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im in my party flirtin w/ ur imouto
There's lots of great stuff coming, but im kinda disappointed to kors k remix of WAW, it sounds pretty bad, and we know that he can me better. l.E.D-G sounds typical G-style from him, and the other two remixes sound awesome, Sota remix ecspecially. This is gonna be SO FABULOUS!
It sounds like a teranoid song, which is a good thing if you ask me.
Get busy, man! The nekomata album was great, and the starmine album does have a few gems of its own too.

subset: commoncrawl


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Queensland Women's Week is an expansion of International Women's Day, providing for a week-long, statewide celebration of the achievements of Queensland women and girls.
Learn about the Queensland Women's Week theme for 2019 and where to find information on the United Nations' official International Women's Day theme.
Follow us on social media and join our mailing list to stay involved and up-to-date.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence


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How to cite this article: Khadem-Rezayian M, Dadgar Moghadam M. Which Metric Is More Appropriate to Evaluate Researchers? Asia Pac J Med Toxicol 2015;4:94.
Iranian medical universities choose their best researchers in each field annually. The protocols of this process have been modified quite often, but the changes were not fundamental and did not lead to all-inclusive evaluation tools. The recent article in Asia Pacific Journal of Medical Toxicology, which proposes a scoring scale for evaluation of scientist's impact called "360-degree researcher evaluation score" (1), not only opens a new window for detailed evaluation of researchers' products and creations, but also provides a basic platform for promoting the research. In community medicine, there is a strict view to primarily address upstream causes of health problems while we look for solutions for downstream ones (2). It seems that this view has been considered in the designing process of this new scale, as for example, some neglected criteria which build capacity for science production (upstream causes of low science production) are taken into account.
We really appreciate the holistic view of the scale, but we believe that following suggestions would help to improve its utility:
In "science development" domain:
In "economic impact" domain:
In "societal impact" domain:
Taken together, the proposed scale is a well-designed protocol for considering the most important dimensions of research. However, ensuring the reliability and validity of this tool requires further studies.


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New 5 star unique and innovative excursion offering natural and ecological health information
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Try saying that headline three times fast.
No. Don't.
You're already frustrated enough, aren't you? I know I am. These days, for every moment of wonderment, and happily, there are many, and happy moments of wonderment, at that, there seem to be three of the WTF-OMFG-WFHIT* variety.
People are craaaaaazy right now. There is a craaaaaazy amount of fear in the air, and an actually not-so-crazy amount of scrambling accompanying it. Because all the rules have changed, or seem to have, in the middle of the game. (I'll make the rather existential argument that we've all been living in a fantasy hullaballoo of our own creation, but for our purposes, things got nutjob, fast.)
I was musing on (about? over?) this today because I had a Creeping Panic Moment of my own. Jesus Christ on a busted-ass Segway, what the hell is wrong with me? I wondered. I spend over a year figuring out "where I'm at" (to cop a 70s phrase from my favorite 70s movie) and in which direction I want to point my guns, and now I'm going to spend another year, or two, or five, building it? A brand new service business, in this market? What am I high on, my own fumes of delusional self-glory?
Somehow, the moment passed. Actually, I know exactly how the moment passed, and I'm going to share this AMAZING AND ALL-POWERFUL SECRET with you: I worked.
I sat down and did some bona-fide, best-of-my-ability, all-out marketing consulting work for a wonderful woman up in Palo Alto doing her own wonderful work to change the world with her own gifts. We worked, the two of us. And on the other side of that, after we'd gotten some good work done, I'm guessing we both felt better. (Well, she has a worse cold than I, by the sound of it, so she can't have felt entirely better-better. But still.)
After the call, when I set about to some puttering (I must needs putter after a call, I'm so hopped up), a crazy thought popped into my head. An analogy, which is one of my favorite kinds of thoughts, a whole string of them, actually.
It's been like this before, thought I, when I couldn't get a college paper to work, or before I first jumped up on stage in front of a bunch of strangers. It was like this when I got my sorry ass kicked out of the Groundlings Sunday Company. It was like this when I quit advertising, when I started acting and sucked at it, when I sucked again and finally had to walk away.
It was like this when I first rode the bus to school by myself, when I tried out for the basketball team in the seventh grade and again every single time I was called off the bench to play (not many for a 4'11" point guard, but I went up with my heart in my mouth each time). It was like this when my dad drove away after dropping me off at my freshman dorm; it was like this just before I finally capitulated and went into therapy for the first time. I don't remember it, but it was probably like this when I first learned to walk and talk.
These craaaaaazy times are calling for a lot of faith. Not in some celestial force, although that's fine, if it works for you (and if you don't hand over the reins to the point of missing your truck, boat and helicopter). Given the tightness of money and the uncertainty swirling around us, there will probably be more lag time between risk and reward, IF there's a reward.
I'm going to try to remember that things generally work out; I'm also going to try to remember that even when they haven't, I've not (yet) been engulfed in a tower of flame or turned into a pillar of salt.
I'm just going to try.
How about you?
*See here and here for those of you who weren't psycho enough to have been ardent Parker fans from the age of 16.
Image by Waponi via Flickr, used under a Creative Commons license.


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Kenny Dalsheimer founded The Groove Productions in 1996. He received his MA in Anthropology from Duke University in 1985 and then taught middle school social studies for ten years at Carolina Friends School in Durham, NC. In the mid-90's, Kenny reconnected with his childhood dreams of shooting with cameras and making movies and with more recent interests in documentary filmmaking.
He was also looking for ways to marry his teaching, creative, and social justice interests in new work. Kenny splits his time now directing, editing and shooting documentaries, producing non-profit and community videos, and teaching youth video workshops.
In addition to our documentary and video projects, The Groove Productions offers a full palette of production and editing services from shooting events, art happenings and interviews to editing video footage and photographs to compressing video for online distribution.
Our company name was born during the making of our first film project – Go Fast, Turn Left: Voices from Orange Country Speedway. 'The groove' is a racing term for, "the fastest route around the track, the most efficient or quickest way around the track for a particular driver."
Email us with ideas and questions about video, film, and workshop ideas.


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Hello, dear readers, and welcome!
Only a few days are left until this year's NaNoWriMo, and I'm still plotting! I'm extremely excited, and I hope that you are, too.
I'll be working on a story that is connected to Shadows of Past Pages -- a sort of part two (kind of). I'm thrilled to say "hello" to my characters again!
I've been mentoring a young writer, and have created this World-Building sheet to help her (and myself). I tried to put down everything I could think of. It's detailed, but not too crazy, and it's been very helpful so far...so I wanted to share it!
The worksheet is a little skewed towards Fantasy aspects (since that's my genre), but it should work well for other genres too (just skip over the magic bits...or combine genres!).
Also, if you haven't already, check out my Character Worksheet, to get to know your character(s) better!
I hope these tools help you in your plotting! Have a wonderful NaNoWriMo, and best of luck!
All photos that are not mine are marked, and will be taken down upon request.


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Multipet's nuts for knots large heavy duty rope dog toy designed for any pet that is tough on toys and likes to tug, chew and fetch.
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The day after Apple had their event to show off the new MacBook Pro design I had several people asking me about what the heck Apple was doing. For those of you that have been lucky enough to avoid all the drama...Apple released the new iPhone 7 a little over a month ago and for the first time ever the iPhone did NOT have a 3.5mm audio jack for headphones. The reason? Apple needed the extra volume (and by volume I mean space). The iPhone has been getting thinner and thinner and that old analog jack takes up valuable space. So Apple eliminated the headphone jack and released a new version of their wired Ear Pods that has a lightning connector instead of a 3.5mm connector.
Some people took this change very personally, but honestly it had to be done eventually. So whether you are a fan of this move by Apple or not, it is done. But last week when Apple introduced the new MacBook Pros and they still had the 3.5mm headphone jack and they didn't have a lightning port so you could plug in the new lightning Ear Pods, it caused some confusion. Why would Apple do this? In my opinion it is quite simple. Apple's long game is wireless. The lighting headphones are a stop gap. Otherwise, if Apple really intended for the future of digital audio to be through the lightning port they would have included a lightning port on the new MacBook Pros. I suspect very soon (maybe even the next iPhone) we will see the iPhone also remove the lightning port on the iPhone. What?!? How would you connect your iPhone to your computer? Do people really still do that ? How would you charge the iPhone? The answer is that the long game of Apple is wireless. I suspect they will soon move the iPhone to induction charging (similar to how it is done with the Apple watch). The iPhone will also take the Apple Watch's lead with respect to syncing as well. The Apple Watch connects wirelessly to your iPhone for all syncing so why can't the iPhone do the same thing. After all, more and more of your data is in the cloud anyway and not on your computer. Seriously who plugs their iPhone into their computer on a regular basis?


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Go Ahead, Take Some Chances
Finally, another challenge leaders face is fear of rocking the boat---particularly with some people who support with their finances but not their time and talent. It can seem self-defeating---stirring things up with tithe-payers who indirectly pay your salary. But warning the idle and lazy is not just "kicking up dust"; it's being faithful to what God has asked us to do (see 1 Thessalonians 5:14)---for their ultimate benefit.
We more commonly see older adults pulling away when they are overlooked---not when they're being consistently called to a higher standard. We read a book a few years ago written by two teenage brothers, entitled "Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations." This book has some strong parallels to seniors in their retirement years. We, like youth leaders, have often set the expectation bar too low.
We encourage you to take consistent steps to create a serving culture consistent with New Testament Christianity. We certainly don't see the Apostle Paul and others opting for an easy, pampered path of entertainment and field trips. Let's respond to our entitlement culture with counter-cultural emphases and alternatives.
John Piper has some strong words for retirees who set their sights on just collecting seashells.
I'm writing from the perspective of someone not yet vocationally retired but who has spent the last decade working with retirees. Some continue to be fully engaged in lives of service and sacrifice without missing a beat. And most of us are still works in progress:
"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve (or save) the world and a desire to enjoy (or savor) the world. This makes it hard to plan the day." E.B. White
A key to this internal conflict is following the example of Jesus and discovering our greatest purpose in serving.
"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28 (NLT)
Please let us know when you see some movement among the footloose and fancy free at your church!
Please chime in with your own thoughts on this important motivational challenge.
Please return to Footloose and Fancy Free to leave your comment at the bottom of the page.


