text:
I will look for you, I will find you and I will kill you. - Bryan
When I first saw the TAKEN teaser trailer with the "I will find you" monologue spat out by the great
Liam Neeson, it was crystal clear to me from the get-go that it would be an Arrow Approved celluloid ride. It had my name written all over it! I recently got a shot at wrestling this mofo to the ground and making him mutter "uncle" and although not all that I thought it could've been, I still had a freaking blast with it!
Co-written by "macho man action king" Luc Besson; TAKEN was more in line with say the Besson penned KISS OF THE DRAGON than his masterpiece THE PROFESSIONAL. Any fat this flick could've had/used to have was kicked to the curb in favor of putting out a quick paced, Peyton Westlake cracks skulls and f*ck-starts heads shindig of fun. Straight up, once the relationships and initial premise established (in an affecting manner at that; the father/daughter thing so sold me) the gloves were ripped off and TAKEN started swinging.
All Qui-Gon Jinn did for an hour or so was go from place to place, f*ck dudes up, get info, which sent him to new locations where he would… you guessed it… bitch-slap more goons to get further info… and so forth. Think the A to B to C narrative structure of your usual revenge movie and you'll get an idea of how this one worked. Thankfully, the varied spices within the action sequences (hand to hand, gunplay, stunts, torture) made sure that the two tricks pony nature of the narrative never got old. I could've watched Michael Collins show off his "people skills" for days man!
With that snapped, all of the candy wouldn't have tasted half as sweet if the film's hero wasn't one I could root for. Neeson's captivating performance as the loving and no-non-sense daddy-spy hit the spot. I so dug how he was always in control and ahead of the game. Shit, even while his daughter was getting bagged, the lad was two steps ahead. You got to respect that! It made for a cool hero trait. The undisputable fact that you can't get much cooler than Rob Roy throwing down and talking out the trash, helped as well. Add to all that a razor pace, frenetic editing that jacked up the restless vibe of the situation, a couple of hard hitting emotional scenes (the kidnapping had me) and some great bits of dialogue and you get simple flick that got the job done!
Alas, striving for such a furious pace came with a price: the potential depth the film could've had. Once Kinsey switched on, all of the secondary characters dropped out of the movie. The worried mother, the daughter's POV as to her ordeal — NATHING on them. Just Henri Ducard kicking ass. The flick would've been stronger as whole if it would've capitalized on the emotional hand grenades that this kind of situation would've detonated, but hey, it wasn't its M.O. — so be it. Lastly, some of the hand to hand fights were cut a litte too tight and close for my liking. Why American editors keep splicing fisticuffs so we don't see squat is still beyond me.
By and large, TAKEN shamelessly entertained this simpleton for an hour and half. No frills, no pretenses, just Liam Neeson mowing through human trash to get his daughter back. Nothing wrong with that! Give me a SEQUELLLLLL!


text:
Yes, Facebook is better than Twitter because Facebook is more flexible and has more ways to communicate. With Twitter, the user is limited to a certain number of characters. That makes it difficult to communicate something else. There are also more options to limiting contact to certain people, video options, and tagging features.
Facebook is so much better than twitter because there is a much larger limit on the amount of words you can use. Also you can post your photos to an album rather than just having your profile picture and having to post photos through a link, like you have to do on Twitter. Also you can play games on Facebook.

subset: commoncrawl


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Venture capitalists are people, just like you and me. They put their pants on one leg at a time, and they're prone to making investing mistakes just like the rest of us. That said, it's hard to deny that some VCs are clearly better than others. John Doerr is one of Silicon Valley's more successful and higher-profile VCs, whose big wins include early investments in Symantec, Amazon.com, and more recently, Google.
This success, I believe, gives his words some weight. So when he says that global warming is real, and that "cleantech" is "the biggest economic opportunity of this century," my ears -- and yours -- should perk up.
The future for cleantech
The idea of cleantech as a big investment opportunity is nothing new. Fools like me have been writing about it for some time. Instead, it was Doerr's explanation of how cleantech can help address global warming that I found so interesting. He laid out four steps for solving global warming; when viewed in aggregate, they can provide investors with a useful framework for thinking about how to invest in cleantech.
First, Doerr said the U.S. government should adopt a mandatory goal of reducing greenhouse gases 25% by 2010. This is an ambitious goal, and in an election year, I don't think it's likely. Nevertheless, I do believe some controls are coming, and investors can profit by understanding which companies are presciently positioning themselves to benefit from government mandates.
For instance, I have written before about Duke Energy's willingness to embrace mandates, and explained how this progressive position -- when backed with strategic investments in cleaner coal-burning technologies and large-scale carbon sequestration and alternative-fuel energy projects -- could boost the company ahead of its peers if and when the government imposes mandates on carbon emissions.
Many companies, however, are not waiting until such mandates are imposed -- they're taking action now. The Wall Street Journal recently ran an article on the carbon market going mainstream. Among other things, it outlined how companies such as Procter & Gamble
Second, Doerr called for the adoption of renewable sources such as solar, wind power, and fuel cell technology. The first two are hardly bold calls, but they still hold growth potential. In May, the American Wind Energy Association estimated 5,600 megawatts of wind generation power would be installed in 2008 -- a record. Companies such as General Electric, which announced this past week its intentions to invest $100 million in three wind farms in New York, and BP
In the solar field, IBM
Third, Doerr said the United States needs to reinvigorate its biofuels industry. To a degree, this is already happening. Archer Daniels Midland now has a 50 million-gallon facility in production. And in May, DuPont
Finally, Doerr said there needs to be more investment in technologies that can remove existing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. One interesting start-up to keep an eye on here is Global Research Technologies, but I would encourage investors to also focus on larger companies such as Siemens. Cleaning up vast amounts of carbon dioxide is a big problem, and it could well take a big company to deliver the resources necessary to make a dent.
Invest intelligently
Investors looking for a more diversified approach to investing in renewable energy might want to consider the PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy exchange-traded fund. If you prefer a more specific sector, such as wind power, an ETF like the new Global Wind ETF
Like Doerr, our Motley Fool Rule Breakers team believes cleantech will be big. And while there will be many technologies and companies taking part in the solution, Fools should be strategic about how they want to approach their investments in it. After all, just because the opportunity is large doesn't mean everyone's profits will be, too.
If you'd like to see our ongoing cleantech research at Rule Breakers, and read up on the companies recommended to date, you can do so free for 30 days. Click here for more information. There is no obligation to subscribe.
This article was originally published on Nov. 17, 2006. It has been updated.
Fool contributor Jack Uldrich still puts his pants on one leg at a time, but they're stain-repellent nanomaterial pants. He owns stock in IBM and PG&E. Symantec is an Inside Value recommendation, and Duke Energy is an Income Investor choice. Google and PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy are Rule Breakers selections, and Amazon.com is a Stock Advisor pick. The Fool has a strict disclosure policy.


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Gareth Mitchell, host of the BBC program 'Click' and one of technology's foremost journalists, says new thinking skills are needed in this age when rote learning is not required. In a UGotClass online chat last month he said,
"Rote learning is less important when we can just call up facts from this rich cloud of information at any time in any place.
"The skills for coming generations and those that teach them will be how to weigh all that information up: how to rate the relative veracity of stuff on Wikipedia, the websites of learned journals, Twitter, university websites, government etc. To thrive and succeed, our children will have to become fully digital citizens.
"The ones who do best won"t be the ones best at revising for exams but who navigate their way through the digital space, filtering, thinking, analysing and evaluating as they go."


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Alright Kats & Kittens, Kittens & Kittens, Kats & Kats,
It's that time of year again, my annual Valentine's Day DJ mix hits the "airwaves". (If you missed last years, just click this link to read/download.) This is my salute to love and all the joy, pain, sorrow it brings but most of all its acceptance. Love is such an easy concept that many people have a hard time accepting. My hope is that you listen, embrace the message and pass the love along to others to whom you have any differences with.
A quick reminder of the guidelines and some quick facts from the making of this genre-bending statement from my soul.
1. The song is originally from a 45″ vinyl record. (Later transferred in real-time to mp3.)
2. Every song can be purchased ONLY in the year 2011.
5,038 Miles (trains, plains and automobiles to visit/buy records)
1600 + songs (Close estimate) listened to before purchasing
700+ records listened to before purchasing (Close estimate)
367 records purchased
365 – Days (to acquire all the records)
13 – Record Stores that felt the presence of Kyle in their fine establishment
7 – States visited to shop for records
6 – Websites I bought from
5 Days, 7 Hours, 32 minutes (roughly) to record, mix, master, upload, write this blog
3 – Countries vinyl was purchased from other than the US
2 – Turntables (Self explanatory)
1 Mix – For all the people in the world
I would love to hear feedback on your favorites and recommendations for next year's mix. And I also appreciate your Facebook, Tweets or emails to others about this mix, it's meant to share!
Stream the mix (work friendly) from Twinpeaks' Mix Cloud , or Soundcloud will allow you to stream and download OR download zip file here.
Lillie Bryant – "Good Good Morning Baby"
Ella Mae Morse – "Lovey Dovey"
Kitty Kallen – "Little Things Mean A lot"
Julia Lee – "Snatch and Grab it"
Lesley Gore – "You Don't Own Me"
Mel Torme – "Comin' Home Baby"
Linda Laurie – "Ooh What a Lover!"
The Stereos – "I Really Love You"
The 4 Seasons – "Big Girls Don't Cry"
The Marvelettes – "Please Mr. Postman"
The Crystals – "Then He Kissed Me"
Etta James – "Good Rockin' Daddy"
Koko Taylor – "Tell Me The Truth"
Soul Sisters – "I Won't Be Your Fool Anymore"
Glenn Johnson – "Oh Pretty Baby"
Lenny Williams – "Feelin' Blue"
The McCoys – "Fever"
Tulula Babies – "Hurtin' Kind"
The Zombies – "She's Not There"
Stevie Wonder – "I Don't Know Why"
Otis Redding & Carla Thomas – "Let Me Be Good to You"
The Dells – "I Miss You"
Eddie Kendricks – "Girl You Need A Change of Mind" (pt. 1)
The Box Tops – "The Letter"
THEM – "Baby, Please Don't Go"
Bob Seger – "Night Moves"
R.E.M. – "The One I Love"


