings, often across different time zones, broke their concentration and productivity.
But their annoyance became the spark they needed to create Evie, a scheduling assistant powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
"It's like your very own personal assistant," said Mr Velu, chief executive of mimetic.ai, the local start-up he and Mr Lee set up in 2014 to develop and work on Evie.
Evie is the first software of its kind which integrates AI and schedule planning, all done through e-mail.
It is one of the latest ways firms here are riding on the AI wave, which is expected to generate more than $47 billion in global market revenue by 2020, according to market research firm IDC.
Launched last month, Evie syncs to its user's Google or Office 365 calendar.
When activated within e-mail, the software will add, edit and suggest meeting or appointment slots.
Users add Evie to the cc list in the e-mail thread containing details on scheduling a meeting.
Using natural language programming, which allows software to understand human speech, Evie can interpret what is asked of it.
It could be a direct command, like "Evie, schedule a meeting next Tuesday at 2pm".
Or, it could be something more conversational, such as "Evie, how is my Friday looking like?".
The software also takes into consideration responses by others in the e-mail thread, and does all the scheduling work in the background.
For example, someone could say "I can't make it on Thursday; Friday would be better", and Evie will respond with suitable times on that particular day.
Once all parties agree, the application will send out a calendar invitation for the meeting and update the original user's calendar with the confirmed meeting details.
"The beauty of Evie is its fire-and-forget nature. When I need to schedule something, I just fire off an e-mail to Evie. She takes over and I'm free from that mental load of checking my calendar, replying with when I'm free, and following up on the e-mail thread," said Mr Lee.
So far, Evie understands only instructions in English.
If it has trouble understanding instructions, it will respond in the e-mail thread asking for clarification.
Evie's adoption is quite prevalent especially among tech-savvy start- ups, said Mr Velu, counting users in tech circles such as mobile-marketplace app Carousell, Zopim and online recruitment firm Hackertrail.
He declined to reveal how many users the company has, but said there were a "few thousand users" during Evie's close beta testing last year.
Evie costs US$24.99 (S$36) a month. Clients on annual subscriptions pay just S$29 each month.
While Evie can have applications beyond scheduling meetings through e-mail - such as doing so through messaging apps like WhatsApp, for example - its founders say they are focusing on the e-mail aspect for the time being.
Both Mr Lee and Mr Velu also believe that artificial intelligence software will be the next step in productivity software.
"What Evie does, comes very naturally to people," said Mr Velu. "We are used to dealing with assistants, to corresponding with another human being. In fact, in most of the cases, a lot of people don't realise they are dealing with a machine. They say thank you to her, and ask to meet her when they finally hold that meeting."
This article was first published on Dec 28, 2016. Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.


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Unable to execute chef client command "knife". Command environment issue?Hi guys, I've written a lot of custom plugins using knife to start/stop our test clusters. I've moved these into a build task for our integration testing target on the build server. Here is the ...
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Unable to execute chef client command "knife" as a build step in teamcityHi all, We've created a set of knife plugins that we use in our build environemnt to deploy and managed our test systems. One of our build steps to running integration testing is to start our tes...
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Unable to setup git in a mixed environment Windows server and Ubuntu agentHi all, I'm having some issues I could use a hand with. We're running mixed environment until with EOL our .NET projects. As a results, our teamcity 6.0.2 server is running on Windows 2008 Serve...
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Performing release using maven2 with SNAPSHOT build configurationHi all, I have teamcity set up to perform builds on my maven projects when a dependency is updated, or when source is checked in. This works great, but I have one problem. We're using teamcity f...
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Maven 2 fails to upload last artifact in multimodule buildHi all, I'm using the Maven2 build process to build a project with multiple modules. I execute the build from the parent pom. Each module builds as expected, however the last module always fails...
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Tag failure on branchesHi all, I'm trying to tag on a branch and having quite a few problems. Here is my VCS configuration.SVN Roothttps://redmine.foo.com/svn/app/serverwithin app/server I have the following directorie...
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Build agent always shows offline without restartHi all, I'm having some problems that I'm unable to solve with labeling, and it's getting a bit frustrating. Labelling from trunk works well, but labeling from a branch fails. Here's is my setup...