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If you are looking for the best auto repair services in Clinton, Mississippi, then Wilson Tire & Auto Care is here for you. Being the top mechanic in Clinton, MS, our customers have many positive impressions of us. They consider us to be an honest and reliable auto mechanic that is looking out for their best interests. Our auto repair services are affordable and are performed by our highly trained auto repair mechanics with the top auto repair products on the market today. We offer our auto repair services to the communities of Clinton, MS, Jackson, MS and Pearl, MS. Stop by our Clinton, MS auto repair shop for affordable deals on our car mechanic services or contact us online to schedule a mechanic shop appointment. While you are at our Clinton, Mississippi auto repair shop, be sure to check out our selection of Clinton, MS tires.
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If you find yourself with a dead battery, there's no need to panic. Our knowledgeable staff will be happy to help you get your vehicle up and running. If you don't know how to jump start your vehicle or no one else is around to help, give us a call. Incorrectly connected jumper cables can destroy your battery or even your entire engine control computer. After a member of our service staff arrives on the scene, he or she will determine whether the problem lies with the battery or with a different part of your vehicle. If a dead battery is the source of your issues, our staff member will handle the jumpstart process from start to finish so that you don't have to worry. Just give us a call when you're in need of assistance.
We proudly service the Jump Start needs of customers in Clinton, MS, Jackson, MS, Pearl, MS, and surrounding areas.
Areas Served :
Clinton, MS | Jackson, MS | Pearl, MS | and surrounding areas


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Livecyte™ 2 will be available for preview at ASCB, 2018 in San Diego, USA, 8-12th December, giving event delegates the opportunity to explore the new features and additional capabilities of the live cell imaging system from Phasefocus™, prior to its launch in Q1, 2019.
Livecyte revolutionised live cell imaging, as the first commercially available instrument to exploit ptychographic phase imaging to generate quantitative, high contrast images, without the need for perturbing labels.
This latest version, Livecyte 2, delivers both hardware and software improvements, providing dynamic control over imaging parameters to deliver superior optical performance, with greater versatility to monitor and analyse cell behaviour at the individual cell level.
Users can automatically follow hundreds of cells in every well of any standard plate up to 96 well format, ensuring rare events are never missed. With real time monitoring of the cell culture conditions, changes in cell behaviour can be directly correlated to changes in the environment, thanks to the system's new Smart Incubation functionality.
The revised software also automatically identifies areas of ambiguity in cell tracking, indicating the most likely pathways, allowing users to optimise tracking performance.
Tracey Zimmermann, VP Global Sales commented. "We're really excited about the new Livecyte system. We've taken account of customer feedback during its development to ensure it addresses many of the issues associated with live cell imaging that researchers have been reporting."
Visitors to the Phasefocus booth 838 can discover the full extent of information available from a single Livecyte experiment first-hand, as members of the Phasefocus team will be available to demonstrate the live cell imaging system throughout the event.


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Down by the River/
It was beautiful fall day in Minneapolis. Soon, it will be cold and the ground will be covered in snow. We'll all be bundled in coats and scarves and hats and mittens, lumbering about in our heavy boots. Days like today are to be treasured so we went for a walk down by the river with our friends.
We arrived, found a place to park and stood by the car waiting to cross the street. I wrapped my left arm around Miguel's waist, grabbed his hand and began to dance. He laughed low and quiet, the way I imagine he'll laugh when he's a teenager or even a grown man. He said, "No waltzing in public, mom." I pulled back, "No?" He smiled and said, "Just about anything but waltzing." Anything but waltzing turned into a faux sword fight with sticks we found.
Once our friends arrived, the adults took off down the path and the kids lagged behind, exploring and climbing trees. They were never really with us - always doing their own thing. They do that more and more; They need us less and less.
I kept my eyes on them, not because they needed me to but because I needed to do it. I needed to feel that they were all within my reach when more and more they are just beyond it. When we reached the river, we stopped and turned around and watched them in the distance, all three kids straddling a fallen tree and talking animatedly to each other while we sat on another fallen tree and talked and took silly pictures of each other. Parallels.
We walked away from the river and into the woods and came to a small stream with muddy banks. I yelled back to the kids, "Don't get muddy!" Miguel called for me and I turned to find him standing with his toes on the very edge of the muddy bank, smirking at me. I watched as he jumped across the stream, watched as his shoes slid in the mud and he laughed as he ran to catch up to me.
"You got mud on your shoes. You are in big trouble, kid."
He shrugged before bumping me lightly with his shoulder, "Yeah, yeah, mom."
I watched him walk away like I was seeing him for the first time.
I don't know how many more days like this we have...days filled with sun, days of sword fighting with sticks. Time is taking us ever forward from fall to winter, from our kids' childhood to something beyond.


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Brabantia Kitchen Knives Review & Video
I was sent a set of Brabantia kitchen knives consisting of a chef's knife, meat knife, bread knife and fruit / utility knife. The set also came with a sharpening steel and a smart wooden knife block to store them in. I've been using the knives for a couple of months and I'm really pleased with them.
The knives are made of ice hardened steel which means they stay sharper for longer. They are also scratch-proof, have improved corrosion resistance and the ergonomic handle makes them comfortable to hold. They wash well in the dishwasher.
I find I use the chefs knife the most. It's the biggest knife with a broad long blade and a fine tip. It cuts meat, vegetables, salads etc with ease. I used to use scissors to cut my meat up but I find this knife does a much better job. At £29.50 it's great value for money.
The bread knife, the extra long serrated knife, is brilliant for cutting crusty loaves. I make bread quite often in my breadmaker and I've been after a good knife which cuts fresh loaves cleanly. This knife does a great job, provided the bread has fully cooled. Again, I think it's great value at £23.25.
The little fruit / utility knife is handy for peeling and chopping fruit and veg, slicing cheese, getting the eyes out of potatoes and that sort of thing. It's £15.25. The carving knife, or meat knife gets used occasionally when we have a roast as it's great for slicing joints of meat. It's £21.95.
The knife block is really handy for storing the knives. It's neat and compact, being square rather than long, and it rotates. It's also quite heavy so it doesn't fall over when it's empty. The knife block is £40, so a bit of a splurge, but I find it's a safer way to store knifes now my kids can reach and open drawers.
The sharpening steel has a neat little place in the middle of the block, but it also comes with a wall attachment. It's £16.75, but a good investment if you want to prolong the life of your knifes. I've learned the hard way that you're more likely to have an accident with a blunt knife, so I keep them sharp!
I thought the best way for me to show you how great the knives are would be to make a little video of me using them. So, here's a video of me making Turkey Calzone using the chef's knife, the utility knife, and the bread knife right at the end.
Disclosure: I was sent a set of Brabantia kitchen knives, knife block and sharpening steel in return for an honest review. Words and opinions are my own. Prices are correct at the time of publishing and taken from the Brabantia Online Shop which were the cheapest prices online I could find at the time.


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Commissioned by Urbandale High School Men's Concert Choir, Theodore Brimeyer, Conductor.
The Score
The Text
An amalgamation of three inaugural address combine in this work to provide a vision for our country. These words are meant to inspire a sense of ownership and activism in the young people that sing this piece. Regardless of political affiliation, I ask that you look into the heart of these words to find a common ground to make our lives better.
Here is audio footage from all three inaugural addresses:
Shall we pause now and turn our back upon the road that lies ahead? Shall we call this the promised land? Or, shall we continue on our way? For "each age is a dream that is dying, or one that is coming to birth."
"in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... In the face of our dangers, let us brave once more the icy currents, and survive what storms may come."
Barack Obama
The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.
To follow in July


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The Small Picture
Your business in a photo.
We recently asked small-business owners to send us photographs that captured the soul of their businesses in a single shot.
This one comes from Sam Larsen of Larsen Bros. Lumber in San Leandro, Calif.:
I am running my family's lumber business for its 131st year. We are located in the San Francisco Bay Area in the town of San Leandro, next door to Oakland. The business has been owned and operated by my family for four generations now and I'm trying to keep it alive for my two sons — a fifth generation (pictured) — by providing high-quality custom millwork, lumber and service. Daily challenges include being accountable to my 75-year-old mother who owns the business, an accountant who wants to please my mother, competition from big-box stores, contractors and homeowners with reduced credit lines and cash with which to purchase, a city with one of the highest sales taxes in California (10 percent), ever-increasing health insurance costs, 10 employees and two unions, not enough understanding from city and state officials that the measures and laws being passed are constantly making it harder for me to stay afloat, and the pressure to keep alive something that my father, grandfather and great-grandfather kept going for the three generations before me. The best part of running my business? My loyal, hardworking and expert employees, my father's spirit in the Yard, and confronting the challenge to thrive and prosper.
You can see more Small Picture photos here. Can you capture your business in a single photo? If so, please submit it here.