text: GM Wang Hao of China and WIM Vo Thi Kim Phung of Vietnam won the Asian Continental Championship for Men and Women, respectively, organized by the Chinese Chess Association under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation 11-22 May 2017 in Chengdu, China. Wang finished with 7 points in the 9-round Swiss in a tie with compatriot Bu Xianzhi, followed by GM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi of India and GM Yu Yangyi of China with 6.5 points and GM Batchuluun Tsegmed of Mongolia with 6 points. Tied with 6 points each are GMs Julio Catalino Sadorra of the Philippines, Wei Yi of China, and B. Adhban and Surya Shekhar Ganguly of India. In the women's division, WIM Vo Thi Kim Phung of Vietnam finished alone with 7.5 points followed by WGM Nakhbayeva Guliskhan of Kazakhstan with 7 points and WIM R. Vaishali of India with 6.5 points. The Asian Blitz Championship was held at the closing day and Wei Yi of China won with 7.5 points, prevailing in a tied with Rusam Kasimjanov Rustam of Uzbekistan while GM Bai Jinshi of China finished third with 7 points. In the Women's Blirtz, WIM R. Vaishali of India won with 8 points followed by IM Sarasadat Khademalsharieh of Iran with 7.5 and IM Padmini Rout of India with 7 points. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results of the championship and blitz and to download games.Open Section Open Section BlitzWomen SectionWomen Section Blitz


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Sometimes I avoid writing just like I avoid prayer and time with the Lord. I know why I do it. I avoid these things because I'm feeling ashamed or unworthy. I avoid because I'm afraid I might not like what the Lord has to say about my wishes or my needs or my complaints.
I avoid because it's easier than trying to change.
Do you ever do it, friend? Do you ever run like Jonah in the opposite direction? Do you hide away from the Lord like Adam and Eve and hope He won't notice your absence?
Honestly, the last thing I felt like doing was praying this morning because I knew I had some confessing to do. The second-to-last thing I felt like doing was writing to you all because I know I've messed up, blown it, wasted valuable time, and squandered opportunities.
It's the worst feeling in the world – feeling stuck – wanting to change, yet feeling like you can't.
Last year, I set some big goals for myself, but to be honest, I only did so half-heartedly, and I failed to fully reach a few of them. I've always been resistant to goal-setting, a sort of inner rebellion against holding myself accountable. Lately, I've spent a lot of time pondering why.
Why am I, a planner by nature, so opposed to making plans for reaching specific goals?
Why do I avoid the very process that could help me when I'm feeling stuck?
As I was praying this morning, I realized there are several fears that are holding me back from my God-given success story (because He is in the business of changing lives, after all), and I wonder if they just might be holding you back, too, friend.
These three fears will keep us feeling stuck if we let them!
1. Fear of failure
If I set real, specific goals, then I'm taking the chance that I might fail, and failure is a perfectionist's worst nightmare. We literally dream about it sometimes. The easy and safe path is to avoid setting goals at all, or to set vague goals so that we can partially achieve. What it really comes down to is an all-or-nothing mindset that fails to recognize the imperfect progress that I write about so often here.
2. Fear of self
Listen, friends, I know my own heart. I know there is this part of me that wants to achieve success so that I will look good to others. I know there is a part of me that wants success for selfish, unspiritual reasons. How do I keep fleshly pride at bay?
What if I set real, specific goals and then realize they were really my plans and not the Lord's? I'll have wasted all of that time, and I'll be out of God's will. Now, some of you may be chuckling at me at this point, but this is and has been a real fear of mine from a young age! It's part of a perfectionist's nature to do anything to avoid being wrong, and that plays into my spiritual life and some of yours, as well, I'm sure.
3. Fear of the hard work
If I spend time asking the Lord what He wants from me this next year, He might ask me to do things that seem way too hard! What if He asks me to uproot my entire family, or uproot our ministry, or do something really hard for a food-addicted person like me – give up sugar?!!
The truth is you and I might fail.
We might get it wrong to begin with, or we might convince ourselves the work is too difficult and give up part way through. There is no guarantee of success, no promise of perfect achievement, at least not in this lifetime.
So why take the risk?
Because the alternative is remaining stuck.
I don't know about you, but I'm sick and tired of feeling stuck.
I'm fed up.
I'm ready for real and lasting change.
I'm determined not to let the enemy's lies hold me down any longer because I fall short of perfection. For several years now, I've been writing about looking for progress, yet somewhere along the line, I fell for the lie that it's all or nothing all over again.
And as sad as I am about that, it's okay, it really is. It's okay because…
Grace is what allows us to grab on to the rescue rope. Grace reminds us that when we can't pull ourselves up, He promises not to let go. Grace teaches us to let our Father do the heavy lifting so that our burden will be light!
Those fears we have when we're feeling stuck? They'll still be there.
They'll sneak back up on us late at night when we lay down to sleep. They'll plague us when we slip back into old habits. They'll whisper, "You can't do it."
The enemy of our souls seeks to devour us, but we can be protected if we'll just put on our spiritual armor and choose to do battle in faith.
You and I? We must choose to believe the promise of God's Word that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. That we are more than conquerors in Christ. That even when we can't, He can! And most importantly, that He loves us still.
He loves us still.
I don't have all of the answers when it comes to setting goals, friend, but I know the One who does, and I trust that even if we set the wrong goals, even if we fail miserably, even if pride gets in the way, He will set us straight.
If we choose to walk hand-in-hand with Him, rather than running like Jonah or hiding like Adam and Eve, we can be confident in our direction.
Let's get unstuck together.
Jen 🙂
P.S. If you're ready for change that really lasts, my friend Arabah Joy has created a workshop called Grace Goals for goal setting that is biblically based (affiliate). It's one of the things I appreciate about her most – her material is always doctrinally sound and rooted in scripture. The second-best thing I like about Arabah Joy is that she keeps her products affordable, too. 😉
If you're tired of feeling stuck, the first step to getting unstuck is to make a real plan for change!
Here's what the printable Grace Goals workbook will assist you with:
- Identifying the key area God wants you to take possession of
- Setting practical, godly goals to take your promised land
- Developing a doable, personal plan for change
- Learning why grace is the enablement you need
- Recognizing and appropriating grace in your daily life
Let today be the day of your fresh start!
Sharing with: Grace and Truth


text:
Caitlin Ryan
Caitlin Ryan is a third-year graduate student in the Department of Art & Archaeology. She holds a BA in Art History and Cultural Anthropology from Emory University (summa cum laude). Her research focuses on the history and theory of photography, particularly European photography of the interwar period. She has also written on intersections between pictorialist photography and modern dance in early 20th-century America. Her research interests include intersections between photography and political ideology, the history of photographic exhibitions, and debates around notions of the documentary in photographic practice. Before coming to Princeton, Caitlin worked as an administrative coordinator and programming fellow at the Center for Creativity and Arts at Emory. She is currently a graduate affiliate in the Program in European Cultural Studies.


text:
Last weekend while my wife and I were away and took in the Bird of Prey exhibit, we stayed at one of our favourite motels. That Sunday morning I was going through the channels on the TV and came across Charles Price, he was talking about a well known passage of scripture that is if I remember correctly is recorded in 3 of the gospel accounts; it was about Peter stepping out of the boat in the midst of a horrific storm tossed sea.
Often we are so familiar with what the scriptures have to say that listening to anything more on it can sometimes just go by the way side.
What Charles Price called his talk was, When the Things Over our Head are Under His feet, you can listen and watch it here.
Also for any that might be interested, I want to make available here a great article by my friend Dave Price, you can read it here.
I especially loved how Dave worded this; "What does God say about us? God says that we are the most valuable thing in all creation – but do you feel like the most valuable thing in creation? God says that He delights in us – delight, that's a pretty powerful word, but do you feel delighted in? God says that we can be everything He created us to be, yet we are deceived into becoming nothing. We have to find a way to move beyond what we have believed to what we must believe, because deep in our hearts somehow we have known all along that there is more to this than what we have experienced – something deeper, some greater expression of who we really are. This is my sole, soul pursuit – to know myself as I am known by God, to believe of myself what He believes about me, to walk on the water not because I believe in Him, I do above all else and He knows that, but because I finally convince myself to believe what He believes about me. I am consumed by the desire to draw closer to, to know more fully, the One who knows me, the Who believes in me, the Who has given His everything for me, to believe what He believes about me – that is the person I haven't begun to discover."
This continues to resonate within me, wow, then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures!