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Too cheap shopping for you > Homeware > Triangle Pyramid LED Colored Alarm Clock
Triangle Pyramid LED Colored Alarm Clock
View Product Page
I'm sure all of you have already seen an alarm clock like this pyramid LED lit one. It isn't all that special, but it is a nice way to wake you up in the morning nevertheless. It also has a thermometer, so you will know exactly how hot your room is, and it also has a row dedicated to the date, so you will be able to tell if you slept multiple days. It comes is many different colors, like orange, dark blue, sky blue, green, red and pink, meaning that it will fit with ant room.


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About Us
Rodermond Enterprises is proud to offer you over 40 years of construction experience. Our diverse experience gives us a competitive advantage and allows us to set exceptional standards. Our talented team understands every aspect of the industry and realizes construction is a balance of time, affordability and quality. Therefore, Rodermond Enterprises works closely with you to ensure we design affordable options, maximize efficiencies and find opportunities to innovate.
Rodermond Enterprises strives to build and develop innovative, best in class value. Whether it is constructing new or enhancing on existing builds; we are proud to offer our services for every type of build; specializing in commercial, agricultural, retail, oil & gas and more. This includes conventional construction, Pre-Engineered Butler® Buildings.
our Mission
our commitment
It is our mission to help design and build to suit your needs.
It is our commitment to establish long term relationships with our clients, based on quality, honesty, integrity and safety.
Building Strong Today for A Solid Tomorrow.
our Team
CEO, Owner, Construction Manager and Estimator
John Rodermond is a founder and owner of Rodermond Enterprises Inc. With over 40 years of industry experience, John understands every aspect of the construction industry. John has served on the Medicine Hat Construction Association Board as a director for 10 years and is currently the President. John also sits on the Alberta Construction Association board as a director. John is a lifelong resident of Medicine Hat and enjoys spending time with his family!
Evelyn RODERMOND
Owner, Safety/Security Officer and Controller
Evelyn Rodermond is a founder and owner of Rodermond Enterprises Inc. Evelyn is the heart of the company. She helps make the office run smoothly, takes care of the accounting and is the safety/security officer. When Evelyn is not at her desk, you're likely to find her biking, exploring nature, spending time with her husband and kids or playing with her grandkids!
Box 481
#4 - 4th Street Southwest
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Shipping times may be longer than usual at this time. Shipments of materials and supplies are taking longer to arrive, and your orders may have extended delivery times due to USPS delays. Thank you for your continued patience and support!
International shipping is currently limited. We are seeing extremely long shipping times outside of the USA. Additionally, USPS has suspended services to several countries at this time. We are doing our best to stay updated.


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The American Feed Industry Association publishes news releases surrounding its legislative and regulatory work, important political announcements, association events and more. See our most recent news below. For more information or to be added to our distribution list, contact Victoria Broehm, AFIA's director of communications.
The American Feed Industry Association has opened registration for its 47th annual Liquid Feed Symposium, being held Sept. 11-13, in San Diego, Calif.
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) congratulates U.S. and Mexican trade officials for reaching a preliminary agreement today on the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This action brings the United States one step closer toward its goal of ratifying the tripartite agreement with Canada by the end of 2018.
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and FAMI-QS, the Quality and Safety System for Specialty Feed Ingredients, renewed the strategic agreement of cooperation for the development of specific certification programmes for the expansion of the FAMI-QS Code in the U.S. animal food manufacturing industry.
The American Feed Industry Association hails the Food and Drug Administration's announcement yesterday to extend its deadlines and inspection timeframes for when certain-sized facilities should come into compliance with some Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rules and regulations. By extending the deadlines, the FDA will have more time to release the final FSMA guidance documents and train its inspectors, while the regulated animal food industry will have greater opportunity to perform the necessary retrofits to animal food safety plans and processes to ensure full compliance with federal regulations.
The American Feed Industry Association commends Congress for sending a bill to the president this week for signature — the Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2018 (H.R. 5554). This bipartisan legislation will continue providing the necessary resources to support the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine with completing more expeditious reviews of new animal drugs and improving FDA's review and approval process for animal food ingredients.