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New evidence obtained by the federal Attorney General's office indicates that the missing students of the Ayotzinapa teacher training college were victims of a massive homicide on the night of September 26-27.
Three men have confessed to the murder of a large number of people that night in Cocula, Guerrero, the Attorney General announced at a press conference this afternoon.
But Jesús Murillo Karam insisted the search for the missing students of the Ayotzinapa teachers' college will continue while efforts are carried out to identify ashes and human remains found in plastic bags in the San Juan River.
The last three people to be arrested in connection with the killings in Iguala and the disappearance of the 43 students have given evidence that more than 40 people were delivered to the garbage dump in nearby Cocula that night. Some were already dead; those who were still alive were killed, according to testimony by one of the three, Agustín García Reyes.
The bodies were burned in a fire set with tires, wood, gasoline and diesel fuel. A member of the Guerreros Unidos gang identified as El Terco ordered that the remains from the fire be ground up and thrown in the river.
The ashes and remains filled eight black plastic garbage bags, according to the testimony.
García Reyes and his two accomplices, Patricio Reyes and Jonathan Osorio, led investigators first to the Cocula dump then to the river, where they found plastic bags full of ashes and what has been identified as human bone material.
Those remains will be analyzed by a specialized laboratory at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, but there was no indication as to how long the process might take.
Before holding this afternoon's press conference, the Attorney General had a "very, very sad" meeting with parents and other family members of the missing students in Chilpancingo.
However, he pledged that the search for their missing sons will continue as long as there is no proof that they are not alive.
The ex-mayor of Iguala, José Luis Abarca Velásquez, ordered municipal police to intercept the Ayotzinapa students on the night of the killings, according to the Attorney General, so they wouldn't interrupt an event hosted by his wife, María de los Ángeles Pineda Villa.
Six people were subsequently killed and another 25 wounded, which was followed by the abduction of the 43 students. The Guerreros Unidos gang, in which the mayor's wife is believed to have played a key role, has also been implicated in the events of that night.
Abarca and Pineda were arrested Tuesday in Mexico City after a month-long search. Still missing and also wanted in connection with the crimes is the chief of police.
"The capture of the intellectual authors is not enough; we will arrest all those who participated in these abominable crimes," said President Peña Nieto this afternoon.
Sources: Milenio (sp), El Universal (sp), La Jornada (sp)


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Timothy Bradley's upset decision over Manny Pacquiao last night surprised many observers. Count Floyd Mayweather Sr. among them. The father of Pacquiao's will-they-won't-they rival was in the stands for the big bout, telling Boxing Scene's Ryan Burton that Pacquiao deserved to win the fight.
"I feel like Pacquiao won the fight but I am not going to sugarcoat nothing. The last fight belonged to Marquez," Mayweather said while referring to Pacquiao's majority decision win over Juan Manuel Marquez this past November. "This one belonged to Pacquiao. I'm calling it like it is," Mayweather continued.
Mayweather continued, criticizing the ringside judges, saying "whoever these judges was, they need to find a new job."


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OT2016 #25: "Little Longer in the Oven"
With just a couple of weeks to go, we're racing toward the OT2016 finish line. Plenty of blunders, orders, and opinions to address-- including Justice Gorsuch's first opinion. Plus, we'll discuss one of the biggest cases of the year that has, in our opinion, made the world worse.
If you're enjoying the show, there are two ways you can help us out! Rate and review us on iTunes, and donate to our Patreon campaign for access to some sweet perks.


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Community Vegan Meal
Our monthly Community Vegan Meal (usually the third Thursday of most months, September through April) is held in Mackey Hall at Westminster Church House (353 E. Pine St.). This meal is a great opportunity for Westminster members, students, and area community members to enjoy delicious food while building relationships through fellowship and conversation. This is a truly intergenerational event, and is a favorite tradition and gathering for many, especially College of Wooster students.
Mark these dates on your calendar and join us at 6pm in Mackey Hall:
Beginning in September 2018, the format for the Community Vegan Meal will change slightly. Our (re)newed "mission" or focus is to have an intentional space where students, church and community members can gather in a spirit of mindfulness to fellowship, have conversation, and build relationships across lines of difference. We're also switching up how we enjoy the meal together: Whereas we used to have a buffet-style service line, we're working to foster a more conversational and intentional community atmosphere. A main dish and a few sides will be served family dinner-style to each table. We still welcome the cooking/baking talents of church and community members, but ask that folks bring a dessert rather than a main/side dish. We will offer a blessing prior to the meal just as before, but will invite tables to engage with suggested topics/conversation prompts and questions to help guide conversations in whatever ways are most meaningful to each person. This event is open to all, whether you are of a particular faith background or no background. Our goal is to encourage meaningful dialogue between diverse, intergenerational groups and to live into the values of inclusion and radical hospitality as we share a completely vegan meal together!
Check out this feature story in The Bargain Hunter about the Community Vegan Meal!
Our Story
Westminster's Community Vegan Meal (formerly the Vegan Potluck) started as a support group for those choosing a vegan diet. Members who were not vegan, but interested in healthy, sustainable, and mindful eating also started attending. We've grown to now having a monthly vegan meal for students, church and community members. In past years, we offered vegan cooking classes and a short program regarding food justice issues and healthy eating.
Our mission began as a way to provide support for one another as we explored the many options and challenges in following a plant-based diet. We shared a desire to eat healthily, and our concerns about animal treatment, agricultural practices, and food processing as we "strive for equitable sharing and sustainability of God's world with all peoples."
As this gathering has grown in size, it has evolved in a number of ways. We used to bring small pots of potluck-style dishes, and now we employ a local vegan chef who makes delicious, large-batch recipes using locally sourced ingredients that can be shared by all.
We look forward to writing the next chapter of this meal together with community members, students, and all who are looking for a meaningful space to eat and fellowship!
More About the Vegan Meal in the News
The following write-up about Westminster's Vegan Potluck appeared in the Spring, 2013 issue of the Wooster magazine, and was then reprinted in Never Too Late to Go Vegan by Adams, Carol J., Breitman, Patti, Messina MPH RD, Virginia. Workman Publishing Company, Inc. January 2014.
The Vegan Potluck in Wooster, Ohio
The Vegan Potluck began about three years ago as a kind of support group for a few members of Westminster Presbyterian Church (including Dave Noble, College of Wooster class of 1963 and heart specialist and college trustee Ken Shafer, College of Wooster class of 1975) who wanted to share recipes and dining experiences.
When it started growing the group moved it out of their homes and into the church (the college's congregation in residence) and threw the doors wide open to students.
And then it really exploded. It is not unusual for 50 students to attend the monthly event, which often includes a cooking lesson from staff members at the local food cooperative and a short lecture on sustainability issues, delivered by both students and community members.
Over bowls of lentil soup, pita and hummus, stuffed cabbage, and rich brownies, sixty-year-olds and twenty-year-olds exchange cooking recipe ideas. Most of the students who attend aren't vegan but say they come to the potluck as a way to connect with the community. "And," adds Alissa Weinmanji (class of '15), "to get away from Lowry [the dining hall] for an evening." [Reprinted from the Wooster magazine.]


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The first thing to say about John is that he was a great prophet—maybe the greatest. Jesus himself tells us that John was the fulfillment of a promise by the Old Testament prophet Malachi—a prophet prophesied by another prophet! Jesus goes on to say that "among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist" (Matt 11:10-11). That's pretty good!
We can glimpse John's greatness in our gospel reading. John was totally fearless. Pharisees and Sadducees had power and influence. But when they come to John, he denounces them as a "brood of vipers." John was even willing to criticize King Herod. John lost his life for that indiscretion, the first person in the New Testament to die for his faith.
All that is to say, there is much to admire about the Baptizer.
And yet John is not a particularly attractive person. John says he baptizes with water, and the one to come after him—that is, Jesus—will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. But John is pretty fiery himself, a little too fiery for me. John's very first word is "Repent!" John insults the people who come to him for baptism. John threatens divine judgment. "Even now," he says, "the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire!" In case we are unclear, the Baptizer adds that he means the "unquenchable fire." Fierce stuff!
John is like those people who stand on street corners with a sign about divine judgment and yelling at people as they pass by. The last time one of them accosted me, I felt like telling him to stop giving Christian preachers a bad name. But I can't say that to the Baptizer!
So, every year I struggle with what to do with the Baptizer and his message of the kingdom. And this week, I finally figured out both what makes me uncomfortable and what about John's message is so important for Advent and the approach of Christmas.
For a minute, let's forget everything we know about Jesus and his message. Let's pretend we were there at the Jordan River when John said the things he says in our gospel reading. Let's pretend that all we know about the kingdom of God is what John says in our reading.
How would you describe the kingdom John proclaims?
It sounds a lot like John is talking about the final judgment, the end of the world as we know it. And, even though it is the kingdom of God, and God is good, divine judgment is scary stuff, especially when John is describing it!
Now, that picture of the kingdom is part of our faith. Each week in the Nicene Creed, we say that we believe in Jesus Christ, who, among other things, "will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end."
And it is really good to know how our story ends, especially since the story ends with God's victory. I take great comfort in the promise that God's kingdom of peace and justice will come someday.
But there is more to the Gospel than the Second Coming. There is the first coming, the coming that was happening in John's day when final judgment was at least two thousand years away.
John's prophetic task was to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus Christ. John's task, like that of every Christian preacher ever since, was to point to Jesus Christ.
One day, the Christ to whom John points will come in power and glory to judge heaven and earth, the living and the dead. On that day, it will not be hard to recognize Jesus. Jesus will be the one in charge.
The hard thing is to recognize the Christ of the first coming, to recognize Christ in the man standing in the midst of the crowd there with John.
That crowd mostly did not recognize Jesus for who he is. And one of the reasons they failed to recognize Jesus was their expectation that Christ would come with fireworks and drama as a mighty king who would make all things right. To the degree that John reinforced their incorrect assumption that the kingdom in their day was all about power and glory, John's fire, John's drama, may have actually made things harder for them. That is what makes me uncomfortable with preachers who focus entirely on the Second Coming.
Thankfully, John does more than proclaim God's final victory over sin and suffering and death. John also points to Jesus, standing there right in front of him, and proclaims, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
Jesus Christ comes to us as Immanuel, God with us. Jesus Christ comes as the Word of God become flesh to dwell among us. Jesus Christ comes as God incarnate.
And—this is the point of Christmas—God incarnate comes to us as a helpless baby.
When Jesus came to John, he was no longer a baby. But Jesus had not yet begun his public ministry. Jesus had not worked any miracles. Jesus had not taught any parables. Jesus had not gathered any followers. All of that would come. But on the day that John said the things in our gospel reading, Jesus had done none of the things that make Jesus so impressive.
On that day at the Jordan River, John's task was to help his people recognize Christ for who he was, even though he came without fanfare, without drama, without fireworks, as an apparently ordinary human being.
Today, here at Saint David's, our task is the same: to recognize Jesus Christ for who he is and for what he is doing in our midst, even though it is mostly without fanfare or drama or fireworks.
And so, when John proclaims the kingdom of God come near, we need to hear him at two levels. We need to hear John's message about final judgment. And we need to hear John's proclamation about the Christ among us right now.
With that in mind, listen again to John's words. "The kingdom of God has come near." That is not something that will happen in two thousand years or more. John is talking about something that is happening even as he speaks. The kingdom of God was near, was in their very midst, because Jesus Christ was right there among them.
And Jesus Christ is among us too, as we gather in his name and celebrate the sacrament of his body and blood and are ourselves Christ's hands and hearts in the world.
This Advent, I invite you to hear John's message about the kingdom of God come near. The kingdom came near in first-century Israel. The kingdom of God is coming near in 21st century Agawam. The question for us, the great Advent question, is, are we ready? Are we ready and able to recognize the Christ in our midst, the Christ who comes as a baby, or as a stranger, or in the million little details of our lives where God is at work?
The kingdom of God has come near. My prayer is that we share in it. In the name of the Christ who came and is to come. Amen.