text:
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Election Date:
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Ballots Mailed:
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text:
Project Publications
(including Archived Conference papers)
A Democratic Turn
2009 Democratic Turn Eseminar
1998-2008 Archived topics
Case Study 1:
Michael Longley
Case Study 2:
Eavan Boland and
Olga Broumas
© Copyright Notice
(Links checked and updated February 2010)
If you find a link that
no longer works please inform Carol
Actors of Dionysus www.actorsofdionysus.com
Aquila Theatre Company www.aquilatheatre.com
Foursight Theatre Company www.foursight.theatre.boltblue.net
Theatre Odyssey www.theatreodyssey.com
Friends of Classics www.friends-classics.demon.co.uk/index.htm
The Society for the Promotion
of Hellenic Studies www.sas.ac.uk/icls/Hellenic/
Association of Classical Teachers (JACT) www.jact.org
Classical Association www.sas.ac.uk/icls/classass
Journals and Magazines
Classical Receptions Journal (ed. Lorna Hardwick) www.oxfordjournals.org
Iris (ed. L. Robinson) www.irismagazine.org
New Voices (eds. L. Hardwick, S. Hales and A. Bakogiani) www2.open.ac.uk/newvoices
Tellus (ed. A. McDermid) www.tellusmagazine.co.uk
Tellus is a new magazine for contemporary poetry engaging with ancient civilisations. To order a FREE copy of the first issue simply send your address to email@example.com by February 26th .
Featuring Andrew Motion, Michael Longley and Maureen Almond alongside exciting new poets, the first issue boasts a vibrant and eclectic mix; from a Sardinian warrior statue we jump to the Babylonian Enlil's frustration with the sheer noisiness of the people he has created, to a haunting lyric miniature of a speech by Deianeira from Sophocles' Trachiniae, and to Lesbia, who finally gets a chance to speak her mind on Catullus 51. For further information please visit the website www.tellusmagazine.co.uk.
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text:
On Thursday, May 23, 2002, 12:01:54 PM, Nick Kew wrote: > <input name="date" value="YYYY-MM-DD" onfocus="value=''"> > shouldn't be too confusing, but can never be more than an ad-hoc usage. However, is a user enters data and then accidently tabs or clicks away and then focuses back on the field, the data will be cleared. If you really feel the need for default text, then it is better to do something along the lines of: <input name="date" value="YYYY-MM-DD" onfocus="if(!this.cleared){this.value='';this.cleared=true;}" /> This should only clear the text once. You can also do this.select() onfocus, to select all the text - when the user starts typing, that text will generally be deleted. Often users don't realize this however, and delete the text first anyway. -- Tom Gilder http://tom.me.uk/Received on Thursday, 23 May 2002 16:41:03 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Tuesday, 13 October 2015 16:21:19 UTC


text:
Sick Leave
Scope: Applies to SHRA (exempt and non-exempt), EHRA Non-Faculty, and 12-month faculty; does apply to nine- and ten-month faculty (non-leave earning) employees.
Purpose: To define the guidelines for accrual and use of sick leave.
Sick Leave Accrual
Sick leave is earned at the rate of eight hours per month if an employee is in pay status for one-half or more of the regularly scheduled workdays and holidays.
Unused sick leave may be accrued for the duration of employment and may be applied to retirement with the Teachers and State Employees Retirement System, provided the employee retires from active service or within five years of leaving active service. One month of credit is allowed for each 20 days or any portion thereof, of sick leave to an employee's credit upon retirement, but not to exceed 12 days for each year of retirement membership.
Use of Sick Leave
Sick leave may be used for personal illness of the employee or illness of a family member of the employee (spouse, parents, children, brothers, sisters, grandparents, and grandchildren, including step, half or in-law relationships, or any other dependent residing with the employee).
Additionally, sick leave may be used for death in the employee's immediate family (spouse, parents, children, brothers, sisters, grandparents, and grandchildren, including step, half, or in-law relationships or any other dependent residing with the employee).
All sick leaves require supervisory approval.
Refer to Policy 2.8 (Family Medical Leave Act) for guidelines concerning illnesses covered under FMLA.


text:
Bohemia is known for it's freezing white winters and so far we have had glorious sunshine. True, the temperatures have been hovering around zero, but to see snow in Bohemia is most magical.
I am still in awe that the position of Lady-in-Waiting is mine. Even though I have now received the official letter of appointment I can still scarcely believe my good fortune. The last week has been a blur and I'm not sure what there is to tell...
Oh, yes. A letter. From the Duke of Albany. How could I forget? (I'm seeing a friend later today in the city and we have so much to catch up on, so I'm feeling a little scattered).
The letter. He still makes his abode in my Shire, enquiring after a home of his own in the beautiful English countryside. Though he does say that he plans to venture to the Northern counties (where I am to move to in September) and give me his humble opinion. Of course I know that I can't ask him to follow me up North. It is enough that he joined me in the Shire for Christmas!
Besides I can be under no misapprehensions that my royal charge will accept me living with a man to whom I am not married, nor even betrothed!
I long for his return to Bohemia. The country is currently at its most wondrous and it saddens me to think he is missing out on his home's first snowfall. Though his letters do bring me great joy, and it gladdens my heart to know that he is still thinking of me. It is a rare thing to feel like an equal in the game of love and I treasure the notion, smiling as I remember how we met.


text:
Google Maps may have leaked ahead of event
Details of what Google has in store for mobile phones with its Maps redesign may have been revealed a week before the big company I/O event next week.
Rumours have been circulating that the company had a massive rethink on the cards for the location feature, but it was expected a big reveal would be made at the Google press meeting that kicks off on May 15th.
However, screenshots from Google System Blog may have ruined the firm's surprise as images have been published about the supposed redesign.
If the design is real then Google+ will be combined with the interface to give users recommendations based on people in your circles.
One of the biggest alterations appears to be a new full-screen view, as well as several other changes.
The sidebar has been replaced by pop-ups that will appear when you need them along with new colour schemes and icons.
Although this could all be fake and people will have to stay tuned into the Google I/O conference next week to find out the company's official plans.
Posted by Samantha Green


text:
Did Edward de Vere actually write Shakespeare's plays?
Probably not. But the more important questions is: Has Rolland Emerich made an engaging film based on that fringe theory?
Find our for yourself at a sneak preview of "Anonymous," starring Vanessa Redgrave, David Thewlis and Rhys Ifans.
I've got passes for an AMC Castleton screening on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 7:30.
All you have to do is enter below and name your favorite Shakespeare play, film, spin-off or parody. I'll pick winners at random until the passes are gone, beginning Oct. 25th.
Just remember that fortune brings in some boats that are not steered.


text: KAYAK searches hundreds of sites to find the cheapest flights to Sault Ste. Marie (United States). Get the best price for your airline ticket to Sault Ste. Marie! Here's how it works. Search KAYAK for a flight to Sault Ste. Marie. Sort, filter and compare results on one web page. Then book your flight ticket direct on the airline or travel agent site of your choice!


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While I'm working hard on this year's fabulous Christmas Gifts Guide, I thought I'll review some of the toys (don't worry, the gift guide isn't all about toys, although they do take up a big section!) on my blog first, so I can give you a more detailed review for some of them.
Today I want to show you a few toys from the toy company ZURU, who are behind the really cool Robo Fish! They've released something new in the range, which I'll show you later today. First I want to show you this really adorable and fun Twizzles that Abby kept telling me about whenever she saw the TV advert on Cartoonito!
Twizzles (suitable for children age 3+, rrp £9.99 each) are a collection (at the moment there are 6 to collect) of adorable characters with really funky hair that children can style. They can create the usual hair styles like plaits or buns, and because the soft hair pieces are removable, they can create even more different styles than on a normal hair styling toy (for example, 2 strands of hair pieces instead of 4, or just the one at the top).
We were sent Twizzles - Berry to review, and she comes with
a comb
4 hair pieces
3 hair pins
a removable tail
a magnetic cupcake, which is Twizzles favourite food!
Apart from hair styling, there are other ways to play with Twizzles as well. Children can press Twizzles' head all the way down until they hear a clicking sound that locks her head in place. When they pull the tail down, her head will twizzle up!
They can also make Twizzle's head turn by moving their cupcake close to their nose without touching, and move it left to right. Unfortunately Clay took the cupcake and hid it somewhere so I couldn't take a picture of how it works (the problem with letting the kids review the toys before I can take a picture of it!), but hopefully the official commercial below can show you what Twizzles do:
We like it that Twizzles isn't just a hair styling doll, but you can actually play with them as well. Everything about them is cute and because there are 6 to collect, you can always swap the accessories around. I think Twizzles will make lovely birthday gifts or even fabulous Christmas stocking fillers!


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#international student loans
4 colleges to forgive loans to students who dropped out
Debt relief for some students
Comstock / Getty Images
Four for-profit colleges in South Florida will forgive loans to students who dropped out, under a legal settlement.
Four for-profit colleges in South Florida will forgive loans to students who dropped out, under a legal settlement.
Some students who dropped out of four for-profit colleges in South Florida won't have to pay back loans they took out from the schools.
The schools are the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, the Miami International University of Art Design, South University in West Palm Beach and Brown Mackie College in downtown Miami and Miramar. The arrangement applies to students who quit within 45 days of the start of courses from 2006 to 2014
The colleges' parent company agreed to forgive the loans as well as allow students 21 days to withdraw with no financial obligation. The changes were part of settlements to a whistleblower lawsuit and an investigation alleging that school representatives had made fraudulent claims to entice people to enroll.
Pittsburgh-based Education Management Corp. denied any wrongdoing. But putting these matters behind us returns our focus to educating students, said its president and CEO, Mark A. McEachen.
About 4,550 former students in Florida are eligible for loan forgiveness, said Chris S. Hardman, a spokesman for Education Management. He said he didn't know how many of them are in South Florida.
The company will forgive more than $6.5 million in loans statewide. Nationwide, the agreement requires Education Management to forgive more than $100 million in outstanding loans held by more than 80,000 former students.
Four of Education Management's seven Florida colleges are in Broward, Palm Beach or Miami-Dade counties.
The four will continue to operate and accept students, Hardman said. There are no changes to campuses as a result of the settlements, he said in an email.
The company will send notices to former students who qualify for loan forgiveness as well as to credit reporting agencies, according to the Florida Attorney General's Office, which joined in the lawsuit against Education Management.
People who want to see whether they qualify for Education Management's student loan forgiveness can call 855-725-4301.
Students still have to pay back any federal student loans, according to the court settlement.
Education Management also worked with state attorneys general to develop new, more transparent recruiting and disclosure standards, which the company hopes will serve as a model for higher education, according to a company statement.
Education Management's schools will provide online financial disclosure tools to help students understand the cost of their educations. The schools also will provide free orientation programs for incoming students and supply accurate information about graduates' job placement.