The American Feed Industry Association honored Michael Bedford, Ph.D., with the AFIA-Poultry Science Association (PSA) Nutrition Research Award at the PSA annual meeting yesterday in San Antonio, Texas.
Registration is now open for the American Feed Industry Association's Equipment Manufacturers Conference, being held Nov. 7-9 in San Antonio, Texas. Hosted by AFIA's Equipment Manufacturers Committee, this annual conference brings together equipment designers, manufacturers and installers and feed production professionals from across the United States.
In the spirit of continuing its dialogue with the Food and Drug Administration on the rules and implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), today, the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) submitted comments to the agency on its draft guidance on Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls (HA/PC) for Food for Animals. The 38-page comments affirm the animal food industry's commitment to a "full and successful implementation of FSMA" across its varied industries but urges the agency to take a flexible approach when regulating under this rule.
The American Feed Industry Association depends heavily on the dedication and involvement of members who volunteer annually to serve on committees that further the success of the association's mission, objectives and programs. AFIA thanks these volunteer members and the companies they represent for their service, as many long-term projects have been tackled because of their extra efforts.
The American Feed Industry Association honored two individuals in the animal science field at the American Society of Animal Science annual meeting in Vancouver, Canada, July 9. Juan Loor, Ph.D., of the University of Illinois, received the AFIA-ASAS Ruminant Animal Nutrition Research Award, and Ruurd Zijlstra, Ph.D., of the University of Alberta, Canada, received the AFIA-ASAS Non-Ruminant Animal Nutrition Research Award.


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Doing more with big data: Some online tools to help your business
By Gabrielle Stannus
All businesses are accustomed to dealing with the flow of information. These days, extremely large data sets are now generated and stored online. This 'big data' may be worth nothing to your business unless you and your employees are able to analyse it to reveal meaningful patterns, trends and associations. Where are generating and storing your data? What data already exists that may help your business profit? Would you like to do more with it for free?
G Suite
Google's G Suite of office tools includes Google Docs, Google Sheets, and even Google Slides. Unlike Microsoft Office, the basic G Suite is free although has limited features (business plans are available). You work online, so more than one person can edit at the same time, with documents automatically saved to your shared Google drive on the 'cloud'. No software is needed. You just need a Google account, which you probably already have if you use a Gmail address.
Dropbox is a secure online file sharing, back up and storage solution. Files in your Dropbox folder stay updated on every device linked to your account. Dropbox minimises the hardware your business needs to store data by saving to the 'cloud'. There are both free and professional accounts for file sharing.
There's a lot of 'good' data already out there, with much of it available for free, and some even comes with analysis.
Google My Maps
By now, you are probably all familiar with Google Maps and Google Earth. Well, the free Google My Maps tool allows you to create and share custom maps. You can even import data from a CSV file, spreadsheet or Keyhole Markup Language (KML) into your map. Need more help so you can start creating your map? Google it! And remember to add your business to Google Maps while you are at it for free promotion.
The Bureau of Meteorology's free online MetEye tool helps you visualise local weather observations and forecasts for any location in Australia. You can search for your location and save favourite locations, get a three-hourly forecast for the seven days ahead, and view current conditions including the rainfall radar. Forecasts in MetEye are fine-tuned by Bureau forecasters to best represent expected weather and are routinely updated twice a day.
(Image: Bureau of Meteorology)MetEye helps visualise local weather observations and forecasts for any location in Australia
The Yield Growers' App
The Yield Free Grower's App uses data analytics to provide public weather data from a grower's perspective. It provides all the growing conditions you need from water balance, evapotranspiration and rainfall to humidity and wind speed and direction. Download the app for your mobile phone on the App Store or Google Play.
The Yield Free Grower's App uses data analytics to provide public weather data from a grower's perspective. It provides all the growing conditions you need from water balance, evapotranspiration and rainfall to humidity and wind speed and direction. Download the app for your mobile phone on the App Store or Google Play.
SoilMapp for iPad
The free SoilMapp for iPad app will provide you with direct access to the best national soil data and information from the Australian Soil Resource Information System (ASRIS) and ApSoil. This app will help you learn about the likely soil types on your property; view maps, photographs, satellite images, tables and graphs of data about nearby soils; and uncover your soil's physical and chemical characteristics, including acidity (pH), soil carbon, available water storage, salinity and erodibility.