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Clean up with Techclean
Techclean is a high profit manage-from-home franchise.
With absenteeism costing around £522 per employee per year in the UK, businesses are keen to curb the transmission of illness in the workplace.
A Techclean franchise represents an effective route into the emerging and lucrative market of advanced office hygiene.
A good value franchise opportunity
Techclean offers a significant and rapid return on investment. Franchisees can expect to achieve a net profit margin of more than 55% + within the first year of trading.
During the 1980s, Techclean earned a reputation for its specialist cleaning services for computer and communication rooms of large corporates. Today, it is a leading player in the sanitisation of office technologies such as laptops, keyboards, printers, photocopiers and telephones.
Our franchisees work with a wide range of organisations, from big names like EDF, Disney and Porsche to universities, hospitals and the Public Service Ombudsman in Wales. It's not unusual for a franchise's portfolio to span government departments, schools and FTSE 100 companies. This breadth of target industries ensures a robust and secure customer base.
An accredited service
We work within an ISO framework, and are safe-contractor accredited, so customers can be assured of our credibility and integrity in the provision of:
- cleaning for PCs, laptops, printers, photocopiers, fax machines, scanners, phones, EPOS, mixing desks and ATMs
- computer room, data room and communications room cleaning services
- asset register services.
Techclean is a recognised authority in the effective cleaning of office technologies using unique own-brand products.
How much does it cost? And what do I get?
The total investment is £19,500+vat. This includes a licence to trade and training as well as start-up supplies and ongoing business support. Territories are generous, with each catchment area holding at least 10,000 businesses.
Getting off to a strong start
The head office team will help you prepare a business plan and secure finance if needed. We'll then work closely with you to set up your Techclean franchise. The process can take as little as four to six weeks, but we will move at a pace that is comfortable for you.
The start-up package includes:
- a comprehensive marketing launch programme
- an appointment generation campaign
- cleaning supplies pack
- marketing and business collateral
- website
- contact management system
- finance management software.
Ongoing business, marketing and PR support is provided to help franchisees build and grow profitable businesses.
There when you need us
You will make the key decisions in your business. But we are always on hand with advice and any additional support you may need in relation to marketing, finances or training. Our head office team has many years' experience in franchising. And we also hold regular one-to-one business reviews and network meetings where you can meet franchisees from other territories to share ideas.
Wider benefits: flexibility and security
Flexibility is a major advantage of a Techclean franchise. It can be managed from home and suits any stage of your working life. Some people use Techclean to provide a second income alongside an existing business or job, but we do advise working fulltime in the business to maximise success.
If you're looking for a business opportunity that is affordable, adaptable and not dependent on any one market sector then Techclean could be the ideal choice.
At a glance summary
- Low upfront investment
- Rapid and significant returns
- Growing demand across multiple sectors
- Home-based and flexible
- Generous territories
Are we right for each other?
We're looking for individuals with a strong work ethic and a willingness to follow a proven business model. The ideal Techclean owner is good with people and has an aptitude for sales and marketing. No previous experience is required as full training is given.
Franchisee spotlight
"I just love the diversity of it and meeting different people. It's very satisfying work. We go into an office and in a just few hours we make such a big difference to the working environment. I have a small team of people working with me – I call them the 'dream team' – and customers are always delighted with the end results."
Former teacher and mother of four Susan Davies, who set up Techclean South Wales three years ago after her youngest child went to university.
Find out more
Techclean is a full BFA member and part of The Bardon Group, which runs three additional well-established, high-quality brands: Kall Kwik, ComputerXplorers and Recognition Express.


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The following email was sent out by AG Jeff Landry concerning the issue of sanctuary cities, specifically New Orleans, and the need to end this practice. The text of the email is below:
My Fellow Republicans,
We must end sanctuary cities... now!
As your Attorney General, I am committed to ensuring the rule of law is followed by everyone. It is a matter of justice and public safety.
Reports of illegals breaking the law and getting away with it are becoming a regular occurrence. We ask that our elected officials stand with us to uphold the rule of law and protect our communities.
Tens of thousands of illegals live in Louisiana and cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
What's worse is that liberals have enacted sanctuary policies that encourage illegal aliens.
According to the Immigration Task Force led by State Representative Valarie Hodges:
- 5,339 illegals receive SNAP benefits (also known as Food Stamps)
- Illegals are a $3.2 million burden on our state's prisons
- Louisiana foots $16 million for Medicaid welfare coverage of illegals - an amount surely to rise with Medicaid welfare expansion
In February, New Orleans issued policy guidance to its police officers requiring them not to inquire about the immigration status of suspects they encounter and to not cooperate with federal authorities - making New Orleans a sanctuary city.
Allowing illegals to commit crime then roam free in our communities is an immense threat to the safety of our people.
Where do you stand? Join me in saying NO to sanctuary cities.
Sanctuary policies and the elected officials who support them are actively undermining the rule of law.
Sign the petition today and say NO to sanctuary cities.


text: As someone that is passionate about music performing and voice lessons, let me say that it is one of the most unforgettable and euphoric feelings to see your favorite artist live and they perform your favorite song that you connect with the most. Along with a crowd full of fans, you begin to join in and sing along with your favorite artist, creating an intimate, unforgettable experience that cannot help but brighten your day into supernova status. We long for those few special moments were performing with one another in a certain moment, a certain instance of time with the right melody, that completely leaves us feelings thrilled on life. Well, what if I told you that same exact feeling can be achieved through voice lessons at Fox Music? Exciting Voice Lessons According to studies, singing together during group voice lessons can cause a rush of endorphins that incite a feeling of enjoyment to sooth nerves. It has also been shown that hitting those notes and singing with others in voice lessons sparks a flow of oxytocin that relieves stress and anxiety that one may be experiencing beforehand. It turns out that singing in groups, whether at a concert or in voice lessons at Fox Music, have exponential effects on our positive well-being. According to a recent study it even appears that our heart beats sync up during group voice lessons, causing for these voice lessons to be a form of guided musical meditation of sorts! Just think you can have the benefit of increasing your vocal skill under our team of exuberant instructors while benefiting your stress levels and self-happiness via meditation in just one group voice lesson. So come into Fox Music and enroll in group and private voices lessons and start bettering your quality of life in a positive and passionate way through the wonderful magic of music.


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NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento
NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento is an elegant five-star hotel in the heart of the Italian capital. The hotel sits overlooking an idyllic garden, and in front of this garden is a section of the Servian Wall which was constructed to protect "The Eternal City" in the 6th century B.C. This historic building was originally a post office in the early 1900s, and subsequently used as the offices of Ferrovie dello Stato, the Italian Railway Administration. The hotel's architecture is a splendid example of 20th century Italian architecture, rich in Liberty style details.
The hotel's 177 luxurious guestrooms and suites are cozy and will provide a restful night sleep after a day of exploring Rome. Guests can enjoy a refreshing drink with 360-degree views of Rome's famous skyline from the rooftop terrace, work out in the well-equipped fitness room, or visit the tranquil garden where they can still see the ruins of a defensive wall built by the Romans.
The hotel is conveniently located in the middle of Piazza dei Cinquecento, providing easy access to the paramount monuments of the Eternal City. Within an easy 15 to 20 minute walk, tourists will find the Colosseum, one of the world's most famous and recognized masterpieces in the world. The NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento's closeness to the train station allows guests to travel with comfort and move easily around Rome while visiting. The Leonardo Express train takes only 32 minutes from Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport and the two underground lines have stops in every important cultural attraction in Rome.
NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento, a member of Historic Hotels Worldwide since 2017, dates back to 1900.
The hotel building was previously a railway station; underground in the cellars, there are hidden train platforms.
Original Property Opened: 1900
Historic Hotels Worldwide toll-free reservations number +1 866 670 3764
Piazza dei Cinquecento, 90
00185 Rome, Italy
|Check-in time: 3:00 p.m.
Check-out time: 12:00 p.m.
Hotel Amenities & Policies
Accessible Rooms: Accessible rooms are available. Please notify request at time of booking.
Adjoining Rooms: Adjoining rooms are available. Please notify request at time of booking.
Airport Transportation: An airport shuttle may be arranged through the hotel's concierge, rates apply.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation policy varies depending on the rate, room, or package booked.
Cribs and Pack-in-Plays: Available upon request; complimentary.
Early Check-In/Late Check-Out: Depending upon availability.
Extra Person Fees: 30,00 Euros
Hotel/Resort Fees & Taxes: 7,00 Euro Per Person Per Day
Rollaways: Available upon request.
Parking: 25,00 euros per day.
Payment: Credit cards and cash are accepted.
Pet Policy: Max. height: 40 cm. 20 Euros per night.
Smoking Policy: Smoking room available upon request.
The above list may not be comprehensive and information is subject to change without notice. Fees and deposits may not include tax. Taxes, fees, deposits, and policies are subject to change without notice.
Image Credit: ©Rashad Ashurov/Shutterstock
The Victorian Era, 1837 ~ 1901
NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento is an elegant five-star hotel in the heart of the Italian capital. The hotel sits overlooking an idyllic garden, and in front of this garden is a section of the Servian Wall which was constructed to protect "The Eternal City" in the 6th century B.C.
Learn more about the History of NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento .