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Some blessings or prayers about God are "You Are God" and "St. Patrick's Lorica." In addition, "The Seven Blessings" are part of a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony. "The Seven Blessings" offer praise to God for a variety of his attributes.
St. Augustine wrote "You Are God." The prayer says that God is a number of titles and qualities. Examples include the Christ, king, a shepherd and a helper. It goes on to say that God leads the country and provides wisdom and harmony. The prayer adds that God is the source of eternal salvation.
God has provided all that each person needs in life, St. Augustine's prayer says. The prayer asks God not to fill people with bitterness but that rather that every good feeling in life is worthy of God's praise. In closing, the prayer asks that the person offering the prayer consume his life with God.
"St Patrick's Lorica" pledges loyalty to God. The poem thanks God for Christ's death and resurrection as well as for the sun and the moon. The writer asks that God walk with him, within him and beside him. He asks God to stay both above and beneath him and in times of quiet as well as times of danger. The poem ends by praising God for the source of salvation.
Similarly, "The Seven Blessings" praises God for his command of the universe. The blessings say that God created everything for his glory and that God brings joy to his children. God created love and loving couples, the blessings say, and the blessings call for God's joy to sound in Jerusalem.


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Universal City, Calif. - Experience the ground-breaking open-world racer from Asobo Studio as Codemasters has announced the FUEL playable demo is now available from the PlayStation Store for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system.
The FUEL demo enables players to take on the Ocean Rush career event, where 7 racers pick their own paths through treacherous landscapes and short-cuts key to taking the checkered flag. Gamers can also take on Blitz – a wild, high-pressure challenge where players must race against the clock to reach the next checkpoint before time runs out. Gamers who download the console versions can also play online for a limited period of 2 weeks from release, experiencing up to 16 player free ride in a limited area of the Tsunami Reef zone or challenging up to 6 other players in the Ocean Rush career race.
Celebrating the demo's arrival, a new video showcases the wheel-to-wheel racing, open landscapes, diverse vehicles and dramatic weather which up to 16 players can enjoy in FUEL's stunning game world. The video is available from www.fuel-game.com (in the Downloads section).
Recognized by Guinness World Records as having 'The Largest Playable Area in a Console Game', FUEL features a huge 5,560 square miles playground which is fully open to race and explore. Based on satellite data from the United States, wildly diverse terrain from the snow-capped Mount Rainier to the arid Grand Canyon and everything in between creates an atmospheric, epic racing sandbox.
FUEL is now available for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Games For Windows. Get pumped for FUEL by downloading the video and demo from www.fuel-game.com.


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GEA equipment produces and packages healthy, nutritious and appealing foods as safely and environmentally responsibly as possible. Typical examples of our customers' end products include round meat, ham, sausages, caseready meats, sliced meat and cheese, and further processed products such as hamburgers, nuggets and ready-to-eat meals.
We also serve niche branches of the protein industry such as pet food, as well as producers of frozen vegetables, potato products, lollipops and sugar cubes. The "scope of supply" figure summarizes the industries GEA Food Solutions serves (input) and the types of products made on our equipment (output). Note that although medical equipment is not our target market, the stringent criteria for packaging sterile products are similar to those for food, so we serve this segment using the same type of thermoform machine.
GEA Food Solutions also serve niche branches of the protein industry such as pet food, as well as producers of frozen vegetables, potato products, lollipops and sugar cubes. Furthermore with the GEA Tiromat brand we serve packaging of consumables and medical equipment.
The six GEA process steps that they build equipment for:
- Preparation - the grinding, mixing, defrosting, analyzing and transporting of raw materials. read more>>
- Marination - adding value by injecting or adding ingredients to enhance flavour, increase yield or extend shelf-life. read more>>
- Processing - the forming, coating, cooking and freezing of meal components like burgers and nuggets. read more>>
- Slicing - the slicing, handling and transporting of sliced meat and cheese. read more>>
- Packaging - horizontal and vertical form, fill and seal packaging machines for all types of food, including meat, fish, vegetables, bread and candy. read more>>
- Sugar based and confectionery - lollipop machinery for froming, wrapping, cooling and packaging as well as sugar cube equipment. read more>>
Click here to search for the machine you need in your own way>>
GEA Food Solutions
P.O. Box 1
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Tel: +31 (492) 349 349
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
URL: www.gea-foodsolutions.com


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I'm Not a Lesbian My Girlfriend Is
A Funny And True Statement
"I'm Not Gay My Girlfriend Is." I could not love this statement more. When I first heard it- it actually came from a 'straight' man who was involved with a gay male friend of mine. He said, "I'm not gay my boyfriend is." I laughed so hard and never forgot it. That was is 1997. That relationship sadly did not work out. The man's lack of 'gayness' combined with his lack of honesty really got in the way and it ended badly.
If you stop to really think about "I'm not gay my girlfriend is" or "I'm not gay my boyfriend is" both statements are quite profound. They sound redundant but they are not. It is honestly amazing how true and frequent they occur. If you stop to add in straight men saying that about their girlfriends the range just widens more and more. How many people are involved with sexually flexible people?
How many people want to be sexually flexible and think their partner will hold it against them?
Who Floats Your Boat
The prompt for this Hub is the amount of gay women I know dating 'straight' woman. I find it hysterical when they are talking and someone says, "Oh her girlfriend is straight." The first reaction is usually the obvious, how can she be straight if she is dating a girl? Oddly enough, she can. I realized a long time ago just because you are dating a woman or in love with a woman it does not mean you are gay (labels are another topic). We are all humans. This means, to me, we have a physical body which holds our soul, our essence, our being. We 'are' without our bodies. It is that essence that we fall in love with. The body is transient. We grow old, fat and get wrinkled. Do you stop loving someone for that? No, you don't that is love.
Think about it how many times do you say, " I don't know what it is he/she just has something, a spark." That spark that light comes from within not without. Don't get me wrong good looks go a long way. Believe me beauty is beauty and we all love to look at it, touch it and be around it. Three cheers for beauty. The question arises what is beautiful to one is not always beautiful to another and that my friends is the beauty of that.
Sex, now here is another story. If we, as humans, allowed ourselves to be really open and not influenced by society, this would be very easy. I would argue that many people would be sexually flexible. Our concern (rightfully so) with what other people think plays a huge factor in our sexual actions. For those who can be flexible really get the best of both worlds. However, the caveat is that they, also, get the drama from both worlds, the stress form both worlds and double testosterone or a double dose of PMS.
How much of what we like is the 'thought' of something. How that something makes us feel. The danger, the chase, the forbidden, the kink, the fantasy. This coupled with the "spark" is key in "getting your boat floated." This can happen with any gender.
There was a great TV show, Nip Tuck. The infamous Dr. Christian Troy (a true beauty) and his girlfriend Kimber (also beautiful) both had a highly charges sex drive. Dr. Troy was not too happy with Kimber seeing other men so they has an arrangement, threesomes with only females. Dr. Troy got his fix of beautiful woman while Kimber, not gay but flexible, was able to be satisfied by both her hot boyfriend and a hot girlfriend. Yet, at one point the two ladies became quite close leaving Dr. Troy to feel a bit left out. There in lays the big problem with woman, their ability to bond in friendship. Female relations ships can be very powerful to to that bonding. Dr. Troy could have easily said "I'm not gay my girlfriend is."
Sometimes as you can see flexible relationships can happen out of necessity. As in the above example is actually saved their relationship, for a while. Others can happen out of "ooooops too much to drink." Or sometimes someone does just float your boat and there is simply no explanation. It is what it is and be fore you know it either you are your partner may be saying, "I'm not gay he/she is."
Boys Boys Boys. Now Boy's they are a tougher nut (hehe) to crack in the "flexible field." I would say the group with the least amount of "I'm not gay but" are the women with their men. Now this is NOT to say there are not tons of gay men masquerading around as straight men but these are not the group I am talking about. I am talking about couple where the man is bi-sexual and the women are not. I would argue the least popular threesome is the man, man woman. You see, men still love to look at woman have sex and I can assure you that most women do not have the same love affair with looking at men having sex with other men. Yet, in the case I spoke of in the beginning my male friend did date a straight man for a few years on and off. I would say that the man was so straight that his flexibility was very tight. He was barely able to cross the line and did tend to lead my friend on. Consequently my friend really had his heart broken. If this man had been honest I would give him kudos for trying.
It Can Be Love
I know of a very powerful and amazing true story of two woman whose love lasted probably from before their lives on this earth, during their lives on this Earth and now continues through the "veil" of the "other side" as one has passed away. Two woman one of which was as gay as gay can be and the other simply not gay. They were very close decades ago. In Spite of the one girl "not' being gay she could not explain her attraction to this other woman. She used to describe her as loving her in spite if her being a girl. In fact, she told me many times it was hard to get passed her "femaleness" but her attraction and connection to her was so incredibly strong that she did get past it but not without difficulty.
They were like to peas in a pod and formed a loving bonding friendship as young women. Alas, their relationship did end due to the fact, "I'm not gay my girlfriend is." The gay woman walked out on her straight love knowing that it would never last. But, loved her always. Decades past and the two became friends again. Immediately their connection re-ignited and there they were again. All the feelings were back of love and friendship. Everything was the same except one was married to a man (and had never been with an other woman) as predicted and the other still gay. They realized how their bond could never be broken but respected each other's life paths and stayed unique friends. Unfortunately, the gay woman passed away shortly after their renewed friendship but she died knowing she had reconnected to her one true love. One of the last communications she had before she died was in a text, "I am grateful to my forever straight love." This story will always make me cry. Love beyond gender and time.
Not For Everyone
Most of us will go through life and never hear or say the words "I'm not gay but my girlfriend/boyfriend is." A whole lot of people will whether they admit it or not, many may not even know that they have had the opportunity to say it, and many may wish they could.
Life is interesting when it comes to looking at the sexual habits of human beings. What and who influences them and why. I love to peer through the looking glass and will continue to do so.
About You
Have You?
If a gay man sleeps or falls inlove with one woman, after that keeps on having sex and/or relationships with men he is not labeled as bisexual the same for a lesbian but if a straight man or woman does so they are seen as bisexual.
That is not correct. Bisexual means sexual attraction with both sexs and that is not exactly what happens when a straight person falls inlove with someone their same sex, where is love? Is there not a word for it?
Sex comes after, you love soneone and then you have sex together as you said looks and gender in this case comes after...
Why does society need to label everyone?
For security. People need to feel safe in their partnerships and life they do not want to think it can happen to them... Well sorry, it can happen to everyone.
It is true that bonding between to women (one straight one bi or gay) it's easier than between men in the same way...
In my opinion one of the two women at least needs to be gay or bi.
Gay people tend to see everyone who has a same sex affair as one of them, well respectfully I don't think so.
Love, bonding and attraction goes beyond ourselves that the beauty of mankind.
I believe that is why people use the term bisexual. If you are sexually attracted to men and women you would fall under that term not "gay" because that is not what that term is used for. In my personal opinion, I believe people are attracted to people so I back up your argument about society's reaction hindering people being open about their personal preferences when it comes to orientation especially since when it is made public it is often at the forefront of peoples' minds when they interact with you.
However, I would also be capable of getting into a debate about the need to label what so ever due to the psychology and need for comfort and to fit in that backs the drive for the general population to do so.
I used to have a girl, and people will always ask who is the gay one. I often find that question confusing because both of us are just girls. Plain girls. So we answer neither. Maybe we could have answered both. Haha.
I never really got it until your post. Thanks!!!
I don't really think most people are 100% straight or gay, anyway, so it's definitely possible to be gay or straight and fall for someone of the "wrong" gender. I've seen it.
"I'm not gay, my girlfriend is!" My girlfriend would find this hilarious!
Great hub. Good information. And I found many things that make even a gay girl stop and think.
Thanks for the read!