(Image: The Yield via Google Play)The Yield Free Growers' App
Let's face it. Many of us are not data coders and probably never will be. What user-friendly platforms exist out there that can help us analyse and/or interpret our data?
Parabola is one visual coding tool, enabling you to work with large data sets, use application programming interfaces (APIs), and automate workflows. If you have data that could exist as a table (picture your favourite spreadsheet tool), you can use Parabola to make manipulating that data easy. Combine data from multiple sources, automate tasks that are performed in spreadsheets, create custom integrations between multiple services, aggregate data into digestible reports plus more. NB. The free version allows data only from two sources: CSV and Excel files.
Now that you have the results from your big data analysis, you may be looking for some research to help you interpret it.
Google Scholar simplifies your online search for scholarly literature, i.e. peer-reviewed credible science. Using this tool, you can search across many disciplines and sources: articles, theses, books, abstracts and court opinions, from academic publishers, professional societies, online repositories, universities and other web sites.
Remember, industry experts can help analyse and interpret your data too!
Agriculture 4.0
Austrade has developed a new digital platform known as Agriculture 4.0 to connect investors with Australian farmers and AgTech start-ups, as well as creating more collaborative research and development opportunities. These technologies include smart farming, sensing technology and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity.
AgTech Finder
The Food Agility Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) 's Agtech Finder is currently in development. This independent online directory will enable users to search, sort and compare all available technology solutions to meet their needs.


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HAPO Community Credit Union - Business Complex
HAPO Community Credit Union - Business Complex - Discover the HAPO difference for yourself. Serving the Tri-Cities since 1953. Member-owned. Convenient hours and locations. Internet bill pay, drive through ATM's and competitive loan rates are just a few of the nearly forty different member services that HAPO offers.
Contact Info:
7601 W. Clearwater Ave.
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509) 943-5676


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France transposed the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) into national law on 19th May 2016. Under this legislation, manufacturers or importers are allowed to market e-cigarette products in France only if they have been notified.
This report studies the products listed in 2019 by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES). Included within is the total number of products notified, e-liquids, hardware in each of the five categories, and the biggest brands on the French vapour market. We further make comparison with the data we collected from Q2 2018.
Number of pages: 7
Photo: Reginasphotos
ECigIntelligence does not provide legal, strategic or investment advice. Tamarind Media Limited, the publisher of ECigIntelligence, does not accept any liability or responsibility for information or views published.
Please see this page for a detailed description of our methodology. Please Contact us for a detailed description of our methodology.


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CBD, it's nature's wonder medicine if you ask me. It's amazing how many symptoms and ailments it can alleviate. I use it to help me feel more calm and grounded. My 3 teenage daughters use it for sports injuries, and my clients use it to alleviate aches and pains. Listen in as Shelly Stone, Co-Founer of Terragold Plus and I talk about all of the other ways it can support you before, during, and after pregnancy, and then some.
Meet Shelly:
Shelly Stone has always been one to do the research, dig deep and find the most holistic way to do all the things. It started with a LEED certified remodel of her home, which led to a holistic nutrition degree. In addition, Shelly has spent decades studying energy work and alternative healing modalities. A car accident left her suffering with daily chronic pain in her spine and shoulder when the car crashed and threw her through the windshield. The injury left her searching for answers as doctors she saw only knew of prescribing more meds. She knew there must be a better way.
In her quest for finding solutions she was introduced to CBD in 2014 and started to research using hemp-based CBD. The CBD industry at the time had many holes in the quality and purity of what was available and knew there had to be a better product out there. It was then TerraGold Plus was born. This company was a culmination of all her work as a holistic healer and her ability to help people. Being consumer of many products and a person who actually reads labels, she wanted to create a product that both had high moral standards, but also contains natural and pure ingredients.