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Barkley is best described as a pop culture pet-sim.
Users look after Barkley by keeping several mood categories in balance, feeding, playing, entertaining and so on. As you do this you will unlock new commands and items to play with Barkley and also earn coins that can be used to purchase skins that have been inspired by pop culture for Barkley, his kennel and yard to taste.
By default the game takes advantage of gestural commands and the accelerometer for navigation, users can also download a marker which allows them to play the game in AR mode so you can explore Barkley and his world up close and interact from any viewpoint. Take in game selfies with Barkley and the various costumes (or skins) you collect and complete daily challenges such as distracting Barkley to allow the postman to make his delivery and so on to earn big. Daily play will reward users with new skins available in the costume store in the quest for the unobtanium skin Goldly.
About the Project
Barkley is an independent production and release by Resin. The idea for Barkley first seeded several years ago shortly after we released Two Left Feet. Download the app for free now on iPad and iPhone and an Android version is trailing for the less fortunate.
Barkley Links
Download for FREE on App Store
Barkley Wesbite
Facebook Page
Youtube Channel
Augmented Reality Marker


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The Complete Mozart Masses
And so it's all over! This fantastic idea of David Brophy's to sing all 17 Mozart Masses over a series of concerts took on a life of it's own since we launched the series in January 2014 and the choir has thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We have seen our capacity to learn new music quickly grow exponentially and we have enjoyed watching our audiences grow from concert to concert as word got out about what we are doing.
This highly ambitious series also allowed us and our audiences to chart the evolution of Mozart's style from the early Missa Brevis in G, written when he was just 12, through the magisterial Coronation Mass, to his final Mass, the Requiem, used to magical effect in Peter Shaffer's 1984 film Amadeus. The series has offered a fascinating insight into the life and work of the man whose music, according to the great violinist, Isaac Stern, "is like an X-ray of your soul".
And so we would like to heartily thank our audience who have followed and supported us throughout the series, as well as our Patrons, without whose financial support the project would not have been viable.
Thanks also to the Fishamble Sinfonia and all the amazing young soloists who sang with us throughout the concerts. We look forward to working with all of them again.
Watch RTE Television's "Nationwide" piece on the preparations for the series below.
The Fishamble Sinfonia
Fishamble Sinfonia was founded in the summer of 2013 by a small group of music students driven firstly by the idea that orchestral music should be accessible to the broadest possible audience, and secondly by an ambition to achieve vitality and excellence in performance.
The ensemble aims to promote and provide young orchestral players with the opportunity to perform works from beyond the standard repertoire with an emphasis on 18th century classical music, to create a positive social atmosphere and a constructive working experience for its players, to strive to make music to its highest attainable standards, and to act as a pre-professional platform for its aspiring players.
The orchestra consists of some of the finest young players in Ireland, the majority of whom study music in Dublin, Cork, Manchester and London, drawing orchestral experience from Ireland and Europe's youth, amateur and professional orchestras.
Under the artistic direction of David Brophy, the orchestra held a highly successful workshop during the summer of 2013 exploring works by Pisendel, Chellieri and Haydn, spanning from the early to the late classical era.
Fishamble Sinfonia officially launched themselves onto the Dublin music scene in September 2014 at the Smock Alley Theatre. You can read an Irish Times review here.


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I think there is some confusion here. 1. CCXML 1.0: "A CCXML implementation MUST support the ECMAScript Compact Profile." [Section 3.3, http://www.w3.org/TR/ccxml/] 2. The latest draft of SCXML 1.0 introduces the concept of profiles with the precise intention of decoupling expression languages from the core (state machine) operations of SCXML. The core profile has no expression language support. The Xpath profile requires XPath 2.0 support. The ECMAScript profiles requires ECMA 327: "conformant implementations of the ECMAScript Profile for SCXML 1.0 must support ECMAScript Compact Profile" (Section 9.2.1). Section 9 "Profiles" describes how to define your own profile. You could, for example, define a profile which supports exactly the expression language Stefan describes. A document author then uses the profile attribute to indicate which profile they are authoring with. An SCXML implementation is not (yet) required to support any specific profile; i.e. it does not need to support the EMAScript profile (or the Xpath profile). It could just support the profile you need. Appendix F "Conformance" was intended to make this clear, including how an implementation deals with documents written in a profile which it does not support. Scott -----Original Message----- From: firstname.lastname@example.com [mailto:email@example.com] On Behalf Of David Nicol Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 17:43 To: Stefan Maton Cc: email@example.com Subject: Re: Shocked by new SCXML Draft On Thu, May 22, 2008 at 6:25 AM, Stefan Maton <email@example.com> wrote: > > - Decouple Ecmascript and SCXML: Looking at the different > conditions and expressions that can be embedded within the scxml, > there is no real need to force the SCXML standard to use Ecmascript. > In fact any expression parser which can handle normal and boolean > expressions and which can hold a set of data is ok. The only > specification you need to give is the way the data is represented when > attaching it as a namelist in <send> or as a return value when a expr > is evaluated within an <assign>. By decoupling Ecmascript and SCXML > (and implicitly XPath) the draft would be much more flexible since not only targeted at the java platform. Speaking as someone who is only aware of SCXML as a potential successor to CCXML, which is a context that rightly does not include ecmascript, letting the VXML portions of a complex system handle them, I agree with what Mr. Maton has said. Perhaps declaring JSON as the marshalling protocol for data objects or another very restricted by well defined subset of ECMAscript -- perhaps requiring ECMA-327 http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/files/ECMA-ST/Ecma-327.pdf instead of full ECMA-262.Received on Friday, 23 May 2008 16:17:43 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Tuesday, 6 January 2015 21:07:40 UTC


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Ensure your successful agile transformation and ongoing advancement of agile principles through education and certification.Find Courses Calendar
Learn practical agile skills and apply them immediately to improve how you plan and execute your work at the team, program or organizational level.
CA Agile Academy offers worldwide public courses from our consultants and strategic partners.
CA Agile Academy instructors are CA Technologies expert agile leaders certified to teach by the Scrum Alliance, Scaled Agile and PMI to ensure you learn from recognized authorities.
As your organization adopts agile using CA Agile Central, you'll need in-house experts to support and improve user skills and capabilities.
We're here to help move your business forward.


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Mike Missanelli
Master of Ceremonies
Mike Missanelli is a well-known media personality who currently hosts The Mike Missanelli Show on 97.5/The Fanatic in Philadelphia, the number one-rated sports talk show during evening drive.
Mike's long and storied career includes co-hosting shows with top athletes, media personalities, and celebrities, including NBA legend Charles Barkley and ESPN's Stephen A. Smith. Mike is also a frequent guest on national television and radio shows, including The NFL Network Football Life Series and The Colin Cowherd Show.
Mike has spent more than 30 years in media, including as a reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, a sports talk host in Philadelphia and New York, and as a nightly sports anchor. His book, The Perfect Season tells the story of Penn State University's national football championship at the 1987 Fiesta Bowl, when the Nittany Lions upset the heavily-favored University of Miami Hurricanes. The game was the most watched college football game in television history.


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- Details
Christopher James Record
"Throughout my time at school, I was always interested in science - particularly chemistry. Despite my mother being a radiologist, I had no interest in medicine, in part due to the fact that I was extremely squeamish! I didn't even study biology at A Level and went on to study chemistry at Balliol College, Oxford.
"However, after about 18 months when I was considering careers, it struck me that the options before me didn't seem to include anything with a 'human' element and I felt I had desire to combine my interest in science with something less clear cut, less 'right or wrong'. And thus medicine came to the fore. After a number of volunteer jobs and work experiences, I realised that studying medicine was the obvious choice for me.
"I wanted to study in London, and St George's seemed to combine a sense of history and tradition with a modern approach to teaching. As a graduate I wanted to immerse myself in medicine and I felt the problem-based learning system combined with early patient contact made a lot of sense.
"It is a great honour to be awarded the inaugural Professor Joe Collier Award. I have always enjoyed pharmacology, but it was of course a huge surprise to have come top in the prescribing exam. Hopefully this will stand me in good stead for my career and give me some confidence with my prescribing.
"Starting work invokes excitement and apprehension in equal measures. I am very much looking forward to starting work, but I know that the first year will be a very steep learning curve. But I have been a student for too long (eight years consecutively) and it is definitely time to enter the workforce!
"I think St George's is a fantastic university with many opportunities to take control of your own learning. I would encourage involvement in as many extra-curricular activities as possible. I played rugby for four full seasons for the first XV and it provided me with my fondest memories, some of my best friends and certainly a means of keeping sane - especially in the GEP first year!"
Last Updated: Wednesday, 23 August 2017 11:23


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Blue Music Zone
Music – A Relaxing RemedyAre you feeling depressed, it is the time you ponder the best way to escape from such gloom. The best way is to enjoy the music of your choice. You should not be reluctant to swing with its beats. After a short while, a tranquil and stress-free feeling supersedes exhausted state of mind. Brooding over a painful event is likely to multiply your frustration. Thus, music is a speedy and easy way of forgetting your worries or diminishing distress. It works just like therapy, discourages negative functionality and consoles the dejected. Listening to music is a great way of averting the mind from feeling fatigue.
Music – A universal thing
Music does not know geographic divisions or boundaries. In fact, every person relishes from it. It is regarded as a universal language. In fact, it enters one's life as a lullaby, no matter its meaning. It can drift an infant to serene realms of sleep. It takes the form of children swaying and swirling with the rhythm of words.