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BD in SL, 2013
Bangladesh's Twenty20 loss raises questions about umpiring
01 April 2013
Bangladesh ended their Sri Lanka tour with a fighting 17 run
loss against the hosts at Pallekelle International Stadium at Kandy today. Bangladesh invited Sri Lanka after winning the
toss and the hosts piled up 198 for 5 in 20 overs against an ill disciplined
Bangladesh attack. However, it would be fair to say that the outcome of the
match was largely decided by some inept umpiring decisions which have again
raised the importance of neutral umpires in all international matches.
Both on-field umpires showed complete disregard to the
spirit of the game as they handed out one after another error strewn decisions;
not surprisingly all of them went against the visitors. Sri Lanka total was
boosted by some helpful umpiring decisions as the hero of Sri Lanka innings
Kusal Perera was out first ball of the match and Angelo Mathews was truck plumb
in font in the 15th over before the late flourish, but both of them
were declared not out. However the umpires changed their allegiance from the
batsmen to the bowlers when Bangladesh came onto bat.
Shamsur Rahman was outside the popping crease in the first
over of the chase and the ball would have sailed well over stumps, and Ashraful
was hit outside leg stump in the 8th Over of Bangladesh innings;
this time both of them were given out. Bangladesh were hard done by both
decisions, but Ashraful's one was a rank poor decision even if it was backyard
cricket match. Four mistakes at crucial junctures of the game show the umpires
are not simply fit for purpose or wholly biased.
Despite the unhelpful officiating, Bangladesh fought
admirably and was well on course to challenge the total. However, two quick
wickets in the 15th over of Bangladesh innings derailed the chase as
both set batsmen, Mushfiq and Mahmudullah, fell to the spin bowling of Suchitra
Senanayake. Some late hitting by Mominul
Haque could only reduce the margin of defeat who did not have enough support at
the other end to seriously challenge the Sri Lankan total.
Bad umpiring sullies final match
Bangladesh evens ODI series 1-1
Bangladesh won the final rain-curtailed ODI against Sri Lanka to tie the series 1-1.
2nd ODI abandoned
The 2nd ODI was abandoned after only 5 overs when persistent rain prevented any further play. Bangladesh won the toss and sent in Sri Lanka to bat. The Lankan openers got off to a rapid start, punishing the wayward Bangladesh fast bowlers. They had reached 33 runs for no loss when the heavens open up. The two teams now move on to the third and final ODI with the hosts leading the series 1-0.
Bangladesh loses first ODI
Sri Lanka, chasing a revised target of 238 in 41 overs following a power failure, won the day-night match with 32 balls to spare.
ODI Tour Squad Announced
First Test ends in a high scoring draw
The record-breaking opening Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh ended in a draw on the fifth and final day at the Galle International Stadium.
Bangladesh, chasing 268-runs for victory in the final session, ended at 70-1 in their second innings after Sri Lanka had declared at tea on 335-4.
The visitors were bowled out for 638 in their first innings on Monday in reply to Sri Lanka's 570-4 declared.
The second and final Test starts in Colombo on Saturday.
Details to follow.
Shakib may miss Sri Lanka Tests
Top all-rounder Shakib Al hasan may miss the Test series against Sri Lanka next month. According to BCB physician Debasish Chowdhuty said that the scans revealed that Shakib is suffering from "exertional compartment syndrome" on his shin bone, a condition that leads to pain and swelling and can be caused by frequent running."The CT and bone scan didn't reveal any major damages. His problems can be managed by physiotherapy, physical exercise and controlled participation in sports," Chowdhury said. "Whether he will play Tests will depend on Shakib and the selectors."Shakib had missed the recent ODI home series against the West Indies and was given six-weeks rest. The decision on Shakib's participation will be taken at a BCB operations committe meeting.Bangladesh will play two Tests in Sri Lanka in March, as well as three ODIs and a Twenty20.
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Happy Halloween! Well, it's a day late because I was enjoying Halloween. However, that makes me wonder – what's your Favorite Halloween Tradition? Is it traveling from neighborhood to neighborhood to trick-or-treat? Is it decorating your home with decorations such as spider webs? Is it pumpkin carving after your family and you picked one out from the patch?
Favorite Halloween Tradition – What's Yours?
As you can imagine, mine has changed over the course of my life. My current favorite Halloween tradition is creating my costume versus buying a pre-set one. This year was a last-minute, 11th hour decision to be Woody from Toy Story. Even though it wasn't a perfect duplicate, I think it received more compliments (props, LOL) because it was original, and my own creativity instead of someone's manufactured idea. Several friends and coworkers asked how I did it, which I thought was odd. With a Google Search History that'll read rather funny, I downloaded an image of Woody as my visual aide.
Actioned the plan I had in the palm of my hand in the form of a downloaded picture on my iPhone. It quickly became my favorite Halloween tradition – or at least going forward.
Until recently, my favorite tradition was to pass out candy to the door knockers. Whether it's the children or the parents of children, my heart would quicken at the knock of the down, and the chime from them, "Trick or treat!"
Another tradition that been two years running, is rocking a corn maze. Last year at the Thomas Family Farm the weather was nasty: rainy and windy therefore muddy and cold. This year it was dry and sunny for a few hours on a rare Saturday I had off from Costco. Much better result! We were able to complete, and my sister collected more coins than I did as we competed in the maze.
We would, or at least I would, love to know what's your favorite tradition(s)! Did I list it already? Or do you have an idea that could inspire others? Please comment below!
Until next time, be good like you should, and if you can't be good, be good at what you do!
Mic drop *bOoM*
'los; out