Shelly is the mom of two, a tween and a teen and married to a really funny guy who can cook, thank the goddess, because she really loves to eat. You'll find her on the weekends reading at the beach with a cold-pressed juice or on a travel adventure with her family. Shelly still maintains a light coaching practice and can be found at https://www.theshellystone.com/
Shelly Stone is Co-Founder and Co-CEO (Chief Energy Officer) of TerraGold Plus. Find out more at TerraGold Plus.
Use Coupon code: Therhappy10


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Starr Family Crest
The Welsh and English surname Starr is of patronymic origin meaning so of, or descendant of Starr. The personal name Starr derives from the Olde English pre 7th century word "steorra", and means a star. The word was often used as a nickname in the transferred sense of a patch of white hair on the forehead of a horse, and hence was given to a man with a streak of white hair. The first recorded reference to the name is in 1086 when Leuenot Sterre is recorded in The Domesday Book of Derbyshire. An example of an early recording from a surviving church register is that of Edward Starr. He married Joice Beddam on November 9th 1572, at St. Margaret Lothbury, in the city of London. A coat of arms associated with the surname has the blazon of a blue shield, charged with a pair of gold scales, within an orle of eight gold stars.


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How To Achieve Impossible GOALS In Your Career (And Life)
All right. Welcome to this post. Today's topic is: How To Achieve Impossible Goals In Your Career.
So, Stay tuned.
DON'T LOVE READING? Watch video here:
If you do love reading, let's get back to it…
All right, so the first thing is don't expect it to be super easy.
So unconsciously we expect things to be easy. Do you know how I know that?
It is because we all give up really, really easily.
A lot of people come to me, go on their first interview, get their first rejection, and be like, "Oh my God, this is never going to work. I'm never going to be able to do this. I don't have experience. I don't have this, I don't have that. I don't have this," right?
So your brain is going to automatically start coming up with all these reasons why you can't do it simply because one person said no to you.
One interview didn't work out. One opportunity.
If we expect this to be the case and we know that our journey is not just going to be the first interview, get the job, then we're going to be a lot more willing to continue on because we're going to know that sometimes we're going to stop at red lights along the way.
The big thing in achieving an impossible goal is believing that your destination exists.
So knowing that the job you want is out there, you're going to be able to get it, but it's going to take you some time to get there, perhaps, right?
Say your dream job is to become a business analyst, for example, and you don't have any experience yet doing that or project manager or whatever the case, right?
So you've got a certification or you've taken some steps to get there, but you don't have the experience yet.
So those jobs exist.
People who don't have all the experience get those jobs.
So first believing that it's not impossible, seeing that it's possible and then knowing that on your way, you're going to hit some stops, right?
So maybe there's going to be a traffic accident, a red light, you're going to hit some stops along the way.
And it's like if you're going to the grocery store, you know the grocery store is there, right?
So you're not going to turn around and be like, "This is not going to work out because there's a red light here and I might as well just go home."
You're going to be like, "This is totally normal. Of course, there's a red light," you're not even going to think about it.
You're just going to be like, "Okay, what's next? What's my next leg of this trip going to entail? What do I have to do next?"
And that brings me to my second point, which is understanding massive action.
The concept of massive action is doing something and when that doesn't work, doing something else and when that doesn't work, doing something else, right?
Until you get to the goal and just having that big-picture awareness that you're going to need to take massive action to get to whatever the goal is you want to get to.
If for example, your goal is to become a business analyst, it's going to be going on a lot of interviews and talking to a lot of people.
Say you decide you're going to talk to 20 people about becoming a business analyst. That might be your first goal.
So your first step would be to say, "Okay, where can I find the first person?"
So you don't have to see the entire path ahead of you.
You just need to see the next step and then from the next step, take the step after that and take the step after that.
But just having that awareness that it's not going to be super easy, necessarily, and it's not going to happen tomorrow or the next day, but it's going to happen and you're going to make it happen because you're going to take the massive action that's required to make it happen.
The third one is the way to succeed is to fail your way there.
There aren't any shortcuts.
You can have a good strategy and you can be implementing that strategy, but the first time that you try it, it might not work.
And it's because there's more to learn, right?
So every time you fail, there is more to learn.
And that's okay because if you look at it like when you fail, it means that you are not enough, you are not good enough, which is what most people do, they take the failure to mean something about them, then they're not able to see the lesson in the failure.