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Jessica Mathis on Finding Her Euphoria
#Euphoria2016 was filled with life-changing experiences and unforgettable moments, but one woman's story stood out as an inspiration to us all. Jessica Mathis, a 27-year old nursing student from Fort Worth, ventured to Euphoria after recently beating breast cancer, and pushed the button with Above & Beyond on Sunday. We shared her story on our Facebook in May, but reconnected with her this week to talk about her journey finding Euphoria.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Jessica Mathis and I was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. I am a medical assistant at Texas Oncology, ironically; for the past five years. I am working on becoming a nurse and receiving a Bachelor's Degree.
How is your recovery going?
Recovery for me since chemotherapy and surgery has been a process. I have lost a range of motion but it's something I work on everyday. Growing my hair back has been the highlight because I take pictures of progress. Looking back at how fast it grows validates to me that it's growing. I finished my last chemo 6/30/16; and will have my port removed in a few weeks.
How did you end up at Euphoria?
I first heard about Euphoria when I was having problems sleeping and I searched "Texas camping music festival." I wanted to relax and find myself, so what better way than enjoying music outside?
Have you been to any more Above & Beyond concerts or music festivals since Euphoria?
Since Euphoria we have been to a few shows which are fun but nothing has topped what we experienced at Euphoria. What is it like remembering standing on stage and pushing the button? It all feels like it happened so fast. When I looked out at the crowd and pushed the button everyone was in sync. Hands going to the beat of the music and an overwhelming sense of happiness, love, and gratefulness that we were all experiencing this together.
You wrote that Seamus said, "everything I had gone through was in the past and that it's time to embrace the future." Have you been able to live by that advice?
When I met Seamus, he told me it was time to let go of everything bad and I feel like that has stuck with me. Before Euphoria I was stuck thinking how hard it was to connect with others because of what I went through. After being at Euphoria and experiencing the sense of community and love, I realized that I was keeping those connections from happening. You find your Euphoria in your loved ones.
How can others find their Euphoria?
To find your Euphoria, be in the moment with your friends and the crowd. Be open to meeting new friends because you never know what you gain from them and they can gain from you. Know that tomorrow is never promised, so love openly and don't view it as a weakness.
Will you be back at Euphoria 2017?
I definitely want to come back to Euphoria next year. It will always be a part of my life that made a huge impact on me when I least suspected it.


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KOMFY Pet Products™ are made by kritter lovers, for kritter lovers. All KOMFY products are made in the USA.
KOMFY Kritter™
KOMFY Kritter™ revolutionizes the traditional hard plastic and soft e-collars. Traditional hard plastic collars provide no comfort for your pet during its healing process. The plastic strip that keeps the collar together can even bust wide open and fall off completely. Soft e-collars invite your pet to easily crush the collar so it can scratch wounds, rip out stitches, bite itself raw, and constantly lick the affected areas, all of which require another trip to the vet.
The KOMFY Kritter™ won't bend or crush, providing continued protection against licking, biting and scratching. KOMFY Kritter™ also maintains its round shape so your kritter's head and face rests easily against the plush fabric like a pillow, offering more sleep time and less recovery time. KOMFY Kritter™ also has binding on the inner and outer edges to protect your kritter's neck and your shins, not to mention your walls and furniture.
When it gets dirty, simply remove the solid plastic insert and toss the KOMFY Kritter™ in the washing machine. KOMFY Kritter™ is made in the USA. Those traditional hard and soft e-collars are made in China, and have a strong chemical odor which is difficult if not impossible to eliminate.
KOMFY Katnip™
With KOMFY Katnip™ toys your pet can Play and Play Again™ because the toys are endlessly refillable with revolutionary pellet-shaped catnip. Even the cloth toys that can be refilled have those tiny non-stretch openings that are nearly impossible to get flaky catnip into without making a mess. Unlike the catnip toys at the big box store, KOMFY Katnip™ toys aren't made from cloth material – they're constructed from non-toxic plastic that won't tear into itty-bitty pieces all over the carpet. Instead of sitting like a lump, KOMFY Katnip™ toys are tube-shaped, made to roll on carpet, wood flooring, and tile.
Material toys can get dirty and difficult to clean – simply toss a KOMFY Katnip™ toy in the dishwasher and you're good to Play and Play Again™ in no time.
Ari the Cat, the KOMFY Pet Products™ mascot and spokeskitten, has used and enjoyed all our toys, so when you see the "Ari Tested and Approved" stamp, you know it's safe, fun, and effective for cats and kittens of all sizes and ages. KOMFY Katnip™ toys are environmentally conscious, non-toxic pet toys, all of which are washable and recyclable. Lightweight and simple to handle, KOMFY Katnip™ toys are also a little easier on a kitten's tiny paws – there's even a "Teenie" size smaller toy designed for young cats to effortlessly bat around. If that's not enough, grab a "Biggie" model for full grown cats.


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The most elaborate GPS software for cell phones is TeleNav, and it's also the longest running. I remember testing its turn-by-turn navigation with a Nextel phone back in the summer of 2004, the GPS-phone equivalent of the dawn of time. Today TeleNav introduces version 5.2, starting with Sprint customers first. It may sound like an incremental update, but it's really a whole new deal, with location sharing, business ratings and other fun stuff, plus a new user interface courtesy of frog design.
The main attraction is that you can now shoot your location to people who can then navigate to you if they have TeleNav. If they don't have TeleNav, they still get a text message with your position, plus a link to a map and "static directions". (Some carriers—ahem, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile—do not allow links in text messages, so TeleNav is coming up with a workaround for that.)
The other new feature is a directory of user-reviewed businesses, sorting local restaurants from highest-rated to lowest. Of course, you can give a rating of a restaurant yourself, directly from the phone. You can't write a full review from your phone just yet, but that may be an option for the highly opinionated very soon.
A combination of the two of these new features is an improved Fuel Finder: When you discover a place with the lowest gas prices, you can send it to your friends and family so they won't get totally screwed at the pump.
The new version is immediately available for a handful of Sprint handsets (LG 550 Fusic, Motorola KRZR K1m, Motorola RAZR V3m, Motorola SLVR L7c, Samsung M500, Samsung M610, Sanyo M1, Sanyo 6600 Katana, Sanyo 8400) and will cost $9.99 per month.
From the press release:
...Subscribers can now send their current location to any other mobile phone that can receive text messages, creating a quick and easy way to meet with friends or co-workers while on the go. Customers can also share addresses of favorite businesses, including restaurants, hotels or movie theaters. With TeleNav's Fuel Finder feature, users can even send information on local gas stations with the cheapest prices for that day. Other new features include reviews and ratings for nearby businesses and the ability to rate restaurants directly from a mobile phone.
Location sharing—Now users have the ability to send their current location or the location of a nearby business to one friend or many friends all at once. This information can be sent from a mobile phone or from the "My TeleNav" account on www.telenav.com. TeleNav GPS Navigator users can quickly navigate to locations they receive using the service's turn-by-turn directions. Mobile users not subscribing to TeleNav GPS Navigator will receive a link to view a map and static directions on their phone.
Business reviews and ratings—Before they head to a restaurant or make a reservation at a hotel, users can now see how it was rated and reviewed by other people. Users can sort by highest to lowest rating to help them make a decision or view all of the search results on a map. TeleNav GPS Navigator also allows customers to rate restaurants themselves—directly from a mobile phone.
Fuel Finder—TeleNav GPS Navigator includes updated gas prices for local gas stations, and provides driving directions to the station with the lowest gas prices. Now, with just one click, friends and colleagues can share locations of these stations with each other as well.
Other Current TeleNav features include:
• Voice and on-screen turn-by-turn driving directions
• "My TeleNav" website access
• Biz Finder (local search)
• Real-time traffic alerts and one-click rerouting
• Full-color 3D moving maps
• Spot Marker
• Pedestrian Mode
Home Page [TeleNav]


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Cuisine Royale
Cuisine Royale is a game of popular Battle Royale genre and add a kitchen theme that actually started out as an April Fool's
War Thunder
War Thunder is a free-to-play massively multiplayer shooter dedicated to World War II warplane, armored vehicle and naval. In War Thunder, you can
World of Tanks
World of Tanks (WOT) – popular free to play MMO action shooter team-based online game by Wargaming. WoT is an epic tank battles
World of Warships
World of Warships – free-to-play ship simulator action MMO that plunges players on epic sea battles of the 20th century into within the
Heavy Metal Machines
Heavy Metal Machines – high-octane racing arena with team shootouts, extreme cars and multiplayer races in a circle. Brazilian developers from Hoplon Infotainment