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Stumped by Consciousness
Monday November 12, 2007
I am now three quarters of the way through teaching my philosophy course on consciousness, and I'm pleased to report that – as both hoped and anticipated – confusion and perplexity have broken out.
The more I think about it, the more puzzling the question What is consciousness? becomes. Famously, David Chalmers made a distinction between the easy problems of consciousness (for example, the nuts and bolts of colour perception, or the binding problem) and the hard problem of consciousness, which is how subjective experience can arise at all. Here's what Chalmers writes on the subject [link here]:
It is undeniable that some organisms are subjects of experience. But the question of how it is that these systems are subjects of experience is perplexing. Why is it that when our cognitive systems engage in visual and auditory information-processing, we have visual or auditory experience: the quality of deep blue, the sensation of middle C? How can we explain why there is something it is like to entertain a mental image, or to experience an emotion? It is widely agreed that experience arises from a physical basis, but we have no good explanation of why and how it so arises. Why should physical processing give rise to a rich inner life at all? It seems objectively unreasonable that it should, and yet it does.
I wish I found it that straightforward. For me, the trouble begins before we even get to the hard problem. Let me try to explain as best I can. Consciousness is sometimes talked about as "what it is like" to be a particular thing. It is, we presume, like something to be me, or to be you, or a bat (even if I cannot know what it is like), although it isn't like something, we are told, to be a park bench. But when I ask "what is it like to be me?" I'm flummoxed. I'm not even sure that the question makes sense. On the surface it seems a sensible enough question, but when I ask myself (as I have been doing) "What is it like to be me, just now?" I find that I really don't have anything like a clear answer.
Sometimes, another tack is to talk about what the philosophers call qualia – the ineffable "thisness" of experience, the redness of red, the painfulness of pain, the chocolaty taste of hot chocolate – but qualia don't seem to be doing the trick for me either. Qualia are often taken to be bleeding obvious – of course there is a kind of subjective thisness to the taste of chocolate – or, to put it more delicately, these curious qalia are said to be "clear and distinct". But they don't seem so. The more I poke and prod away at them, the less clear and the less distinct they become.
And this is the sticking point for me, I think. It is a question of what introspective attention lays bare. The more I play with questions about consciousness, the more I'm unsure of what the nature of this subjective experience is, and so the more I am unsure of whether there is, or is not, a hard problem in the sense that Chalmers means. Of course, I could be just being obtuse. Ask those who know me best: it's been known to happen. But I don't think it's just a matter of me being obtuse, and despite my best efforts at trying to think through this stuff, at the moment perplexity is outweighing clarity.
So there you have it. Consciousness… what's it all about? Don't coming asking me for illumination. I can't help you. Sure, I can probably witter away about it for hours on end about the subject. That's precisely what I've been doing on this course, and it's be good fun. But when it comes down to it, I don't have a clue what I'm talking about. I have no idea what is going on. I'm utterly flummoxed.
In this sense, "consciousness" seems to me like those other grand labels such as "God" or "art". People who bandy such terms about do so in the sincere conviction that what they are talking about is a Very Important Thing. They will do everything to defend the term, which can then become the seed for a hundred, hundred complex and mutually contested theories. But whether the Very Important Thing under discussion actually exists, in what sense it exists, and why its existence matters at all… well, these are rather different questions.
# · Michael
I think one of the mains problems is that 'consciousness' as a term isn't really properly defined. I think that this is in part because we don't really know what we are trying to define. We just have a vague sense that these is something more to 'us' than what we aren't currently covering by science.
At the moment, for me consciousness is a concept that encompasses an integrated set of experiences. You can break it apart and it becomes nothing. It only exists as a form.
# · Peter
I wonder who made it so complicated. Being conscious is being aware of the present experience. The more aware, the more consciousness there is. Through meditation you know you can become much more aware, raise your consciousness.
What is it like to be me, just now? First know 'me', focus on it and you have your answer. To find 'me' dive into your breath. Your essence is right there – see, hear, feel and taste the oneness. When you dwell in that place for a moment or two, you can answer that question. When your consciousness then switches to thoughts and body feelings then it is harder to answer that question because there is much more to explain.
Do you know your self, Self, me? Know that and things become very clear.
# · pramila
I am not sure whether it matters that much if we can or cannot identify 'consciousness'just to satisfy a scientific [and rather limited but aso sometimes useful] definition [often involving experiments to kill frogs to see if soul traces exist – which says more about the soul- lessness of the scientists!]. It is not that interesting , the precious personal experience of the unique sense of what it is to be 'me' or the 'ineffable delight of tasting chocolate'[I leave that to the novelists and playwrights]. What is of interest is examples of people[ historical, mythical or contemporary], who through changing their perception of common human experience[pain, suffering, joy etc.], are able to demonstrate ways of transcending the human condition while remaining still grounded in it. Perhaps the things that we dismiss as quirks of the brain chemistry – religious, mystical or peak experiences, or just inner calmness and peace – perhaps these are fore-tastes of what we as humans are capable of achieving. What we do with 'consciousness' – ie the bundle of perception, reflection. etc. is important – does our consciousness isolate or include or transcend, with relation to the experience of others? This is a more urgent and interesting question.
# · Peter
> Michael
Experience of oneness perfectly answers the question but not in words. Do you want a real answer or more words? Words are limited even though you might think you could write forever. Philosophy leads to more questions. The only real answer is beyond words. (There! See what words have done – led me into statements that can be discussed endlessly…)
> pramila
Perhaps if you read Will's next article, Real Magic, you may change your mind somewhat. To me a most interesting question is how can we enjoy the magic within the mundane and see the magic in each other, even those we disagree with? But perhaps that's the same question but in different words…
# · pramila
I like Peter's observation – enjoy the magic in the mundane, and even in those we disagree with.
That is the sort of magic that Patanjali and other explorers of consciousness invite us to, in relating to the world 'outside' our 'selves'.
# · Ccx
I would pose a bit different question: Are we able to define what consciousness is? I think it's ability of space (mind) to experience what appears in it. But you may wish to define what 'experience' is. And go after other definitions ad infinitum.
In order to communicate we pretend we have common base of experiences we can use as some axioms to build on.
In fact we have similar experiences, because we have similar karma, that forms what we experience.
On how we perceive I would recommend some reading on five skandhas, about who perceives 3rd Karmapa's Wishes for attaining mahamudra (I think lama Ole's commentaries are very good).
# · ck
Will, I've been behind on my blog reading and just noticed this post. Since you read my consciousness paper (and really, since I wrote it, which was even further back) I've been finding myself less and less sure of my position on "consciousness."
I'm glad to see others sharing in that sense. I've also begun to think more about the role our body has to play in consciousness and how analytic philosophy seems to ignore our minds as embodied. How that fits into Buddhism and the claim that the Self is empty and the body impermanent, I'm not sure yet. I don't think the two are mutually exclusive, for sure.
Anyway, thanks for this. I'd love to hear more thoughts on the topic as you have them.
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You can join any one of the classes and each module is Rs500 or book all 4 for Rs1700.
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This is a series of 4 workshops especially for this Valentines Weekend. So read on for a fun and creative way to spend this Valentines weekend, either alone or with a loved one!
You can join any one of the classes and each module is Rs500 or book all 4 for Rs1700.
Each class will include pranayama (breath work), asana, kriya, relaxation and a meditation.
Yoga to Open Your Heart with Love and Acceptance
Saturday 15th February 11am -1.00pm
This workshop will focus on balancing the fourth chakra - the heart center. When the heart center is weak you can be afraid to open your heart to others. When our heart chakra is balanced we receive and give love easily, effortlessly and in a healthy and balanced way. Come and open your heart and allow love and friendship flows abundantly into your lives.
Express the Heart with Art
Saturday 15th February 3pm -5.00pm
The energy of the heart centre is naturally expansive and unconditional. The heart knows long before the head - learn to listen to your heart. Allow it to lead and direct the flow of your life. After beautiful Heart opening yoga and meditation we will explore our creativity with painting and expression. This session is suitable for absolutely anybody. No previous experience with meditation or painting required
Partner Yoga Workshop
Sunday 16th February 11am-1.00pm
Experience the joy of experience giving and receiving loving support. We'll breathe together and practice a loving community meditation. Come along with a friend or a family member or your sweetheart to share in the joy of partner yoga. This workshop is suitable for all levels, even those with limited or no yoga experience. We'll practice yoga poses that will help you connect with the support of another in this fun and lighthearted workshop!
Meditate and Create – A Yoga Writing Workshop
Sunday 16th February 3pm-5.00pm
Come prepared for a spacious afternoon of some light and creative yoga, guided meditations and writing intervals, in a safe space where you can take quiet creative risks and discover the hidden potential of your inner self. No previous writing or yoga experience is necessary: simply bring a notebook, a pen, an open mind, a willing bod and a poem (yours or published) to be shared during our practice.


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Thursday, September 9, 2010
Labor Day Challenge & Give Away; Christmas Layout,
Erin Lee Creative has a wonderful Labor Day Challenge going on. So for the challenge I decided to make a Christmas layout for my 2010 album I am working on. I now have three pages done for the album and I still have a couple of months to go!
For the layout I used the following cricut cartridge: Christmas Noel for the tree cutting it at 7 inches and a Child's Year for the adorable kids bring home their Christmas tree, cutting them at 3.50 inches.
I can not wait until Chritmas Eve to take pictures of the grand kids by the tree for this layout!
Posted by jennyplace2 at 8:03 PM
1 comment:
- Gaby ~ Scrapabookaholic said...
I love love this LO
- September 9, 2010 at 9:21 PM
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May 8, 1932-Aug. 25, 2013
Carol Joan Gibbons, age 81, of Flat Rock, Mich., passed away on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013, at Oakwood Southshore Medical Center in Trenton, Mich.
Friends may visit 4-8 p.m. today and 1-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, in the Arthur Bobcean Funeral Home, Inc., Flat Rock Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, at Southpoint Community Christian Church, Trenton. Rev. Brett Kays will officiate the service. Burial will be in Michigan Memorial Park.
Born on May 8, 1932 in Costa Mesa, Calif., she was the daughter of William and Edna (Erickson) Roush. She married John (Bill) William Gibbons on June 13, 1954 in the Santa Ana, California, Church of Christ.
She was assistant treasurer for City of Flat Rock for 29 years until retiring in 1994.
Carol was a member of Monroe 600 Club, Monroe Women?s Bowling Assn., Flat Rock Elkadys, Flat Rock Historical Society and was on the Flat Rock Board of Review from 1994 to present.
She enjoyed her granddaughter, travel, casinos and 59 years of bowling, including many national tournaments.
Carol was preceded in death by husband John (Bill) William Gibbons, father Roy William Roush, mother Edna Roush, brother William Roush and sister Lynne Roush.
Surviving are daughters Donna (Russell) Miller of Colorado Springs, Colo. and Joanne Beard of Flat Rock, Mich. and granddaughter Shelby Beard at Texas A & M.
Memorials may be made to Southpointe Church Building Fund.
Condolences @ www.arthurbobcean.com.