So you can evaluate that failure, be like, "Okay, what did I do great? What went really well there? What was I really happy with? What would I do differently next time? And what didn't go well?"
So always start with what went well because there's always something.
If you actually did fail forward, so you went on an interview, it didn't work out, something to learn there.
The failure that doesn't count is failing ahead of time.
And what that means is not even trying.
So say if you decided that you weren't even going to go on any interviews or you didn't try to get them or you didn't put your resume out to anybody, you didn't make any contact with anybody, that's failing ahead of time.
So staying safe and saying, "I'm just going to stay in my safe job right now even though I really want to move," that's failing ahead of time.
That doesn't count.
What I mean by failing your way there is going on a bunch of interviews and seeing what happened there, what you did well, what didn't work out.
That's where you're going to learn the lessons you need to learn and that's what's going to lead you to the right thing that is going to work out for you and the job where they're going to say, "Yes, we want to hire you. Here's your contract."
So there's a big difference between failing your way there and failing ahead of time.
Those are your three takeaways for today. This is tough stuff, not everybody can do it.
Sometimes these things are very challenging, impossible maybe, which is why a lot of people don't get to where they want to go and they'd stay safe because our brains try to keep us safe.
If you've got goals, I know I can help you achieve them, for real, not just saying that. I've helped a ton of people achieve their goals.
If you're interested in learning more, if you're committed to achieving impossible goals in your life, I have a free workshop that's going to help you.
The free workshop is called: "How To Achieve Your Career And Business Goals Even If Everything You've Tried Up Until Now Hasn't Worked Out Yet."
Click the link below and get signed up NOW!
On This Deep-dive Workshop, You're Going To Get And Learn:
- Two main components to success in any career goal.
- The key coaching tool that works to solve any problem that my clients are facing.
- How each decision you make shapes what you currently have in your life and why you have the results you have now.
- How your thinking is creating your results, what you're getting today, what you have in your life, and how to change your results.
- Going to give you concrete examples of how you can apply this to your life today.
- How to have fun with all that you're doing and have fun on your way to the progress of achieving this impossible goal that you have.
- And the last thing is to learn is what are the next steps are for you to move forward.
Looking forward to seeing you there! And remember nothing is impossible!
Do you know one person who could benefit from the information in this post? If so, do your friend a favor and share this info with him/her.
And remember, the current system isn't perfect, but you can outsmart it. I'm here to prove to you that you do have what it takes.
I'll see you next time and I can't wait!
In Work & Life
I've got your back
– XO Natalie


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The group forms in couples and marches around the room. They are then
subdivided into from four to eight smaller groups. These are stationed
in various parts of the room and the ladies are lined up facing the
men. They try in every conceivable way to make the men smile or laugh.
Any one who does so must take a place in the ladies' line. After a few
minutes of this, every man in the ladies' line must pay a forfeit, and
the men must endeavor to cause the ladies to laugh.
Smaller Dolls' Houses Smuggling The Geg


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Click here for details on this year's New Year's Labyrinth Walk! (Dec 31 4-8pm, open to all)
In front of our retreat center on the side of a hill bordering the inner harbor of Seal Cove lies a pattern on the ground called a labyrinth. A labyrinth is an ancient spiritual tool. It has been known to the human race for 4000 years. It can be found in nearly every religious tradition from the Jewish Kabbalah Tree of Life to Hopi Medicine Wheels to Christian "Jerusalems" carved on the floor of European Cathedrals. Our labyrinth here is a nine circuit pattern replicating one of the oldest known labyrinths located on the island of Crete.
A labyrinth has one well-defined path which leads into the center and back out again. It is not a maze which has many paths intended to present choices, some of which can be wrong. The labyrinth has become a useful tool in churches, hospitals, businesses, schools, and prisons. People walk the labyrinth for a variety of reasons.
Guests of The Alcyon Center are invited to participate in labyrinth walking as a tool to quiet the mind and open the soul to the spiritual world. Like all contemplative tools, labyrinth walking is not an end in itself. Surrendering body and soul to walk a labyrinth may inspire clarity, change and transformation – for individuals and for communities. Yet the walk at heart is prayer, and prayer is not so much prayed for its outcome, as for the change brought about in the person who prays/walks. May the Alcyon Center labyrinth become a pilgrimage prayer that remains in your heart.