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Gaza Hamas Leader Permitted onto the Temple Mount
reprinted from Arutz Sheva
(IsraelNN.com) Hamas terrorist leader Hassan Yousef was among the Islamic worshippers permitted onto the Temple Mount this morning. He is a leading figure in the terror organization in Gaza.
Confirming the report, Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra explained that Yousef, who is over 40, managed to sneak by security personnel this morning.
Yousef used the opportunity to grant an interview to el-Jazeera satellite news and called on Muslims to save al-Aqsa from danger.
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by Donna Burkey
I miss Pine Valley. Where did it go? I visited for almost 42 years and now its all gone. I wanted to see Kendall have that big Thanksgiving dinner she wanted so a year ago with her husband Zack. I would of been there sitting at the table enjoying it all. I want to see if anyone was hurt when J.R. fired the gun. I want to see who Dr. Dave had hidden in his clinic wearing the bracelet with the letter B. I want to visit Amanda and Jake and see if they adoped another child. I want to see a Tad and Dixie wedding....maybe this one for keeps. I want to see Ryan and Greenly and Brot our dancing hero. I want to visit and see Lucy with Jessie and Angie and more of Miya. Oh how I loved Madison and Scott together. How I cried to see Adam and Stewart again and DR. Joe and Ruth. I want to visit with fun loving Opal and see her trying to talk sense into Erica over Jackson. I miss Caleb over at Wildwind mansion. I want to see DR. Dave with Carla and maybe a baby. It might just make the soft side of him come out more. I have visied with so many friends through out the years. They helped me through sickness and problems and being alone when my husband was serving in the military. I have so many fond memories but I want many more. After almost 42 years I deserve many more along with the many other fans. I want to see the Christmas wishing star and Father Clarence. I pray for a miracle.
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Voice Your Opinion to SAVE AMC AND OLTL AND NOW GH TOO!.


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Northwest Strings Camp is dedicated to providing outstanding musical instruction for students of piano, fiddle, cello and guitar.
Camp Dates: July 19 - 22, 2016
7pm Evening Concerts: July 19, 20, &21 are free & open to the public.
7pm Friday, July 22nd Student Concert with tickets (online or at the door).


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Sometimes, a trip to the dentist's clinic can be daunting, that you would avoid it for the most part. However, this is actually not a smart decision on your end. According to research, poor dental health is linked to chronic illnesses, such heart disease and diabetes. For this reason, it is very important to pay the dentist regular visits, as this will help prevent the development of such conditions. With that said, here are things to consider to be able to find the best dentist in Mt Gravatt or in any other suburb in Brisbane.
1. Location
Typically, you should find a dentist with a clinic that is just close to your place. This way, it will be convenient for you to schedule your visits. Also, you should be aware of the clinic's office hours, so you will know whether or not you can easily insert your appointments into your daily routine.
2. Accreditations
It is also important to know the dentist's qualifications. This will give you an idea of how good he is in performing dental procedures and in providing related services. Though you tend to look for a cheap dentist Brisbane has, make sure he has good credentials under his belt.
3. Technology Used
Over the years, dentistry has been using a range of technologies for the procedures it covers, from correcting tooth irregularities with braces to conducting dental x-rays. Now, to know whether or not a dentist provides quality care, you should know what technologies he is using.
4. Clinic Staff
You will also know if you are having the best dentist in Mt Gravatt or in any other suburb in Brisbane to address your dental problem by visiting his clinic personally. During this step, assess how the staff caters to your questions. Are they friendly? Do you have a pleasant interaction with them? Questions, like these, will give you an idea of the services that you will be receiving from them.
5. Comfort
Comfort is also an important factor when receiving dental care, so for the best dentist Brisbane has, he should be someone who you can be comfortable with. Without any hesitation, you should be able to share with him the symptoms you are experiencing and ask any question. Most importantly, he should be able to understand your concerns.
6. Care Services
A dental clinic should be able to take care of you during an emergency situation, whether it happens at night or on a weekend. While there are times that the clinic would refer you to others, it should at least be able to attend to your call and give you some necessary information.
7. Payment Options
Preferably, a dentist should be able to offer you multiple payment options, such as plans, credit cards, and personal checks. Better yet, his services should be covered by the insurance you are currently having.
Aside from being a daunting experience, finding a dentist can be quite confusing, especially if you do not know where to start. However, by looking into the important aspects listed above, you will surely be able to find one who can satisfy your needs. Now, for the best dentist in Mt Gravatt or in other suburbs in Brisbane, you can check out fixdental.com.au.


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Since most people now days seem to use the internet to search what their looking for Yellow Pages advertising has since gone extinct as most business owners will say. We'll that's not entirely true as there are still quite a few people out there that are intellectually computer challenged. If that wasn't the case Yellow Pages would have gone out of business a long time ago just as the Newspaper companies. I will admit that I'm sure they have taken a huge drop but for now they still exist and most of the people that read them are actually older and have money, more so than the younger generation.
Display ads come in a wide range of sizes, from a quarter-column to full and multi-page options, allowing you a greater degree of flexibility in design, color, type, and layout. Through the use of full-color photography and graphics, you can quickly grab the attention of your customers and deliver your message, along with your location, contact information, logos, and phone number. You even have room to describe your products and services, or to talk about your qualifications.
Display ads drive business your way. In fact, 67 percent of Yellow Pages users will reference at least one display ad during their search.
An engaging display ad catches your customers' eyes first and gives them a reason to choose you!
The larger the ad, the more opportunity you have to educate, inform, and sell to consumers.
You can add a QR code to provide customers with a point of contact, or to drive them to your business website.


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Baptismal Clip Art
Let's be honest for a second…
Most church graphics are muted, dorky, and boring - this is so not the case with SALT's new baptismal graphics:
Nothing muted, dorky, or boring here - just gorgeous imagery designed by us creatives over at SALT. It's high time churches stop using amateurish clip art and start looking polished, beautiful, modern and bold while they communicate the good news of the gospel - especially on a baptismal Sunday!
At just $4.99, these printable watercolors are a steal and you can use them for newsletters, bulletins, mass mailers (email and print!), notecards, stationary, and even as your FB profile picture - the possibilities are endless!
Please click through to our entire clip art collection here and let us know (in the comments below!) what you think and if there's anything you'd like us to carry that we don't already have :)
Love and baptisms,
The SALT Team


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Nutrition has always been a priority in my life; ever since childhood and swimming for Australia, food has always been a valuable source of energy and fuel.
Now, as a mother, nutrition is more important than ever, both for my daughter and for myself.
As a nation, our waistlines are growing. Australia has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world with 63% of adults and one in four children being overweight or obese (reference: OECD June 2014 and Australian Health Survey 11/12).
Finding new foods and recipes that are not only nutritious but also tasty and something that my daughter will eat can be challenging.
As parents it can be very confusing to know what we should and shouldn't be feeding our children especially when there are so many mixed messages targeted directly at us. Not to mention the complicated food labels on packaging!
As shoppers (and parents!) we are busy! So let me introduce you to "The Health Star Rating" system.
It is a method of food labelling that can help take some of the guess work out of shopping and help us to make smarter choices when it comes to buying packaged food.
The Health Star Rating system allows us to quickly compare the nutritional profile of foods within the same category of packaged and processed goods.
For example, we can compare one breakfast cereal with another, or one muesli bar with another. Basically, the more stars on the front of pack, the healthier the choice.
Choosing foods that are higher in positive nutrients and lower in risk nutrients that are linked to obesity and diet-related chronic diseases; (saturated fat, sodium (salt), sugars and energy), will help contribute to a balanced diet and lead to better health.
Now, of course most packaged foods do not contain all of the essential nutrients required for a balanced and healthy diet. Fresh fruit and vegetables and lean meat are always healthier choices, but as busy parents, with young children who are often fussy eaters, sometimes it can be challenging and exhausting when our kids simply do not eat, so the Health Star Rating system at least offers us a quick and easy referral for the times when we are purchasing packaged foods.
So, next time you are at the supermarket:
· Look for the Health Star Ratings on the front of packaged food products.
· Use the Health Stars Ratings to compare similar food products. Remember, the more stars, the healthier the choice.
· Use the nutrient information to choose products that contain less sodium, saturated fat and/or sugars.
For more information visit:
(The number of stars is determined using a calculator designed to assess positive and risk nutrients in food (The Health Star Rating Calculator). The algorithm that drives the calculator was developed in consultation with Food Standards Australia New Zealand and other technical and nutrition experts.)


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Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first MLive.com user to add photos or videos of Aunt Heather's Crafts
Since 1992 the company has been providing Gift Shop.
Aunt Heather's Crafts is located at 5865 104th Ave, Grand Junction, MI. This business specializes in Gifts.


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That our brains change as we age is no secret, everybody knows that. We also know that some abilities reach their peak in young adulthood, others take more time to "ripe" and reach their full potential around 50. Therefore, an older brain may perform some tasks more slowly, but can master other skills, where the young ones cannot.
For decades, researchers have been studying mental acuity and how it changes throughout our lives by performing a variety of tests, but now there might a new surprising way of telling the difference between young brains and older ones: by looking at competitive video games. Biologist Joe Hanson discusses what researchers have learned about the brain by studying video gamers in a recent episode of the PBS Digital Studios YouTube show "It's Okay To Be Smart".
He explains that researchers have been using chess as one of the ways to tell how certain brains are better at processing information than others. But chess's pace and rule set provide little information about the way our brains work in real world scenarios. So they've moved on to studying the real time strategy game "StarCraft II."
In this video game, players are meant to defeat their opponents by eliminating their forces. There's much going on on the side as well, with players having to build up their squad by using units to extract materials and simultaneously constructing buildings and other units. At the same time, they need to use their units both to defend their side and to attack their opponents.
All these fast-paced actions that need to be performed by multitasking makes the game a perfect analogue to real world scenarios. Hanson points out that elite players regularly conduct up to 300 "actions per minute" (APM, clicking on a unit or giving it orders) and in battle, they often top 600 APM. This is where younger brains excel.
Moreover, a team of Canadian researchers analyzed how long it took a person to act after they saw a different part of a game map. When comparing this data to player age, they concluded that after turning 24, players began to react more slowly.
However, not all hope is lost for older brains. We know older generally means wiser, so being strategic and smart, able to outthink if not outreact an opponent might be just enough to take down a faster, younger player.