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In my family, we give a lot of books at Christmas (and birthdays) and my Mom, aunt and cousins often get the latest cookbook I've touted in this column. It's our own little Jolabokaflod, the "Christmas (or Yule) Book Flood" practiced in Iceland. It seems back in World War II paper was inexpensive (but not imported goods) so the book publishers "flooded" the country with new books at the end of the year. Icelanders give books on Christmas Eve and then read them all evening. That's what we call the "free reading" period in our family. It's a time to sneak away while on vacation or taking a break from chores to relax with a good book. Here are my picks for books for the cooks, beer drinkers and mixologists on your holiday gift list. I encourage you to buy them in your local book shop. They can order it if they don't have it in stock.
"Soup Swap" by Kathy Gunst (Chronicle Books,$24.95)
I'll start with some local authors and books I've devoted entire columns to. Not only do you get delicious recipes for soups and accompaniments of all kinds, for all seasons, but Kathy also tells us how to throw a Soup Swap of our own. Each guest makes a pot of soup, tells the group about the background, and we all try each others' soups, bringing some leftovers of each home for the week. Give one to each member of the family and start a wonderful annual holiday tradition.
"Black Trumpet" by Evan Mallett (Chelsea Green, $40)
Two hundred and fifty recipes covering eight seasons with beautiful photography by local Enna Grazier. Anyone who loves Portsmouth and the region's food will love this book. "At the renowned Black Trumpet restaurant, located in the historic seacoast city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Chef Evan Mallett and his staff reflect the constantly changing seasons of New England, celebrating the unique flavors and traditions of fished, farmed, and foraged foods in their ever-changing menus that rotate roughly every six weeks throughout the course of the year."
"Against All Hops" by Butch Heilshorn (Page Street Publishing, $18.99)
This book by the Earth Eagle Brewings' co-owner and brewer is great for brewers, but it also has plenty of herb and flower lore and history. Learn how to brew without hops, using plants, seeds and herbs foraged or cultivated. Great photos from local Jay Fortin, too. Go into A&G Homebrew in Portsmouth and do all your holiday shopping there.
"Project Extreme Brewing: An Enthusiast's Guide to Extreme Brewing at Home" by Sam Calagione, ? Todd Alstrom and Jason Alstrom (Quarry Books, $24.99)
The founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Sam Calagione teamed up with brothers Jason and Todd Alström of BeerAdvocate for this authoritative primer on extreme brewing. Find recipes from breweries around the country like Allagash, Lost Abbey, Shmaltz, and Beau's All Natural Sam came to brew at the Portsmouth Brewery many years ago so I'm stretching the local aspect.
"America The Great Cookbook" edited by Joe Yonan (Weldon Owen, $40)
Both Kathy Gunst and Evan Mallett have recipes and photos in this delightful book edited by Joe Yonan, the food editor from the Washington Post who spent time homesteading in South Berwick, Maine. The recipes are easy and from the heart of each of the 100 chefs, cooks, and food luminaries from all over the country. Purchases benefit No Kid Hungry.
Oh, and you can still buy "Maine Classics: 150 Delicious Recipes" from Downeast by MC Perkins Cove and Arrows' Restaurant chefs Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier and me, Rachel Forrest. Sure, it's six years old, but these are classics!
Now, on to the more national picks for the foodies on your holiday gift lists.
"The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South" by Michael W. Twitty ( Amistad, $28.99 ). I got to sit next to this author on a plane to Austin where he was giving a lecture and, of course, I got nosy and asked him all about what he was reading. He's a renowned historian on African-American food history and this book is a memoir of Southern cuisine and food culture that traces his ancestry through food.
"America: The Cookbook" edited by Gabrielle Langholtz (Phaidon Press, $49.95 ) has 800 home-cooking recipes presented state by state. It also features 50 essays and menus from 100 food experts and chefs in each state (food writers Susan Laughlin and Alison Ladman in New Hampshire and in Maine, Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley from Eventide).
"Sweet" by Yotam Ottolenghi and Helen Goh (Ten Speed Press, $35). London chef Yotam Ottolenghi brings us this follow-up to Jerusalem with the flavors of Israel in desserts. Find fig, rose petal, saffron, orange blossom, cardamom and almond in delicious desserts like Cinnamon Pavlova with Praline Cream.
"The Moosewood Restaurant Table: 250 Brand-New Recipes from the Natural Foods Restaurant That Revolutionized Eating in America" by the Moosewood Collective (St. Martin's Press, $35). Famed Moosewood restaurant is now in its fifth decade, doing "farm-to-table" long before the term was used so ubiquitously. Now, they include vegetables not commonly in use way back in the day like Romanesco broccoli and watermelon radishes. Plenty of new grains here, too, like freekeh and millet. Find butternut latkes, Cuban picadillo with tofu and Jamaican Jerk tempeh patties.
"Pok Pok the Drinking Food of Thailand" by Andy Ricker with JJ Goode (Ten Speed Press, $35). Andy Ricker spent decades in Thailand and in this follow-up to Pok Pok, he brings us the food Thais eat when they drink (not food that is meant to be sipped). You know, bar snacks! Spicy, sweet, salty snacks like Thai-style fried chicken and thua thawt samun phrai, an addictive combination of fried peanuts with makrut lime leaf, garlic, and chiles.
"The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen" by Sean Sherman with Beth Dooley (University of Minnesota Press, $34.95). Sean Sherman is an Oglala Lakota chef and founder of The Sioux Chef, a catering and educational business. Here, he gives us healthful plates featuring venison, duck, blueberries, sage, amaranth, and abundant wildflowers. It's a great introduction to the modern indigenous cuisine of the Dakota and Minnesota territories.
"wd~50: The Cookbook" by Wylie Dufresne and Peter Meehan (Ecco, $75). This is the first book from the NYC modernist chef who opened wd~50 in 2003 (and closed it in 2014) with cutting-edge food and a whimsical attitude. Find gorgeous photography, recipes explaining how it's all done and memories from the restaurant's last days.
"How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant's Companion: Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing All the Beverages Used in the United States" by Dr. Jerry Thomas (Forgotten Books, $30). Newly re-released, this book is "a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy." Jerry Thomas was an American bartender considered to be the father of American mixology because of his pioneering work in popularizing cocktails in the United States. His showmanship established the image of the bartender as a creative professional. He learned his trade in the East, but worked as a bartender in California during the gold rush, St. Louis, Chicago, Charleston, New Orleans, and New York. It's a great gift for the bartender in your life.
- Rachel Forrest is a former restaurant owner who lives in Exeter (and Austin, Texas). Her column appears Thursdays in Go&Do. Her restaurant review column, Dining Out, appears Thursdays in EDGE magazine. She can be reached by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Urban Music Pioneer Partners with Universal to form Street Records Corporation (SRC) First Release by David Banner Already Causing Waves at Radio
Urban Music Pioneer Partners with Universal to form Street Records Corporation (SRC)
First Release by David Banner Already Causing Waves at Radio
New York, New York, March 6, 2003 – Universal Records has inked an exclusive venture with urban music pioneer and former Loud Records founder Steve Rifkind to form Street Records Corporation (SRC), it was announced today by Mel Lewinter, Chairman of Universal Motown Records Group, and Rifkind.
"Steve is the embodiment of the true entrepreneur," stated Lewinter. "As one of the architects of modern urban music, his track record for discovering and developing artists from the ground up is extraordinary. We are thrilled to be in business with him."
"In searching for the right partner for SRC, I knew that I didn't want to be a part of a company that was already set in its ways," commented Rifkind. "The immediate vibe I got from Doug Morris (Chairman, Universal Music Group), Mel, Monte Lipman (President of Universal Records) and Kedar Massenburg (President & CEO, Motown Records) was that they are determined to continue building a great label, and this agreement will allow us to take SRC to the next level, while preserving the integrity and credibility of our artists."
Up first from SRC/Universal will be the highly anticipated debut of platinum-selling producer David Banner (due April 29). Best known for creating hits for such superstars as Trick Daddy, Pastor Troy, Snoop Dogg and Lil Flip, among others, Banner is one of the rare few producers in urban music who can also rap. Hailing from Jackson, Mississippi, he has quickly built an incredible name for himself throughout the South with both radio play and retail sales for the past 3 years. In the past 2 months alone, Banner's debut single featuring Lil Flip, "Like A Pimp," has been blowing up the airwaves in the South to reach an unprecedented 500 BDS radio spins coming from just a handful of stations.
Rifkind first leaped into music history when, through his family's label (Spring Records), he helped release FatBack Band's "King Tim III," the first hip-hop record ever. Keeping his ear finely in tune with the pulse of the streets, he began marketing hip-hop acts like Leaders of the New school, Brand Nubian and Tone Loc, and in the process, became the architect of the modern street team. In 1989, Rifkind took this concept a step further and launched his own consulting firm, the Steven Rifkind Company, trademarking the term "street team." Through it, Rifkind attracted such clients as Nike, Pepsi, HBO, Rolling Stone Magazine and Levis, quickly establishing the company as a marketing powerhouse. With that, Rifkind decided to return to music and started Loud Records in 1992, inaugurating the bi-coastal hip-hop label and recruiting Tha Liks as his first act.
By maintaining its now renown A&R prowess and aggressive, street wise approach to discovering and nurturing talent, Loud quickly established itself as one of hip-hop's most successful and culturally influential labels, releasing many of the most important albums of the 90s from the Wu-Tang Clan, Big Punisher, Mobb Deep, Funkmaster Flex, Xzibit, Three 6 Mafia and Raekwon, among many others.
In addition to overseeing all of the activities of the newly formed SRC/Universal, Rifkind recently sold 50% of the Steven Rifkind Company to Mosaic Media Holdings.
Universal Records is a subsidiary of Universal Motown Records Group, a division of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company with wholly-owned record operations or licensees in 63 countries around the world. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry's largest global music publishing operations.
Universal Music Group consists of record labels Decca Record Company, Deutsche Grammophon, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, MCA Nashville, MCA Records, Mercury Records, Motown Records, Philips, Polydor, Universal Records, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and UM3 (outside the U.S.).