Labyrinth at Alcyon
Whoever you are, walking the labyrinth has something to offer you. If you are challenged at work, you can get your creative juices flowing by walking the labyrinth. If you are struggling with grief or anger or physical challenge or illness, walking the labyrinth can point the way to healing and wholeness. If you want a way to meditate or pray that engages your body as well as your soul, the labyrinth can be such a way. When you just want reflective time away from a busy life, the labyrinth can offer you time out.
In the summer of 2007 work began on creating a 9 circuit Cretan labyrinth in the coveside, untamed woods adjacent to the north wall of our main house. Gradually the blowdowns and overgrown blackberry canes gave way to a new sacred path for human feet. All the spindly saplings and a few Spruce fledglings were removed. Left in the middle of the 3rd circuit was, however, a very old and lightning-struck Apple tree. She stayed – to live or to die, her choice.
Nothing was done to level the land. Buried ledge rocks remain where the ice age glaciers left them. Old stumps, blackened by our brush fire, protrude intermittently. Wood stove-length logs became the lines defining the path. A few ferns, Hawkweed, Sarsaparilla, and Indian Paint Brush keep their roots alive inside the circuits now covered with wood chips. The labyrinth as a sacred path simply and with hard work emerged organically from the land. She lives each year as a new pilgrimage walk for all guests – us included.
Labyrinths come to us from nature in the very coiling of our DNA, in the tracery of lichens on rock, in shells and seeds and ears. They are a way for nature to deal with danger, confusion, limited space, and perhaps the evolving of new forms. A labyrinth is a paradox in the way that a homeopathic remedy uses the very substance that stimulates an illness as its own cure. If you are confused about a life situation, walk a seemingly complex and winding path to discover clarity. As in homeopathic remedies, why labyrinths bring healing for some people is a mystery.
A labyrinth is not a maze. While mazes are built to confuse and have many different paths available for choosing, some of which lead to dead ends, a labyrinth has but one path and it leads eventually to the center of the labyrinth. A labyrinth guest walks in to the center on one path and returns to the start on the periphery by that same path. Because there are no choices within the labyrinth as to where to turn or step, the guest walker is free to listen deeply to the earth speaking through their body. Augustine reveals the labyrinth experience when he says, "Solvitur ambulando. You can sort it out by walking."
Walking the Labyrinth:
There is no right or wrong way to walk the labyrinth. Going in, you may find that you release the cares and concerns which distract you from your true self. The center can be a place of prayer and meditation where you may receive clarity about your life. As you walk back out on the same path that brought you in, you can be granted the power to act. It is a shared journey with all those who have walked this path before and will in the future. It is a walk that meets our longing for a change of heart, a change of ways in how we live together on this fragile island home. It is a way to gather the energy, the vision, and the courage to become agents of transformation in our perilous world.
Etiquette in the labyrinth suggests that those who are on the way in to the center have the right of way. Those on the way out may step temporarily out of the circuit to let the new pilgrim pass along and then return to your path outward. If you get confused as to which way you are going, just keep walking. You will either come out or go to the center ... neither place is a waste of time... listen to what the labyrinth is revealing to you, not what your mind wants to control.


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Daily horoscope for Tuesday August 13 – here's what the stars have in store for you today
March 21 to April 20
The moment you were waiting for to take your ideas to a bigger, more appreciative audience has arrived.
Best of all is your sense of purpose and special place in a group of people you admire.
Passion is romantic but practical – your mind can rule your heart if you need it to and produce a brilliant compromise.
April 21 to May 21
Your sign gets a new sense of style as independent Uranus changes direction, while the moon adds emotional drive.
Family strength shows in the conversations you have and listening carefully helps you understand people's real feelings.
Sincere love wishes start to make progress.
May 22 to June 21
A rich travel moon puts a one-off journey back on the map – even if the timing is a surprise. Trust yourself to take the right steps.
In love terms, communication lines stretch but won't break as long as you remember why you are together.
Single? Love waits where old and new neighbours meet up.