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It's about the challenge
So it looks like I'm done with work travel for a little bit .. at least for the insane amounts of travel that I've been doing lately (4 weeks of travel in the last 6 weeks).
To celebrate the "Yay I'm home" I'm going to attempt a couple of challenges. I noticed these challenges this weekend and they happen to go along with what I was planning on doing *anyway* so hopefully these challenges will help me to get a bit of motivation
Ostara 2012
My first ADF ritual that I've created.
The following rituals were used for inspiration:
- http://www.adf.org/rituals/norse/gleichennacht/shunity.html
- http://www.adf.org/rituals/norse/gleichennacht/gleichennacht.html
Spring Equinox 2012
Protogrove of the Valley Oak
[Initiation & Purification]
Folk process to Nemeton singing "Come we Now as a People" (words & music by Ian Corrigan) as participants are purified with smoke and water.
Come we now as a people?To gather at the sacred well.?Come we now as a people?Together in the warmth and the light of the flame.
Sacrificer: Let us pray with a good fire as our Ancestors did before us.
[Honor the Earth Mother]
D1: Nerthus, earthmother, mother of blessed Frey and Freya, join with us this day as you awaken from your long winter's nap. (offering of eggs and grain)
The folk kneel and kiss the Earth. All stand and sing.
Earth Mother, we honor your body
Earth Mother, we honor your bones
Earth Mother, we sing to your spirit
Earth Mother, we sing to your stones
(Author unknown)
D1: Nerthus, accept our sacrifice
[Statement of Purpose]
D1 recites the historical precedent:
We come together on the Equinox to honor Eostre. The Venerable Bede tells us that the upcoming month was called, by our Anglo-Saxon Ancestors, Eostrmonath and that offerings, sacrifices, processionals, and rituals were held for Eostre in that month. Her name is connected to the word for East—She comes to us in the Dawn, She comes to us as the Dawn. She is the rising light, She is the rising life. Light and dark today are balanced, but soon the light will lengthen and hold sway. Let us keep the rites of our Ancestors! Hail Eostre!
Folk: Hail Eostre!
The Bard offers prayers for the Inspiration of the Folk. (offering of eggs)
Bard: Listen to the music of the universe, the music of Saga and draw inspiration into your hearts.
The Bard will invoke Saga:
Saga… All hear the ancient one come…?Saga… Help us see the harvest…?Saga… Guide us to the table…?Saga…?Sing us tales of wonder?Remind us that we are able?To drain the cup yet drink again?Golden seer of eternal light?Fire us with your beloved presence?Your song is our own… Saga
D2: A cup of ale is poured, taken from the Nemeton: (offering of ale)
Dark and twisted, wights unhallowed-you who dwell beyond our stead; who look with malice and with spite upon the work we do. You walk ways shunned by us and yet we call you kin, to selfishness and thoughtlessness and all those parts of man that are less noble and are small and keep us in the dark. To you we make this offering, and at the same time set aside our thoughtlessness and our distractions for the duration of this rite.
[Creating the Cosmos]
The Folk sing the Portal Song as the Sacrificer makes the appropriate offerings.
D1: The fire, the well, the sacred tree,
Folk: Flame, flow and grow in me!
D1: In land, sea and sky
Folk: Below and on high!
D1: Thus is the sacred grove claimed and hallowed.
Folk: So be it!
D1: By the cleaning of water and fire let all ill turn away from me and mine.
[Open the Gates]
Warrior offers ale to the Gatekeeper:
D1: Warder of Asgard, Heimdall, we hail you! Keen-eared, sharp-eyed, biding of Bifrost to you we call! Son of nine mothers, by Fire and by Water watch and ward us as we keep the Old Ways. Aid us now, Bridge-Ward, hold open the Gates! Carry our calling to the halls of the Aesir! By nine flames shining, by waters flowing, by Heimdall's magic, may the Gates be open!
Folk chant as the gates are opened
Open the Gates!?Open the Gates!?Open the Gates!
D1: Let the Gates be open!
[Invite the Three Kindred & Key Offerings]
D1: Draw the strength of nature as we call the nature spirits.
D2: Nature spirits, wondrous wights, we invite you to join with us this day. Hallow these waters. Share with us lore and blessings.
D1: Remember the wisdom of our past kin as we call them.
D3: People of eld, honored dead, our kindred, we invite you to join with us today. Hallow these waters. Share with us lore and blessings.
D1: Feel the protections of the gods as we call them.
D4: Patrons, matrons, Shining Ones we invite you to join with us this high day. Hallow these waters. Share with us lore and blessings.
D1 pours the Blot to Eostre on behalf of the Folk.
Seer now takes the omen
[Prayer of Sacrifice]
D1: We gather this day to honor Eostre. Just as our Ancestors honored you, so do we turn to you, bringer of life, bringer of fertility to strengthen and renew our community (offers flowers to fire). As memebrs of the Folk of Ar nDraiocht Fein, we honr the unity and the diversity of our community. We are united in kinship with the Spirits of the Earth, with the Ancestors, with the Shining Ones, and we are united in service to all who likewise seek to honor the Kindreds. Eostre, we turn to you to bless the renewed commitment to our community, to its leaders, its fellowships, its members worshipping as individuals and all of our Brothers and Sister of the Pagan Paths.
D1: For those in our community who honor the Kindreds as individuals and as families; for our fellowship with all who honor the Kindreds, whatever their path—we ask the blessing of Eostre. So May It Be!
D2: Accept our sacrifice in behalf of our fellowships (offers ale to cauldron).
[Calling/Hallowing/Affirming the Blessings]
D1 raises the cup:
D2: Of what does the Earth Mother give that we may know of the continual flow and renewal of life?
Folk: The Waters of Life.
D2: And from whence do these waters flow?
Folk: From the bosom of the Earth Mother. The ever-changing All Mother.
D2: And how do we honor this gift that causes life?
Folk: By partaking of the Waters of Life.
D2: Has the Earth Mother given forth of her bounty?
Folk: She has!
D1 takes the cups saying: Nerthus, we have praised you, hallow these waters and give to us of your power and inspiration and vitality. Behold the Waters of Life!
Folk: Behold the Waters of Life!
< Share the waters of life >
D1: This is the time of new beginnings, and the start of new life and new endevors. We have shared the waters of life with each other and with the gods, let us now share with each other what new beginnings we look forward to this year.
Please come forward, take an egg, and share with us something that you are looking forward to this year.
< each person should say something that they are looking forward to in the year and takes a chocolate egg. >
With these eggs, may we share the blessings of the season and the hope of a new season of growth.
< everyone eat their eggs >
[Thanking the Beings]
D1: The gods have blessed us. With joy in our hearts, let us return to the realm of mortals to do both their will and ours. Every time we invoke them, they become stronger and more alert to the needs of the folk . But now comes the time when we must prepare to depart. So let us give thanks to those whom we have invited here.
D2: Eostre, we thank you?Shining Ones, we thank you?Ancestors, we thank you?Nature Spirits, we thank you?Heimdall, we thank you
[Close the Gates]
Folk chant as the gates are closed
Close the Gates!?Close the Gates!?Close the Gates!
D1: By the keeper of the gates and by our magic we end what we began. Let the fire be flame and the well be water and the ways between be shut. Let the gates be closed.
Folk: Let the gates be closed.
[Thank the Earth Mother]
D1: Nerthus, earthmother, we thank you for supporting us today in our celebration of new beginnings. Support us now, as we walk in virtue.
[Close the Rite]
D1: We have done as our ancestors did and as our children will do and the Gods have answered! Let us go out into the world secure in the knowledge that our sacrifices have pleased the gods and that we go forth under their protection. This ritual is at a close.
Yule Magic
Welcome to the members of the Yule Magic Blog Tour!
If you're a regular follower of this blog, or someone new but don't know about the Yule Magic Blog Tour, then please, take a tour through the blogs of Magic!
Please enjoy the party! Have a glass of wassail, pull up a chair by the fire and enjoy the warmth of the burning yule log!
As a yule gift to you, please enjoy this special eCard! Just click on the image to download a full sized copy and spread a little Yule Joy!
Magickal Writing 101
I'm starting to work through the exercises for the book Crafting Magick with Pen and Ink: Learn to Write Stories, Spells and Other Magickal Works by Susan Pesznecker
The first exercise is this:
Imagine you're sitting in a Magickal Writing 101 class, and it's your turn to introduce yourself. Write an imagined introduction telling about your experiences with magick and writing and what you hope to gain from the class.
So .. here it goes …
I recently went back through my Book of Shadows and looks at some of the spells that I had written early in my magical path. I'm not a big journal writer, so these writings are the best that I have to see how I have progressed. I've come a long way from that tentative spell caster who hadn't even selected specific deities to work with yet. Unfortunately, I still have challenges when it comes to writing spells.
When I was younger, I used to write poetry. I think I still have the book that I used somewhere. Now …. I don't know,maybe I'm too busy. Maybe I allow myself excuses so I don't have to write.
My general practice suffers from the same challenges … I keep putting it off.
This year that is changing. This is the year of focus. I hope that working through the lessons in this book will help me to get writing again, both for spells and for not. This blog is a part of that effort.