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(Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) made mistakes while suing thousands of its credit card customers over non-payments, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing the bank's internal review of its debt-collection process.
JPMorgan examined about 1,000 lawsuits and found mistakes in 9 percent of the cases, the Journal said, citing people familiar with the review.
"Any rate above zero is high," one person familiar with the bank's conversations with regulators told the newspaper. (link.reuters.com/mak59t)
The errors ranged from inaccurate interest and fees applied by outside law firms to a "small number of instances" in which lawsuits listed higher balances than the amounts owed by borrowers.
In certain cases sworn documents were signed without knowledge of their accuracy, according to an internal document reviewed by the Wall Street Journal.
JPMorgan, however, concluded the mistakes it found were "mostly small" and "had a minimal" impact on customers. "We have no reason to doubt" that the principal amounts the bank sought to collect were accurate, the document said.
California's attorney general sued JPMorgan in May, accusing the bank of falsely signing documents to unlawfully collect credit card debt from thousands of customers.
The lawsuit accuses JPMorgan of engaging in widespread, illegal "robo-signing" of legal documents to commit debt-collection abuses against about 100,000 California credit card borrowers.
JPMorgan stopped filing credit card-related lawsuits in 2011 after allegations emerged that employees in its mortgage unit had signed off on large numbers of foreclosures without reviewing the underlying documents.
The bank decided to review its collections-litigation practices following the foreclosure fiasco to determine if it had similar problems elsewhere in its consumer unit, according to the paper.
JPMorgan could not immediately be reached for comment by Reuters outside of regular U.S. business hours.
Reporting by Sakthi Prasad in Bangalore; Editing by David Cowell


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My generation saw horrendous fashion statements of bell bottoms, zip-up pants, and Richard Simmon's gym shorts. We were able to survive while holding onto a little dignity, and that's no small feat. Luckily, the best of American fashion world has changed and evolved to fit the next generation's particular fashion tastes. While fashion trends come and go, the most successful top american clothing brands have evolved their clothing lines to reflect these changes.
Whether it's polo shirts and penny loafers, or women's lingerie and daisy dukes, these 5 best American clothing brands have given superior apparel to fashion-minded customers as they will continue to last for generations to come. I don't doubt that my grandchildren's grandchildren will be wearing some of these fashion brands.
Best American Clothing Brands in Amazon.com
Levi's Jeans
Amazon Price: $58.00 $29.99 Buy Now
(price as of Jan 20, 2014)
Abercrombie & Finch
Serving men, women, and teens since 1892, Abercrombie & Finch stuck with a simple clothing practice: offer the latest look in causal fashion while keeping up with the traditional business wear. This company began in Manhattan, New York by Ezra Fitch and David Abercrombie. It began as an unsuccessful sporting goods outfitter that had to close its doors and sell its name to first a Houston-based mail order retailer and finally to an Ohio clothing company called The Limited in 1988.
Abercrombie & Finch has become a trendy mall spot for young people as they offer jeans, khakis, sweaters and polo shirts. They also operate under other brands of Gilly Hicks and Hollister.
Levi Strauss
No matter how long I live, I will know that I owned at least one pair of Levi jeans. Started by the Bavarian immigrant Levi Strauss, the Levi Company began in San Francisco in 1853 and became the first jean company in the nation. Denim blue jeans have never gone out of style with their durability along with the versatility to go with most clothing attire. Levis, Dockers, and Denizen are all products provided by the Levi Strauss company.
While many of its products are made in other countries, and it's original company closed up shop in San Francisco, many of its clothing line is still sewn right here in the United States. Globally, Levi Strauss is known for high quality jeans.
Polo Ralph Lauren
It all began with a tie. The Polo Ralph Lauren brand was started by fashion designer Ralph Lifshitz in 1969. Selling men's ties in a small Bloomingdale boutique store in Manhattan, New York, he expanded to include men's and women's suits in the classic style popular for that time. Polo Ralph Lauren continued to expand to meet the latest fashion trends as it now provides men's, women's, and children's high-end clothing along with accessories.
Although the "Polo" part of Ralph Lauren was dropped to show that the company is more than just that product line, Ralph Lauren will always be known for its polo shirts with the little logo of the galloping horse and polo rider with his raised mallet.
Nike Clothes Collection
Whenever I think of Nike, I think of the basketball stars, dripping sweat, as they perform outstanding lay ups and three-point shots. The television camera always panned down to their shoes when the athlete's feet landed on the pavement, zooming in on the Nike thunderbolt logo.
Nike has always been synonymous with sportswear. The company began in 1972 between co-founders Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight in Portland, Oregon as a sports footwear company. In time, it expanded to high performance gear and apparel for men, women, and teens. If looking for a sporty look, everyone purchased Nike for the highest quality clothing that can withstand the most extreme sports.
Victoria's Secret
It's not much of a secret anymore that if you are looking for the right lingerie to surprise a spouse or sweetheart, you went right to the local mall and the Victoria's Secret store. Founded in 1977 by Roy Raymond in San Francisco, California, Victoria's Secret was created so that Roy Raymond wouldn't feel embarrassed to purchase lingerie for his wife in a regular department store. Victoria's Secret became sold to The Limited in 1982 and later to the Sun Capital Partners in 2007.
Victoria's Secret caters to women's lingerie fashion with bras, underwear, sleepwear, and intimate apparel. This line of fashion exploded into the global market when Victoria's Secret began promoting its apparel with the use of fashion models.
Fashion Is In The Eye Of The Wearer
I'm sure other people would argue that this list should contain other companies, such as J. Crew, Gap, Baby Phat, and Roxy. While these companies all have their unique niche carved in the fashion world, I believe that the five I have listed are more of the well-known and long-lasting companies that will still be here for years to come.


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Book of Faith
The purpose of the Book of Faith Initiative is to increase biblical literacy and fluency for the sake of the world.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has made a commitment to encourage all members of our congregations, from children to adults, to dig deeper into our book of faith, the Bible. The Book of Faith Initiative recommends a new model for our church—a grass-roots approach embracing a common vision in which all are invited to open scripture and join the conversation. Each community is encouraged to decide how the Book of Faith Initiative will become a vital part of its own ministry.
Right Now
First, print out and read the information sheet that outlines the purposes, goals, and resources of Book of Faith. Next, read your copy of "Opening the Book of Faith." This is a core resource. If you don't have one, order from Augsburg Fortress for $12.99 ($10.99 with church discount).
Register Your Congregation
Book of Faith makes good use of the web and social networking. Start with the Book of Faith site. Click on "become part of the initiative." Fill out the form. Check off the ideas you would like to pursue and add some of your own. (Already you are moving toward an important goal – to have 75% of the congregations register a commitment.)
Then for something new – and exciting – add your profile to the social networking site. Join the conversation about the Book of Faith that goes on 24/7.
Begin the Conversation at Home
Spread the word to leaders and members. Get them involved. They too can register at the Book of Faith site and join the conversation on the social networking site. Download logos to help with the promotion. Share the vision with the Church Council. Invite their commitment.
Take Some Actions
Unlike other programs, Book of Faith does not rest on a specific course or resource. Rather, it aims simply to make folks feel more at home with and comfortable using the Bible and it language that expresses our faith. There are many ways to do this. New ideas emerge all the time – and the social networking site is the place to share them! What's your idea?
Consider these starter ideas:
Study "Opening the Book of Faith." A study guide and DVD are available to facilitate a seven-session study of this key book. Plan to start at least one study group.
Get a Picture of Your Congregation. How do the people feel about the Bible? What role does it play in their life? What are their questions? You can find individual and group assessment tools in the back of "Opening the Book of Faith" or download them here.
Use Bible Bites. Individuals share a favorite Bible verse(s). Then they talk for a minute or two about why that verse has meaning for their life and experience. This could be a way to start all committee meetings. Try it during worship services.
Add Tabs. Many folks have trouble navigating through 66 books. Encourage them to use Bible index tabs.
Pre-mark Bibles. When giving Bibles to children and youth, first have some key people underline their favorite Bible verse(s). This shares the faith across generations. It also encourages them to mark up the Bible on their own.
Pull out Pew Bibles. Encourage worshippers to follow the readings in their pew Bible. Announce the page number, and give time for them to locate the passage.
Promote Starter Studies. Devote the first five or ten minutes of each meeting to a brief study of a Bible passage. "Opening the Book of Faith" has four easy-to-use ways to go about these starter studies.
Expect More to Come
Like an organism, the Book of Faith Initiative grows and evolves. The whole ELCA community feeds in the ideas that shape it from day to day. You can expect:
• More information through Conference meetings.
• An emphasis at the Synod Assembly.
• Leader training to equip people to guide the four types of Bible study in "Opening the Book of Faith" in various settings.
• Further resources to help people grow in understanding and appreciation of Scripture.


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Mon, 30 October 2017
Download for Mobile | Preview Video
TOO MEAN. Way too mean. All jokes aside, <3 Combofiend 4ever. He did the best he could. Also, Quackbot is a lousy bum. You can watch us record the podcast live on twitch.tv/superbestfriendsplay
Outro: Street Fighter 3 - Kobu
Direct download: SBFC221.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 11:54pm PST


text: The summer break is over as round 10 of the FSR Season takes place at Nürburgring, Germany. The team approaches the race holding the lead in both the drivers and constructors championships, with Bono Huis having won 8 of the 9 previous races. The team is expecting another strong weekend from Germany, as preparations have gone reasonably well. Furthermore, Peter Duivelaar will make his debut driving the Mak-Corp Racing car, as the young Dutch was acquired to strenthen the team's World Series line-up. Team owner Johannes Kunkel commented: "The home GP is always a special race for a team and of course we want to show the maximum result this weekend and get back on the winning road in both the World Series and World Championship. The Summer break we just had was very good for the team and we managed to regroup and get back with good motivation to attack the rest of the season. I´m looking forward to see Peter doing his debut this weekend in the Mak-Corp car." To follow the progress of the team during the weekend, make sure to join us on Facebook and Twitter. Precision Motorsports Press Official Press Release written by Johannes Kunkel www.precision-motorsports.de