June 22 to July 22
As the moon moves into your emotions chart, deep feelings get results and rewards.
Don't be tempted to play anything down. Strong-minded planets challenge your cash acumen but this should make it stronger.
You are the only one who knows what you really need – and you take an exciting step towards it.
July 23 to August 23
A partnership switch is at the centre of your day – perhaps a role-reversal or change of address.
At work, you have outgrown one challenge and are ready for the next.
You have a sultry side to your passion personality that both surprises and delights a partner. Single? "G" identifies new love.
Get more from Mystic Meg
Meg's Jewellery Collection
Meg's collection has been developed to bring out the magic in each star sign. Create your own, custom 'Lucky Charm' necklace or choose pieces inspired by the Elements, Birthstones, Love Letters, Sun, Moon and Stars, pendants, bracelets and much more. They can all be purchased online here and are presented in bespoke Mystic Meg gift packaging.
Meg's Website
Weekly celebrity tarot readings, love match tools, Meg's casebook stories, interactive rune and tarot readings are all available at Meg's own site.
Follow Meg on Facebook
Meg's page offers daily guidance and regular giveaways.
Meg's Live Psychics
Phone Meg's live psychics on 0905 005 8102 (£1.50 per min + your phone providers access charge. 18+ only) or to pay by credit/debit card call 08000 356 684 or mobile users call 020 7111 6406.
Text a psychic. Just text MEG then a space and your question to 84122 (£1 per message. Max 3 per reply).
Calls cost £1.50 per min plus your telephone company's network access charge. You must have bill payers permission. Calls recorded for your protection, Max call duration 19 minutes for 0905 number. Over 18's only. These services are for entertainment only. SMS cost £1 per received message, max 3 messages per reply. UK only. To opt out of free promo messages call Helpline: 020 7111 6210. SP: Inveroak.com, PO BOX 10015, CM1 9HH.
August 24 to September 22
You are suddenly keen to get super-fit and when you make a serious plan you stick to it.
Mars gives you inner strength as it pushes you forward and supports you, no matter what.
If you feel like surprising a lover, make it a gentle one. It could be the key to king-term happiness.
September 23 to October 23
You are a creative powerhouse, with personality and passion to carry your dreams to the top.
But your chart also reminds you to pay attention to details, making a note of names and dates.
Love gets stronger and may influence work plans.
A talented but uncertain relative benefits from your tactful advice.
October 24 to November 22
There may be challenges to your ambitions from people who matter but this is exactly what makes them fly.
You will prove your plans many times over and become the person you always hoped to be. So be confident!
Love-wise, you ask all the right questions and a relationship gets much stronger.
November 23 to December 21
Monitor your words carefully and separate facts from feelings when you talk about home plans.
Not everyone in your life is in the mood to make decisions but patience is your most effective tactic.
When you really believe in love, it shows.
Single? The luckiest place to find love is where journeys begin.
December 22 to January 20
Your zone of self-esteem is boosted and you are ready to chase the job you really want, not just one you think you can get.
Now is the moment for research to update your information. But do listen to your own heart as well as the good love advice you are given.
The family could be big cash winners.
January 21 to February 18
The moon moves into your sign and you radiate charisma. You will be surprised who recognises this and responds.
The one person you assume won't be interested really does care.
At work, your name is attracting VIP-level interest.
In a long-term relationship, respect blended with romance upgrades love.
February 19 to March 20
So many people are keen to share their deepest thoughts and feelings with you, on a day when you really understand others and can be the best friend, workmate or relative.
You could face a tantalising choice between a kind-hearted newcomer who loves to make people laugh and a gorgeous new face at work.


text: Category Events - United States, Fayetteville (NC) Ages 12 and over $20 Garden Members, $25 non members Learn about long-leaf pine ecosystems while learning basic basket weaving skills with instructor Pat Cheadle. Pat uses mostly natural materials (apart from nylon thread) and has spent time in the Choctaw Indian Nation, teaching how to make quilts and baskets. Participants will make a small, functional pine needle basket during this class. All materials provided. Please bring a thimble if you have one, and a bagged lunch. Pre-Registration is required: https://form.jotform.com/80164997090969